Hyperthermia Treatment for Cancers
For many men, the fear of permanent urinary incontinence along with impotence can have many devastating effects. Yet, the most common procedures for prostate cancer, including prosectectomy, along with chemotherapy and radiation treatment can cause these lifelong side effects.
However, a proven and effective treatment for prostate cancer, and other cancers, has been trans-urethral prostate hyperthermia, which has been practiced by German doctors for over two decades. In this treatment, a probe in inserted into the urethra, and the prostate is heated by microwaves towards 48 up to 52°C for 2 sessions lasting 180 minutes each which destroy the cancer cells, whilst leaving healthy cells in tact. Heat activates the immune system leading to apoptosis (cell death) and macrophagy (white cells consuming debris and damaged cells) of cancer cells. This treatment can be repeated if the cancer returns.
Hyperthermia Treatment induces cell death to cancer cells whilst leaving healthy cells intact. It also stimulates the immune system.
Hyperthermia can treat other cancers as well, including regions in the breast, neck, liver, etc, and whole body hyperthermia treats metastatic cancers that have spread throughout the body. This was the same treatment that former President Ronald Reagan had been successfully noted to receive in Germany in the mid 1980s instead of opting for traditional chemotherapy + radiation treatment for his various cancers after he had undergone initial surgery in the US. Hyperthermia treatment received approved legal status in the US in 1984 but has not been widely available until recently.
There are 3 different types of hyperthermia treatment for cancers:
Local hyperthermia is used to treat very small areas, such as a tumour. Heat can be applied from the outside using high-frequency waves directed at the tumour. Small areas inside the body can be heated using thin wire probes, hollow tubes filled with warm water, or implanted microwave antennae and radiofrequency electrodes.
Regional hyperthermia heats a part of the body such as a limb, organ or cavity. This can achieved by heating blood that has been isolated, removed, heated and pumped back into the same region in a process called perfusion. Magnets and other devices that produce high energy can be positioned over an area to be heated.
Whole-body hyperthermia is used when treating metastatic cancer that has spread throughout the body. This can be achieved by using warm water blankets, inductive coils, hot wax, thermal room or chambers to raise the body temperature.There are no known complications. Side effects may include local pain or skin discomfort. Occasionally hyperthermia can cause blisters or burns but these generally heal quickly.
In regions such as the breast, heat rays are passed through cooling water cushions to prevent skin burns.
Although, hyperthermia treatment was only previously available in Germany, it is now also available in the US as a stand alone treatment at various centres such as in Texas, and is covered by Medicare. In the UK, currently only one medical facility offers hyperthermia treatment.
Ultrasound Therapy
Traditionally, ultrasound has been utilised as a diagnostic tool to evaluate organ damage, in addition to monitoring of developing fetuses in utero. However, ultrasound has also has a history of use in the military, in both detecting underwater obstacles and as military weapons that can cause destruction and damage to living organisms.
Military testing of sonic and ultrasound devices in the ocean has lead to death of many marine mammals, including whales and dolphins.
However, ultrasound also has the ability to heal, as its specific, varied applications can be utilised to break up kidney stones, treat uterine fibroids and low intensity pulsed ultrasound has been utilised for bone fracture healing, in addition to being able to realign the spine in back injuries and people who suffer from chronic back pain. A notable doctor in this field is Dr. Eslam Khan, who has developed a system called Kinetic Treatment in which uses signature sound frequencies that are unique to each patient to realign the spine and regenerate cellular tissue. Dr. Khan works out of his headquarters in Toronto, Canada.
Low Level Light Therapy (LLLT) and Optogenetics
I have written extensively about LLLT before in previous entries. Light has the ability to modify cells in our bodies. Red light has the ability to stimulate mitochondria to produce ATP, heal injuries and reducing swelling and Blue light has the ability to stimulate hippocampal neurons and activate the circadian rhythm. Blue light, used in optogenetics, has been utilised successfully to treat sleep disturbances on Parkinson’s patients who have impaired or damaged dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra.
Currently one of my favourite LLLT devices is a stand device that is originally intended for use on the face. However, after a sports related injury, I utilised the red light setting at 640 nm for about 1 hour every other day on my swollen ankle. After the initial treatment, the swelling had completely disappeared without any need for ice packs. After five weeks, my stage 3 ligament tear on my ankle had completely healed. I particularly like this device because it has a design in which it leaves one's hands free as opposed to a handheld, and also because it has an hour long timer so one can set it and simply relax and do other things, such as sitting at the desk or reading in bed, especially when treating entire areas of the body, such as feet, legs and hands.
A low-cost, effective LLLT device which I have found versatile for many uses due to its upright design. Originally designed by OMEGA in South Korea for facial rejuvenation, I have utilised this device more for sports injuries, which is effective for swelling. Note: I have only ever used the red light 640 nm setting.
There exists many innovative therapies and medical technologies that have already a proven track record of treating many conditions, although they may not be mainstream, commercial treatments. Although it might be confusing to look through the inundation of information that keeps piling up with contradicting data, as medical and scientific research changes at a rapid rate, it is important to consider that due to the commercial nature of pharmaceutical industries, and the inherent limitations of medical education, that many doctors may not be up to date with the latest research and information, which is why it is important for people to be informed about a variety of different treatments, and for patients to have the right to refuse any treatment or seek alternatives in any given situation.
Although, many innovative doctors have developed numerous life-saving technologies, as I have mentioned above, all doctors are not all the same, and we must ultimately consider them as advisers in healthcare, similar to lawyers and investors, and in the end, the right to one’s own decisions must take precedence above a doctor’s recommendations.
In addition, the sharing of information and opening an honest dialogue with others in order to stimulate debate is an important part of a Democratic society, and we must take care not to censor those whose opinions and experiences might be different from ours or even the opinions of a larger establishment or authority. In my opinion, as long as people are polite and courteous, we should listen to those who have something to say with an open mind, as looking at multiple perspectives lead to an enlightened mind and a more richer population.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for educational purposes only and to stimulate debate and not intended as medical advice, medical diagnosis nor treatment.