Newswise — (Baltimore, MD) -- The 5th annual “Heat it to Beat It” 2.2 mile Walk will be held on Sunday, September 14, 2014 at The Maryland Zoo in Baltmore.

Registration is at 7:45 a.m. at the Main Gate of the zoo, with the walk beginning at 8:45 a.m. at the Eagle Gate. Highlights include music and activities at the Waterfowl Pavilion as well as the opportunity to explore all the exhibits of the Maryland Zoo.

Registration is $40 for adults and children ages 12 and older ($48 after Aug. 22nd), and $15 for children ages 3-11. This includes free parking, all day admission to the zoo, music/activities, an event t-shirt and free snacks.

"Heat It To Beat It” helps raise awareness and much needed funds for research into the causes and treatment of Peritoneal Carcinomatosis; proceeds support The Institute for Cancer Care at Mercy. To register to walk individually, to form a team, or to make a donation, go to www.heat-it.org.

The name of the walk, "Heat It to Beat It," comes from the use of HIPEC -- Hyperthermic (Heated) Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy-- for the treatment of abdominal cancers. Mercy Medical Center surgical oncologist Dr. Armando Sardi, Director, Institute for Cancer Care at Mercy, is a nationally recognized leader in this form of cancer treatment.

"Peritoneal Carcinomatosis is a common and complex presentation of a variety of cancers of the abdominal cavity. The cause of this cancer may originate from tumors of the appendix, colon, rectum, ovary, stomach, small bowel and from primary peritoneal tumors and mesothelioma. The majority of patients will die as a consequence of this disease," Dr. Sardi said.

According to Dr. Sardi, the HIPEC treatment, in conjunction with cytoreductive surgery (tumor removal) is the only possibility of long term survival for many patients.

"Though there have been a number scientific reports showing the benefit of this treatment, many physicians are still not aware of its efficacy and most insurance companies deny payment for it," Dr. Sardi added.

Proceeds from the "Heat It to Beat It" walk will support awareness and education efforts, and research conducted under the direction of Dr. Sardi. Dr. Sardi and his colleagues, Dr. Vadim Gushchin and Dr. Kurtis Campbell, are among the few surgical oncologists in the world who specialize in the treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis using heated chemotherapy (HIPEC).

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