Hyperthermia Therapy uses controlled heat to damage and destroy cancer cells while shrinking tumors. It also enhances the effectiveness of other treatments such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy, making them work better against cancer. This therapy can be especially helpful for patients who are not suitable for surgery or for tumors that are difficult to access surgically.
Research shows that combining hyperthermia with conventional treatments can improve outcomes in cancers such as recurrent breast cancer, cervical cancer, head and neck cancers, melanoma, and other locally advanced or recurrent tumors. Hyperthermia is most often used for tumors located close to the surface of the body.
Hyperthermia therapy is a new type of cancer treatment. It uses heat to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors. Hyperthermia therapy can also make other cancer treatments more effective. These include chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Other names for this heat treatment include thermal therapy and thermotherapy.
During local hyperthermia therapy, heat targets a small area such as a tumor. The heat comes from energy such as radio waves, electromagnetic waves or ultrasound waves. Local hyperthermia therapy is most effective for:
→ Small tumors in or just beneath your skin.
→ Tumors in small body cavities.
→ Tumors that are too deep in your body for surgery.
Whole-body hyperthermia gently raises body temperature to help fight cancer when it has spread. This controlled heat or fever stimulates the immune system and makes treatments more effective. Whole-body hyperthermia therapy is most effective for:
→ Deep tumors that surgery can’t treat.
→ Health conditions that prevent you from having surgery.
→ Tumors in a body cavity.
