CNBC story on using hyperthermia devices to treat cancer.
Hyperthermia therapy is a treatment used in battling cancer by heating tumors.The Heating is about as warm as a hot tub. Research has shown that heat can damage or kill cancer cells in some tumors while also making radiation and chemotherapy more effective.
While it has been known for hundreds of years that fevers can kill cancer, only recently has technology been developed that can control and focus heat specifically on tumors.
Local hyperthermia treatment (heat applied to a very small area, such as a tumor) is a well-established cancer treatment. Primary malignant tumors have a bad blood circulation, which make them more sensitive to changes in temperature.
"Our own clinical experience and the results of numerous published studies are highly encouraging in that increased use of hyperthermia will improve the quality of life for cancer patients and improve control of cancer recurrences."
Dr. Gerald Sokol, New Hope Cancer Center, Hudson, FL.
"Hyperthermia is offering our patients new hope. We are often seeing faster responses, better cancer control, and fewer side effects."
Dr. Leland Rogers, GammaWest, Salt Lake City, Utah
"Hyperthermia gives us a method to treat people when there are few other alternatives. It's an additional form of treatment that can be done in difficult cases, usually without serious side effects or complications."
Dr. Steven Stroup, Centennial Hospital, Nashville, Tenn.
"When the tumor is of larger size, it is unresectable surgically. Also, radiation has less effect on the center part of the tumor, which is deprived of the oxygen blood supply and the nutrients. By increasing the temperature of the tissues from 42-44 degrees centigrade, (hyperthermia) increases the circulation, increases the oxygenation, so that the radiation is more effective."
Nasir Syed, Long Beach Memorial Center, Long Beach, CA
