CK thermal radiation therapy is a new type of cancer treatment that can be done alone, or in combination with other types of cancer treatments, like chemotherapy (use of certain drugs to kill cancer cells) and radiation therapy (use of high-powered energy beams to kill cancer cells), to increase their effectiveness.
Types:
The different types of thermal radiation therapies include:
Local hyperthermia: Heat is applied to small areas. The different types may include:
External hyperthermia: It is used for the treatment of tumors that are on or just below the surface of the skin.
Intraluminal or endocavitary hyperthermia: It is used for the treatment of tumors within or near the cavities of the body, like the esophagus or rectum.
Interstitial hyperthermia: It is used for the treatment of tumors deep within the body, like the brain. An example includes radiofrequency ablation, in which radio waves are used for heating and killing the cancer cells.
Regional hyperthermia: Heat is applied to large areas of the body in this procedure, such as an organ, cavity, or limb. The different types of techniques that can be used for this type of therapy include:
Deep tissue techniques: They are used for the treatment of cancers within the body, like bladder or cervical cancer. The heat source is placed around the organ or cavity to be treated in this procedure and the energy is focused on that area to raise its temperature.
Regional perfusion: This type of treatment is used to treat cancers in the legs and arms, like melanoma, or in certain organs, like the lung or liver. The procedure involves the removal of some of the patient’s blood, heating it, and then pumping it back into the organ. Chemotherapy is often provided during this type of treatment.
Continuous hyperthermic peritoneal perfusion: Cancer within the peritoneal cavity (the space between the abdomen consisting of the stomach, liver, and intestines) can be treated using this technique. This type of treatment is usually provided during surgery. The heated chemotherapy drugs flow from a warming device through the peritoneal cavity, causing the temperature to increase to 107 to 108°F.
Whole-body hyperthermia: This type of treatment is performed for cancer that has spread throughout the body. The patient is placed in a thermal chamber or wrapped in hot water blankets in this type of treatment to raise the body temperature to 107 to 108°F for short periods of time.
Thermal therapy is needed in the following cases:
The procedure for thermal radiation therapy varies depending on the type of treatment provided. The doctor uses a thermometer during the procedure to monitor the temperature of the patient. The procedure may be performed in the following different ways:
Local hyperthermia: The different forms of energies that may be used for this type of treatment include radio waves, microwaves, and ultrasound waves. The heat may be delivered in the following different ways:
An external machine may be used to deliver heat to the tumors present near the surface of the body. The procedure is done under local anesthesia (the treatment area is numbed during the procedure).
A probe may be used to deliver heat to the tumors within a body cavity, like the throat or rectum.
A needle-like probe may be used to send radio wave energy directly into the tumor to destroy the cancer cells, known as radiofrequency ablation, which is commonly used to treat lung, liver, and kidney tumors that cannot be removed with surgery. This procedure is generally done under general anesthesia (the patient is made to fall asleep before the procedure).
Regional hyperthermia: Most of these procedures are performed under general anesthesia. Heat may be delivered using any of the following methods:
The applicators on the body surface will focus energy on a cancer present inside the body, like bladder or cervical cancer.
Some of the patient’s blood is removed, heated, and then returned to the organ or limb.
The chemotherapy drugs will be heated and then pumped into the area around the organs in the patient’s abdomen to treat tumors in that area.
Whole-body hyperthermia: This procedure is done under sedation to make the patient sleepy and relaxed during the procedure. The body temperature is gradually increased to 104°F. This temperature is kept for at least six hours, after which the temperature is gradually bought back to normal. This type of treatment helps chemotherapy to work well in cases of cancers that have spread or metastasized to other parts of the body. This type of treatment can be provided by:
Blankets
Warm water
Heated chamber
The possible risks associated with thermal therapy are:
CK thermal radiation therapy is usually an outpatient procedure, which means that the patient can go home on the same day of the procedure. However, you may need an extended stay in the hospital if you have thermal therapy with surgery.
You may be prescribed some medications by the doctor to ease your pain and discomfort after the procedure.
Depending on the type of procedure that you have undergone, you may be able to resume your daily activities within a few days. Recovery following surgery may however take many weeks.
Regular follow-ups and periodic imaging tests and blood tests are recommended to check if the tumor size is becoming smaller or if the cancer cells still persist in your body.
The advantages of hyperthermia or thermal therapy are:
The cost of CK thermal radiation therapy for cancer in Mumbai is between INR 4,00,000 to INR 7,00,000.
The cost of CK thermal radiation therapy for cancer in Delhi is between INR 3,50,000 to INR 6,50,000.
The cost of CK thermal radiation therapy for cancer in Bangalore is between INR 3,50,000 to INR 6,50,000.
The cost of CK thermal radiation therapy for cancer in Chennai is between INR 3,00,000 to INR 6,00,000.
MBBS, DMRT - Radiation Oncologist