Introduction:

No single therapy or protocol can combat disease all alone. There is no 'magic pill'.

The mind/body connection and diet must always be addressed first and foremost, and then healing tools and intergrative therapies may be applied, such as Hyperthermia, also known as Thermal Therapy, for serious physical detoxification.

Whilst thermal therapy is widely used across Europe and Asia, it is limited in the USA because conventional American protocols, such as those discussed in the National Cancer Institute (NCI) report below, are experimental and often utilize unrefined forms of delivery such as metal probes.

Safe Far Infrared thermal therapy (FIR), available to the public for home or business health care, healing and support, are available in the form of a FIR lamp, FIR fabric, or an Asian thermal therapy unit such as the Far Infrared Dome.

Far Infrared Thermal Therapy,
Hippocrates Health Institute.

Pure far infrared is a 'dry' heat used in close proximity to the body for optimal penetration, as can be seen in the large thermal therapy 'incubation' units used in European health clinics. Clothing does not have to be removed.

Anyone who has received thermal therapy in Europe will attest it is not inexpensive - clinic fees, hotel cost, travel expenses etc - but results are often worthwhile.

However, for those wishing to use thermal therapy units in their home, it must be advised that ...

a) Research must be done to find a unit that will provide optimal benefits.

b) Thermal therapy is an intergrative modality that may safely be used alongside conventional protocols if so desired.

c) Emotions and diet MUST be addressed

d) Suitable health care practitioners (those educated in far infrared therapy) should be consulted on the healing journey to recovery for guidance if needed.

Important Note:

American Far Infrared units.
When reading the American NCI document below, please keep in mind that these American methods are really crude, and even involve probes which can burn the body. Side effects using American methods discussed below, are quite frankly completely undesirable and frightening.

Asian and European Far Infrared units (not traditional saunas which generate wet heat with ineffective far infrared), are far more advanced and do not use probes, therefore there is no damage to the body of any kind, just pure Far Infrared dry heat which does NOT burn or harm the body, but heal and strengthen it!

NCI Fact Sheet:
Experimental applications and results using hyperthermia.

What is hyperthermia?

"Hyperthermia (also called thermal therapy or thermotherapy) is a type of cancer therapy in which body tissue is exposed to high temperatures (up to 113°F). Research has shown that high temperatures can damage and kill cancer cells, usually with minimal injury to normal tissues

(1) By killing cancer cells and damaging proteins and structures within cells
(2), hyperthermia may shrink tumors.

Hyperthermia is under study in clinical trials (research studies with people) and is not widely available (in the U.S.).

How is hyperthermia used to treat cancer?

Hyperthermia is almost always used with other forms of cancer therapy, such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy (1, 3). Hyperthermia may make some cancer cells more sensitive to radiation or harm other cancer cells that radiation 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.


Numerous clinical trials have studied hyperthermia in combination with radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy.
 
These studies have focused on the treatment of many types of cancer, including sarcoma, melanoma, and cancers of the head and neck, brain, lung, esophagus, breast, bladder, rectum, liver, appendix, cervix, and peritoneal lining (mesothelioma) (1, 3-7).

Many of these studies, but not all, have shown a significant reduction in tumor size when hyperthermia is combined with other treatments (1, 3, 6, 7).

However, not all of these studies have shown increased survival in patients receiving the combined treatments (3, 5, 7).


What are the different methods of hyperthermia?

Several methods of hyperthermia are currently under study, including local, regional, and whole-body hyperthermia (1, 3-9).

In local hyperthermia, heat is applied to a small area, such as a tumor, using various techniques that deliver energy to heat the tumor. Different types of energy may be used to apply heat, including microwave, radio frequency, and ultrasound. Depending on the tumor location, there are several approaches to local hyperthermia:

External approaches are used to treat tumors that are in or just below the skin.

External applicators are positioned around or near the appropriate region, and energy is focused on the tumor to raise its temperature.

Intraluminal or endocavitary methods may be used to treat tumors within or near body cavities, such as the esophagus or rectum. Probes are placed inside the cavity and inserted into the tumor to deliver energy and heat the area directly.

Interstitial techniques are used to treat tumors deep within the body, such as brain tumors. This technique allows the tumor to be heated to higher temperatures than external techniques.

Under anesthesia, probes or needles are inserted into the tumor. Imaging techniques, such as ultrasound, may be used to make sure the probe is properly positioned within the tumor. The heat source is then inserted into the probe.

Radio frequency ablation (RFA) is a type of interstitial hyperthermia that uses radio waves to heat and kill cancer cells.

In regional hyperthermia, various approaches may be used to heat large areas of tissue, such as a body cavity, organ, or limb. Deep tissue approaches may be used to treat cancers within the body, such as cervical or bladder cancer.

External applicators are positioned around the body cavity or organ to be treated, and microwave or radio frequency energy is focused on the area to raise its temperature.

Regional perfusion techniques can be used to focus on cancers in the arms and legs, such as melanoma, or cancer in some organs, such as the liver or lung. In this procedure, some of the patient’s blood is removed, heated, and then pumped (perfused) back into the limb or organ. Anticancer drugs are commonly given during this time.

Continuous hyperthermic peritoneal perfusion (CHPP) is a technique used to treat cancers within the peritoneal cavity (the space within the abdomen that contains the intestines, stomach, and liver), including primary peritoneal mesothelioma and stomach cancer.

During surgery, heated anticancer drugs flow from a warming device through the peritoneal cavity. The peritoneal cavity temperature reaches 106-108°F.

Whole-body hyperthermia is used to treat metastatic cancer that has spread throughout the body. This can be accomplished by several techniques that raise the body temperature to 107-108°F, including the use of thermal chambers (similar to large incubators) or hot water blankets.

The effectiveness of hyperthermia treatment is related to the temperature achieved during the treatment, as well as the length of treatment and cell and tissue characteristics (1, 2).

To ensure that the desired temperature is reached, but not exceeded, the temperature of the tumor and surrounding tissue is monitored throughout hyperthermia treatment (3, 5, 7).

Using local anesthesia, the doctor inserts small needles or tubes with tiny thermometers into the treatment area to monitor the temperature. Imaging techniques, such as CT (computed tomography), may be used to make sure the probes are properly positioned (5).


Does hyperthermia have any complications or side effects?

Most normal tissues are not damaged during hyperthermia if the temperature remains under 111°F. However, due to regional differences in tissue characteristics, higher temperatures may occur in various spots.

This can result in burns, blisters, discomfort, or pain (1, 5, 7). Perfusion techniques can cause tissue swelling, blood clots, bleeding, and other damage to the normal tissues in the perfused area; however, most of these side effects are temporary.

Whole-body hyperthermia can cause more serious side effects, including cardiac and vascular disorders, but these effects are uncommon (1, 3, 7). Diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting are commonly observed after whole-body hyperthermia (7).

What does the future hold for hyperthermia?

A number of challenges must be overcome before hyperthermia can be considered a standard therapy for cancer (1, 3, 6, 7). Many clinical trials are being conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of hyperthermia.

Some trials continue to research hyperthermia in combination with other therapies for addressing different cancers. Other studies focus on improving hyperthermia techniques.

Selected References:

1) van der Zee J. Heating the patient: a promising approach? Annals of Oncology 2002; 13(8):1173–1184. [PubMed Abstract]

2) Hildebrandt B, Wust P, Ahlers O, et al. The cellular and molecular basis of hyperthermia. Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology 2002; 43(1):33–56. [PubMed Abstract]

3) Wust P, Hildebrandt B, Sreenivasa G, et al. Hyperthermia in combined therapy of cancer. The Lancet Oncology 2002; 3(8):487–497. [PubMed Abstract]

4) Alexander HR. Isolation perfusion. In: DeVita VT Jr., Hellman S, Rosenberg SA, editors. Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology. Vol. 1 and 2. 6th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2001.

5) Falk MH, Issels RD. Hyperthermia in oncology. International Journal of Hyperthermia 2001; 17(1):1–18. [PubMed Abstract]

6) Dewhirst MW, Gibbs FA Jr, Roemer RB, Samulski TV. Hyperthermia. In: Gunderson LL, Tepper JE, editors. Clinical Radiation Oncology. 1st ed. New York, NY: Churchill Livingstone, 2000.

7) Kapp DS, Hahn GM, Carlson RW. Principles of Hyperthermia. In: Bast RC Jr., Kufe DW, Pollock RE, et al., editors. Cancer Medicine e.5. 5th ed. Hamilton, Ontario: B.C. Decker Inc., 2000.

8) Feldman AL, Libutti SK, Pingpank JF, et al. Analysis of factors associated with outcome in patients with malignant peritoneal mesothelioma undergoing surgical debulking and intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Journal of Clinical Oncology 2003; 21(24):4560–4567. [PubMed Abstract]

9) Chang E, Alexander HR, Libutti SK, et al. Laparoscopic continuous hyperthermic peritoneal perfusion. Journal of the American College of Surgeons 2001; 193(2):225–229. [PubMed Abstract]

Summary:

The above document is purely to give you awareness of the unsophisticated state of hyperthermic oncology in the USA and the NCI.

It is basically at kindergarten level compared to Asia and Europe, and has a very long path to travel to achieve the advanced technology that is used in other countries with safe application for patients.

We all know that whatever actually works is not promoted but banned or defamed and ridiculed, kept out of reach from the public. So if you are interested in hyperthermic oncology, do the research and either travel overseas for therapy, or purchase an Asian unit for home or professional use.

Hyperthermia
History, evolution and benefits.