Hyperthermia Cancer Treatment

What is hyperthermia and how is it used to treat cancer?

Hyperthermia is when the temperature of your body is higher than it should be. Hyperthermia can be used in some cases to treat cancer. It can kill cancer cells or it can help radiation or chemotherapy work better. In some cases, hyperthermia is used during surgery.

The treated area depends on where the cancer is in your body. Hyperthermia is not the right treatment for all patients. Your provider will talk to you about if it can be part of your treatment plan.

What are the types of hyperthermia cancer treatment?

There are different types of hyperthermia cancer treatment depending on where the cancer is in your body. The types and examples of each are:

• Local (in one area of the body).
  • Radiofrequency ablation (RFA):  A needle is placed into the tumor and high energy waves create heat. The heat kills the tumor cells and the cells turn into scar tissue.
  • Probes are heated and then placed into the skin.
  • Laser therapy that delivers a narrow light beam to the tumor.
• Regional (in one body part, like the arm or leg).
  • Isolation Perfusion: The blood supply in one part of your body is cut off from the rest of your body. The blood in the separated part is then pumped into a system that heats it and then pumps it back into your body. Sometimes chemotherapy is given with the blood being put back into your body.
  • During surgery, chemotherapy may be heated up and put into a certain part of the body, like the peritoneum.
• Whole-body (often used to treat cancers that have spread or metastasized).
  • The temperature of the body is raised using heated blankets, warm water, or an incubator. It is thought that this can help chemotherapy work better and treat cancer that is found in many parts of the body.

There are other ways that hyperthermia is used to treat cancer. Ask your provider about the type you will be having.

How is hyperthermia treatment done?

The way hyperthermia is done depends on the type you are having. Often, your healthcare team will use imaging tests like ultrasound, CT scan, or x-ray to find your tumor. In some cases, a type of ultrasound called high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is used to help find the tumor.

Your skin or other parts of your body may have to be numbed or you may be given medication to help you relax or sleep and not remember the treatment. In some cases, small probes with thermometers are placed in your skin. This checks the temperature during treatment to make sure it does not go above 113°F (degrees Fahrenheit). If the temperature goes above this, it can harm your skin.

Your provider will be able to tell you about the things you need to do before your treatment, what it entails, and what you will need to do after.

What are the side effects of hyperthermia?

Some side effects of hyperthermia depend on the type you had. They can include:

• Blisters, burns, or pain on the skin that was treated.
• Swelling or blood clots can happen after perfusion treatment.
• Diarrhea.
• Nausea and vomiting.

Your healthcare team will do everything they can not to harm healthy tissue during treatment and to lower the chances of side effects. Talk with your provider about any questions you have about these side effects.

Where can I get hyperthermia treatment?

Hyperthermia is a treatment that is still being studied and there may be clinical trials for it in your area. Talk to your healthcare team to see if this treatment is available. There are certain tools and training that healthcare providers need to give hyperthermia treatment, so it may not be available at all healthcare centers.