Hyperthermia
Heat as a means of therapy has been known for a very long time. Even Hippocrates and the ancient Egyptians used heat therapy. Heat can cause considerable damage to living cells, hence the body can only survive for a short time with a temperature in excess of 42°C (107°F). However, the destructive force of heat is also a blessing. Used skillfully, it can help to treat cancer and tumors. Malignant growths can be controlled or may even recede as a result of targeted hyperthermia.
Hyperthermia is a non-invasive method of treatment
Hyperthermia is a non-invasive method of treatment, which on its own and in combination with traditional medicine and naturopathic-biological forms of treatment, is capable of bringing about a distinct improvement in the course of tumor diseases. Hyperthermia is also used, very successfully, in the aftercare or secondary cancer prevention. Especially metastasis and tumors that are inoperable or resistant to other treatments can be treated favorably.
Hyperthermia is one of the basic elements of the integrated cancer therapy concept of St. George Hospital. For many years now, St. George Hospital has worked intensively on researching and improving the hyperthermia therapy for the treatment of acute cancer and the after-care of cancer patients. It is considered one of the leading treatment centers in this field, world-wide.
During hyperthermia therapy, tumorous tissue is heated using different techniques.
As a result of this heating:
- The cancer cells are damaged
- The blood and oxygen supply is reduced, causing an increase of cancer cell killing
- The body’s own immunological defense mechanisms are activated
Hyperthermia combined with other forms of treatment
In the over-acid environment of the already heat-damaged tumor cell, some cytostatics achieve an even greater cell-destroying effect. Using both treatments in conjunction means that significantly lower doses of the chemotherapy substances are needed. This largely avoids side effects, such as hair loss and nausea. Even a tumor which was resistant to chemotherapy and radiation therapy, will respond again to these therapies following hyperthermia treatment.
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