More About Hyperthermia Research

I'm relatively newly diagnosed Head and Neck with unknown primary, stage 3, N2b, etc, etc. I did a thorough investigation of survival statistics because I needed to make plans for the future and potentially for my wife. I have worked very closely with three family members who have died of cancer, so I’ve seen a lot of this. Yes, stats are stats and each one of us is an individual, but my wife and I have limited funds, I'm a self-employed breadwinner and we need to have some realistic clue as to the future. I think that those who want to go forward with treatment based solely on doc's advice and pure optimism should do so. I'm a professional researcher. If you want references to studies from anything I’m about to say, just email me and I will provide them. I’m certainly not an expert and am just relaying what I have learned. I’m open to and would appreciate any new research that anyone can provide. My reality is as follows: Docs have told me that I need radical neck surgery, radiation and possibly chemo. That’s the standard treatment for a ‘cure’. The medical definition of ‘cure’ seems to be being disease free for 3 years. Docs will go forward with a therapy if it has a 5-10% chance of being effective. My chance of 3 year survival with radical neck dissection, radiation and possibly chemo is somewhere between 25% and 50% according to recent studies across several countries. There has been NO significant increase in survival statistics over the past 40 years. I’m at one of the top 50 cancer hospitals in the country, attached to a major university research facility. I have found that docs have been very much less than forthcoming with the truth about the efficacy of treatment or the side effects. When I ask them a question at this point, I ask them to give me references to studies that they are quoting so I can then go read them. I haven’t studied the other cancers, but I have learned that although chemo has been shown to have a positive ‘response’ rate that chemo does NOT increase survival rates at all. The definition of a positive response rate is that it will shrink a tumor by 50% for at least one month. Again, that has nothing to do with your survival. Almost all doctors make money on selling chemo agents and for signing up patients for clinical trials.  I’m not saying that that influences their decision making, but it seems like a conflict of interest. I visited one highly regarded oncologist and every nurse wore an "Ask me about Clinical Trials" lapel button and there were signs to that effect on virtually every surface. Secondly, there is quite a bit of controversy about how extensive neck dissection should be and apparently some controversy over how effective it is. OK, so Chemo is out unless someone can convince me with RESEARCH and radical neck dissection is questionable in my mind. Possibly the most optimistic thing that I have learned is that cancer cells can be killed by heating the cells to 106 degrees for one hour. You can read about it on this and other websites including medline and pubmed. Hyperthermia is considered ‘investigational’ in the US, but is commonly employed in all European countries. There are a number of clinical trials here in the US using hyperthermia. When I asked my docs about it they said that hyperthermia was tried in the US some years ago and was found to be ‘not effective’. They were referring to studies that were done wherein the ability to effectively heat the tumor area was impaired. Since that time many other studies have been done that have shown greater effectiveness and there is new equipment that is much more effective at focusing the heat. There are a number of treatment centers here in the US that utilize hyperthermia and they seem to range from outright quackery to highly regarded medical institutions. At this point, I have an appointment for radical neck dissection but am going to get a second opinion from Cancer Treatment Centers of America at www.cancercenter.com. They are a full-on center with radiation, chemo and surgery as well as complementary and alternative treatments. I’ll let you know what I think about them after I get back from my visit with them. Please send anything you have learned from real research and I'll share with you what I know.

My husband is currently receiving hyperthermia/radiation/chemo treatment from Valley Cancer Institute in Los Angeles, CA.  He has rectal cancer that has metasticized to the lungs.  We have not yet seen shrinkage of the tumors in his lungs, but his blood work and tumor markers are better.  I would very much like to hear what you have learned about hyperthermia and your experience at Cancer Centers of America.

 

On 2/6/2007 Karen k wrote:

My husband is currently receiving hyperthermia/radiation/chemo treatment from Valley Cancer Institute in Los Angeles, CA.  He has rectal cancer that has metasticized to the lungs.  We have not yet seen shrinkage of the tumors in his lungs, but his blood work and tumor markers are better.  I would very much like to hear what you have learned about hyperthermia and your experience at Cancer Centers of America.

Hi Karen,

How long has your husband been receiving hyperthermia treatments?  Have you seen shrinkage in the rectal tumors? 

I was diagnosed with lung cancer in April 05, started traditional treatments at the Mayo in May 05.  In April 06 we discovered that it had metasticized to the brain, bones,liver, some lung and in Sept it popped up in the ovary.  I guess it felt left out!  In August of 06 I began going to an alternative doc in additional to my Mayo doc.  Mayo doc said I had 1 to 3 years - statistically!  I have a 9 year old and am single, so that is not acceptable.

What other alternative treatments did you look at?  I'm taking vitamin C IV.  I was taking POLY MVA also but quit because of cost.  I am getting ready to start taking it again.  Of course, tons of vitamins & nutrients (when I can actually get them down)! 

I will tell you that God has blessed me abundantly throughout all of this.  I feel good and I do not look sick.  People cannot believe that I have all this cancer inside my body.  I went to the Orlando parks for 5 straight days and wore everybody else out! 

My biggest complaint is that I very often sound very hoarse which is a result of the radiation damage.  Chemo has not been too much of a problem.  The radiation's side effects is what almost killed me.

Have you heard any thing about Bariatric Chambers?  (I might not have the name or spelling correct)  My alternative doc wanted me to look into it with a doctor here in town that does it.

Anyway, may God's Blessings be with you and your husband.  ALSO-May God Bless the gentleman and his family that wrote the email that you responded to.

Rosilyn

 

It is so good to get some messages going about hyperthermia!

Rosilyn,

In response to your message...the tumor in my husband's rectum was removed after it survived massive radiation.  The cancer had also spread to a lymph node which was also removed.

When tumors were later found in both lungs, his doctors here in TX wanted to put him on a stronger chemo that we knew would make him very sick.  We then decided to research alternative treatments.  We had several friends that had heard of Klinik St Georg in Germany, which is very expensive.  After some research, my husband found Valley Cancer Institute in CA.  He had 5 weeks of localized hyperthermia and radiation on one lung and is now in his second 5 weeks on the other lung.  He is also receiving chemo and I will have to get back with you on what chemo. 

We feel encouraged that the blood work is looking better after his treatments in CA and that the tumors have not grown.  After this round, we will determine whether or not to continue in CA or to consider a facility that performs whole body hyperthermia.  

I am glad to read your resolve that the statistics are not acceptable!  Until the doctors come up with something that beats all types, that's the spirit it takes to beat this disease!  

Karen

Saw that you were investigating hyperthermia and wondered what treatment you selected. Our grandson has done some hyperthermia (bone cancer) with some good results, but wonder how to keep it up close to home...

 

On 4/20/2007 Freedomsprice wrote:

Saw that you were investigating hyperthermia and wondered what treatment you selected. Our grandson has done some hyperthermia (bone cancer) with some good results, but wonder how to keep it up close to home...

Unfortunately, my husband died Feb. 24 from pneumonia.  The coroner's report indicated viable tumors in the lungs.  So, I'm not sure whether they had been affected much by the hyperthermia he had received.  His tumor markers had come down and I suspect that was the Xeloda he was also taking.

Our next step I think was going to be Klinik St George in Germany.  They do whole body hyperthermia there.  Cancer Centers of America does not do whole body at this time because of the risks of going into shock.  I was a little uncomfortable about the whole body concept, but my husband was ready to try it.  (Valley Cancer Institute does not do whole body either)

I know what you mean about wanting to stay close to home!  My husband had faith in the hyperthermia concept, we just didn't have enough time.

Regards,

Karen 

Hi

Has your grandson had good results with hyperthermia. Has his cancer be eliminated completely.

Regards

Jack

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Hyperthermia has seemed to help, but it looks as though Dave has had more improvement from other sources.   You can read some of his/our story at behealthyamerica.com - look for David Penza under the Fullness of Life Foundation stories.

 

Hope all is well with you!  

Delores