What is hyperthermia?
"Give me the ability to cause a fever and I'll cure any disease;
- Parmenides, Greek physician, 500 BC
Hyperthermia is a therapeutic approach that uses heat to treat various diseases, including cancer. The basic principle is based on increasing the temperature of the body or a specific area of the body to stimulate the immune system and promote the elimination of diseased cells. Hyperthermia falls into two main categories: local hyperthermia and Whole Body Hyperthermia (WBH).
Local hyperthermia
Local hyperthermia focuses on a specific area of the body where a tumor is located. Using specialized medical equipment, the temperature of the tumor is raised to around 40-43 degrees Celsius. This increase in temperature can make cancer cells more sensitive to treatments such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy or certain treatments practised here at home. Heat can also cause cancer cells to die (apoptosis).
Total body hyperthermia (WBH)
Total body hyperthermia, on the other hand, aims to raise the temperature of the entire body. Body temperature is raised to feverish levels (up to around 40 degrees Celsius) for a set period of time. The aim is to mimic a natural fever, the body's known defense mechanism against infection. In the context of cancer, this can stimulate the immune system to attack and eliminate cancer cells.
Benefits of hyperthermia in cancer treatment
Hyperthermia offers several advantages in the management of cancer:
- It increases the sensitivity of cancer cells to anti-cancer treatments, which can make these treatments more effective.
- It stimulates the immune system, helping the body to recognize and fight cancer cells.
- It can induce the death of cancer cells by raising their temperature.
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It is generally well tolerated and can be safely combined with other anti-cancer therapies.
Therapy process
Before starting hyperthermia treatment, a detailed examination is carried out to assess the patient's state of health and determine the most appropriate type of treatment. Hyperthermia sessions can last from one to three hours, depending on the method used and the area of the body being treated. The frequency of sessions varies according to the patient's state of health and the type of cancer being treated.
Hyperthermia is a promising therapy for cancer, but it must always be administered under the supervision of a healthcare professional.
and integrated into a comprehensive cancer treatment plan.