What You Need To Know About Hyperthermia

Updated: Jan 9, 2023

Hyperthermia Kills Cancer Cells and Reduces Tumor

A new cancer treatment called hyperthermia uses high temperatures to kill cancer cells. Referred to as Thermotherapy, Thermal Therapy, or Thermal ablation. It is a procedure in which body tissue is heated at high temperatures (up to 42 °C).

Results have been encouraging especially when it is used together with other cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation.

Numerous studies have demonstrated that cancer cells can be damaged and killed by increased temperature with little to no effect to healthy tissue. Hyperthermia may aid in the reduction of tumor size by destroying cancer cells.

In large part because of advancements in detection and treatment, the survival rates for many forms of cancer continue to rise. In Malaysia, cancer continues to rank second among chronic diseases after heart disease.

Only a few treatment facilities in Malaysia presently offer hyperthermia, which is typically used in conjunction with more conventional cancer therapies like radiation therapy or chemotherapy.

Potential Cancer Treatment Benefits of Hyperthermia and What to Expect During the Procedure.

Three things happen to the patient's body as a result of hyperthermia, where the heat increases blood flow to the tumor.

Hyperthermia: It triggers the immune system in your body to fight the cancer.

Hyperthermia + Chemotherapy: It improves blood flow, which enables chemotherapy to reach the tumor cells easily.

Hyperthermia + Radiotherapy: It improves blood flow and immune cells to tumor area which enhances the effectiveness of radiation therapy and raises the percentage of complete responses.

Hyperthermia is a well-known method of killing cancer cells and a crucial treatment modality in the treatment of cancer, especially when its outcomes are strongly supported by the criteria of evidence-based medicine. It is frequently used in conjunction with other cancer treatments, such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. To treat advanced or high-risk cancers or to retreat a relapse in a previously radiation-exposed area, hyperthermia is required.

In clinical experiments, scientists discovered that temperatures between 106°F and 111°F (41°C and 44°C) were hazardous to cancer cells but not to healthy ones.

It's not a novel concept to use heat to treat cancer. According to historical documents, humans in ancient Egypt, India, and China employed heat to cauterize tumors. For general health, they also took use of mud baths and volcanic steam.

Extremely high temperatures have the potential to harm or even kill cancer cells, while frequently having little effect on non-cancerous cells. Additionally, it may increase the susceptibility of cancer cells to other cancer treatments like radiation or chemotherapy.

The first recorded use of heat to treat cancer was in the 1850s when doctors Carl D.W. Busch and William B. Coley noticed that fevers were linked to tumor regression.

Since then, scientists have created a number of techniques for heating cancer cells to particular temperatures. These consist of:

Treatment for hyperthermia comes in 2 ways- local and systemic

Local Hyperthermia

You can utilize local hyperthermia to heat a specific area of your body where the cancer is localized. Heat producing probe is applied to these areas topically.

Systemic Hyperthermia

Cancer that has spread throughout your body can be treated with whole-body hyperthermia. By taking a hot bath, curling up in warm blankets, or going inside a specific chamber, you can raise the temperature of your entire body.

Usually, a temperature between 104°F and 109°F (40°C and 43°C) is used for about an hour. However, the length of a therapy might vary from a few seconds to many hours.

Hyperthermia therapy has been employed in numerous clinical trials once or twice a week for roughly 4 or 5 weeks.

Before or after undergoing various cancer treatments, hyperthermia may be administered.

Healthy tissue is mostly preserved during hyperthermia therapy. However, exposure to extreme heat might result in symptoms like burn, blisters to the local area.

The efficacy of hyperthermia in treating various tumors is still being studied by researchers. When used in conjunction with other accepted treatments, they have discovered encouraging results.

Research indicates that when paired with other therapies like radiation therapy or chemotherapy, it may be a successful treatment for a variety of cancers. It's now only accessible at a selected few cancers treatment facility in Malaysia and it is still primarily regarded as experimental.

Advantages of Hyperthermia Treatment

Reduce Cancerous Tumors
No more hospitalization
Can be used in addition for more traditional cancer treatments.
Turns on NK (Natural Killer) immune cells
Increases immunity
Reduces pain (Injury related or cancer related))
Increases the radiotherapy sensitivity of malignant cells
Increases the efficacy of chemotherapy medications
Better response rate when hyperthermia therapy is added to radiotherapy and chemotherapy
Slows the DNA damage brought by chemotherapy and radiotherapy
Improves cancer patients' overall survival
Treats viral and bacterial infections (tested on COVID-19 in Korea)
Raynaud's Syndrome is treated (cold hands & feet)
Decreases hypertension
Reduces the risk of stroke
Enhances sexual life
Help to lose weight
Reduces the need for insulin in diabetic patients and may aid in the healing of diabetic wounds
Improves arthritis symptoms
Rejuvenating the entire cardiovascular system
Energy Increases
Reduces persistent fatigue