Amna's story: HIPEC treatment for ovarian cancer

In late 2024, Amna, a 35-year-old mother of two, began experiencing sharp pains near her ovaries and pelvis. This then led to months of stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and bloating. After months of going back and forth to her GP and hospital to find what could possibly be causing this, the pain became so unbearable that she went to A&E. Further scans and biopsies revealed news that was to change Amna’s life forever – she had stage four ovarian cancer.

Amna recalls: “When they told us, it was an absolute shock. Cancer doesn't run in my family, so it's not something I was familiar with. I was dealing with so many emotions at once, on top of struggling with my symptoms. It was very overwhelming. I wasn't in the right mental state and almost in denial about the diagnosis. I have two young children, a three-year old and a six-year-old. All I could think about was getting over this, because my kids need me.”

Amna was referred to St Bartholomew’s Hospital to begin chemotherapy immediately, with a plan to carry out surgery halfway through her treatment at The Royal London Hospital. She responded well to the initial chemotherapy and was delighted when her oncology team offered her the opportunity to undergo CRS- HIPEC surgery - an innovative and highly targeted treatment involving heated chemotherapy that was newly available to ovarian cancer patients.

In 2020, we awarded over £250,000 to establish CRS-HIPEC surgery for patients with cancer of the appendix, colon or rectum. In 2025, the service was expanded to offer treatment for patients with ovarian cancer, thanks to £48,000 of additional funding. This treatment gives people with advanced cancers the best chances of survival.

Amna says. “HIPEC was something we had already become quite familiar with through our own research and to then be offered the treatment meant everything to us. Being told that I was the second patient to receive this specific type of CRS-HIPEC surgery at The Royal London Hospital made us feel extremely grateful to be given that chance.”

“I was initially worried about managing the effects of surgery and chemotherapy at the same time but it really wasn’t what I expected. The symptoms after the CRS- HIPEC surgery were just like those of normal surgery; I didn’t experience fatigue or bone pain like I had anticipated.”

To help her prepare, Amna was supported by both the medical and prehabilitation teams, who heped set expectation and provided a tailored exercise programme, alongside support from a dietician and an occupational therapist. The aim was to prepare her body and mind as fully as possible for surgery. For Amna, this support became a real lifeline during the challenging months ahead.

“The services that were provided helped me so much throughout this journey. The difference between where I was physically and mentally at the beginning to where I was by the time I had the surgery was huge. A lot of that was credit to the prehab team. I made sure I did all the exercises every single day and focused on maintaining a positive mindset. I really believe it helped me recover much faster after from surgery.”

“I didn't realise how useful it was to talk to someone until I did. Speaking with the occupational therapist helped me manage my emotions and mindset. I was able to receive thoughtful and practical advice from someone who truly listened and made me feel understood.”

Throughout her treatment, Amna has felt supported every step of the way by staff at both St Bartholomew’s Hospital and The Royal London Hospital – from her oncologists, surgical team and nurses to the prehabilitation team who helped her throughout her treatment.