Hyperthermia
You may have heard of the condition Hyperthermia, when the body reaches an abnormally high body temperature caused by a failure of the heat-regulating mechanisms of the body to deal with the heat coming from the environment - essentially overheating.
But did you know that hyperthermia is also a safe, effective medical treatment that is used for pain relief, to treat infections, for diagnostics and lab testing, and, yes, cancer care?
Essentially hyperthermia, the treatment, works in a similar way to hyperthermia, the condition, although of course in a safe and controlled way by using high heat to target abnormal cells and pathogens.
This can be done by applying heat to a small area, such as a tumor site, which is known as Local Hyperthermia.
Or by raising the body temperature in general, which is called Whole-Body Hyperthermia.
The treatment can also be used on larger areas, often at a lower heat, such as an organ, limb, or hollow space inside the body in a process known as Regional Hyperthermia.
Ready to explore your hyperthermia treatment options? Check out our Comprehensive Comparison of the Top 5 Hyperthermia Cancer Treatment Clinics>>
Hyperthermia
How Does Hyperthermia Kill Cancer?
Cancerous tissues are extremely susceptible to heat. Heat can destroy cell membranes, effectively killing the cell. Heat also changes the tumors’ microenvironment, making them more vulnerable to agents like high dosage Vitamin C.
Research has shown that high temperatures can damage and kill cancer cells, usually with zero or minimal injury to normal tissues. Clinical trials have been going on for almost a decade with very promising results. Hyperthermia is also FDA-approved to treat cancer.
Hyperthermia Treatment Planning
Whole Body Hyperthermia, A Simple Breakdown:
- The patient lies down in a hyperthermia machine – which is a dome-shaped bed.
- The patient’s head is kept outside the chamber, protecting it from the heat, and oxygen is delivered to the patient through a nasal cannula.
- The machine is set to a temperature that will raise the patient’s body heat to simulate a fever. (Usually between 102º-104º Fahrenheit).
- When the fever is simulated, the natural immune response kicks in and activates.
- This protocol is usually done every other day in conjunction with other protocols, depending on the patient and what the doctor prescribes.
Local Hyperthermia, A Simple Breakdown:
Local Hyperthermia functions similarly to whole-body hyperthermia, but instead of lying down in a machine, heat is applied to a small area, such as a tumor. The heat can be applied using different types of energy.
Local hyperthermia can be done in three different ways:
- Externally: This method is used to treat tumors that are in or just below the skin by placing applicators around or near the tumor region. It focuses on the tumor itself and emits energy to raise its temperature.
- Intraluminal or Endocavitary: These approaches are used to treat tumors within or near body cavities, such as the esophagus or rectum. Probes are placed inside the cavity and inserted directly into the tumor to deliver energy and heat the area.
- Interstitially: This method is used to treat tumors deep within the body, such as brain tumors. This process allows the tumor to be heated to higher temperatures than external techniques and is done under anesthesia as probes or needles are inserted into the tumor.
Regional Hyperthermia, A Simple Breakdown:
Regional hyperthermia uses low heat on larger areas, such as an organ or limb or a hollow space inside the body. For this type of treatment, the patient is generally positioned on the treatment table and the specific area targeted for hyperthermia is identified.
Heat is then delivered using one of several methods, including:
- Applicators are placed on the surface of the body focusing energy on a cancer inside the body, such as in the case of cervical or bladder cancer
- A portion of the patient’s blood is removed, heated, and then returned back to the limb or organ. This method treats melanoma on the arms and legs, as well as lung or liver cancer.
- Doctors heat chemotherapy drugs and pump them into the area around the organs in the patient's stomach, for example
Did You Know?
- Hyperthermia as a method of treating cancer has a long history. The first known use of heat treatment was carried out in Egypt around 1700 B.C. for the treatment of breast cancer!
- The first paper on hyperthermia was published in 1866 by a German surgeon named Carl D. W. Busch, and throughout the next half-century, accounts from doctors across Europe showed great success in treating their cancer patients with heat treatments. After 1950, the modern period of hyperthermia development as a treatment had taken off, and the rest, as they say, is history. Thousands of patients around the world have benefitted from hyperthermia treatments in their fight against cancer.
Hyperthermia in Conjunction with Conventional Treatments
Hyperthermia can be combined with conventional treatments such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
Hyperthermia may make some cancer cells more sensitive to radiation or harm other cancer cells that radiation itself cannot damage.
When Hyperthermia and radiation therapy are combined, they are often given within an hour of each other. Hyperthermia can also enhance the effects of certain anticancer drugs.
Frequently Asked Questions
The use of hyperthermia in cancer treatment, while generally considered safe when administered by trained healthcare professionals, may be associated with certain side effects. The severity and nature of these side effects can vary depending on the type of hyperthermia used, the treatment duration, and individual patient factors.
Possible side effects include:
- skin burns
- discomfort and pain
- fatigue and weakness
- dehydration
- nausea and vomiting:
- changes in blood pressure and heart rate
Yes, hyperthermia can sometimes be used to treat metastatic cancer, especially when combined with chemotherapy or radiation to improve outcomes.
Yes, burns and skin irritation are potential risks, particularly with external hyperthermia, but these can be minimized with proper monitoring and techniques.
Yes, some patients experience fatigue after hyperthermia treatment, particularly after whole-body hyperthermia.
Coverage for hyperthermia varies by country and insurance provider. It may be covered if deemed medically necessary, especially when used in conjunction with conventional cancer therapies.
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