Hyperthermia as a Cancer Treatment at Bicher Cancer Institute
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What is hyperthermia?
Hyperthermia, also known as thermal therapy or thermotherapy, is application of localized heat to the tumor area at the temperature of 113°F or 42.5°C. Heat is known to be damaging to cancer cells, while safe to the normal tissue. The process is simple: heat increases blood circulation, hence oxygenation of the cells, and oxygen is harmful to cancer cells.
Studies showed that hyperthermia is most effective in conjunction with other forms of cancer treatments, such as radiation therapy. Applying hyperthermia after the radiation treatment significantly improves the results. This approach has been approved by FDA in 1984, and prior to that many studies have been performed in the leading medical institutions around the globe.
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What types of cancer can be treated with Hyperthermia?
Hyperthermia treatment has been used on different types of cancer, including skin, colon, neck, prostate, breast, base of tongue, throat, thyroid, and bone. Here, at BCI, we have been particularly successful treating breast cancer, including inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), prostate, head and neck (throat, base of tongue, and tonsils), and skin.
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What results can be expected?
At BCI the average success rate for early stages of breast cancer, including inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), prostate, head and neck is about 80%, as well as the average 5 year survival rate is also about 80%. For more detailed information, please, call Nash at 310.398.0013.
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Are there any side effects of the hyperthermia cancer treatment?
The side effects of hyperthermia are minimum compared with the standard cancer treatments. Hyperthermia itself has close to no side effects. In conjunction with low dose radiation, some patients might experience redness on the skin after the treatment, tiredness, temporary loss of taste and dryness in the throat for head and neck cancer treatment.
Please note that the common side effects of a conventional treatment for prostate cancer are impotence, loss of libido, incontinence, and diarrhea, however, with hyperthermia and low does radiation, prostate cancer patients don’t experience those as a result of treatment. In fact, one third of BCI prostate cancer patients reported an increase in libido.
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Is it covered by insurance?
In the US most insurance, including Medicare, cover hyperthermia treatment at BCI.
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How are the results compared with the conventional treatments, like surgery, high doze radiation, and chemotherapy?
The success rate of hyperthermia cancer treatment combined with low doze radiation is 3-4 times higher than conventional treatment, as well as the survival rate in general.
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What is the level of expertise of the Institute?
The Institute has been practicing hyperthermia treatment since 1984. It’s one of the largest hyperthermia treatment facilities in the country. The founder and director of BCI Dr. Bicher is one of the pioneers in using hyperthermia in conjunction with low dose radiation to treat cancer. He has published over 200 papers, many of which are related to hyperthermia cancer treatment in particular. -
What kind of radiation is used for the treatments?
Low dose Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT). IMRT is the type of targeted radiation that contours the size and shape of the tumor from different angles. This approach allows to send most of the radiation to the tumor itself, avoiding healthy tissues.
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What is the treatment like and how much time does each hyperthermia and radiation session take?
The patient comes at the appointed time for the hyperthermia treatment, which last for about an hour. Hyperthermia treatment is very gentle and almost pleasant, it is simply an application of heat. During the procedure a patient can rest, read a book, listen to some music, or just take a nap.
The radiation treatment happens within one hour of receiving hyperthermia. It usually takes about 15 minutes.
On average, a patient spends about an hour and a half - two hours at the clinic a day.
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Can a patient work while being treated at BCI?
Although it depends on the individual patient and his/her circumstances, many BCI patients continue with their regular work schedule and life-style during treatment. Most BCI patients, who are from out of state or out of country, take advantage enjoying many of the attractions of Southern California and the Pacific Coast.
Ask the Doctor
We created a separate blog to address any questions that people might have about the treatment offered by Bicher Cancer Institute and hyperthermia in general. Our doctors and staff do their best to respond to the inquiries in a timely manner.
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