What is
Hyperthermia?
Hyperthermia ("high temperature") is
a form of 'treatment with heat" where a cancerous growth is
exposed to high temperatures (over 41.5 oC).
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How long has it been in use?
Hippokrates was the
first physician to prescribe "psammotherapy' (hot sand bath
therapy) for treatment of tumors. It is now well documented
that temperatures higher than 41 o C may have lethal effect on
cancer cells.
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How does Hyperthermia work?
Heat destroys cellular
components necessary for the survival and reproduction of the tumor.
Cancer cells are more vulnerable to heat than normal cells due to
insufficient nutrition and higher acidity. Normal cells have ability
to recover from injury to heat.
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What are the types of Hyperthermia?
Hyperthermia can be
delivered by Ultrasound, Microwaves or Radio-frequency or Laser
methods.
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How is Hyperthermia delivered?
Hyperthermia is often
used in conjunction with radiation and may be used with chemotherpy.
Hyperthermia can be delivered non-invasively by external technique
by placement of water bag attached to an ultrasound-hyperthermia
unit or invasive - interstitial method (placement of catheters in
the tissues).
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What are the conditions treated with
Hyperthermia?
Tumors recurrent after initial treatment (cancers of breast,
skin -melanoma, enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or axilla, soft
tissues etc.)
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