Using Extreme Cold to Kill Cancer
Cryoablation is a unique method that uses liquid nitrogen, liquid nitrous oxide, or compressed argon gas to freeze the abnormal diseased human tissues or cells so that they can be destroyed. The temperature is anywhere around 346 to -320°F. This is an extreme low temperature. Anything at this temperature freezes and dies.
The surgical application of cryoablation is called cryosurgery and the entire treatment is called cryotherapy. The use of cryotherapy to destroy cancer tumours is increasingly gaining success among cancer patients. It’s a painless, quick and minimally invasive treatment for cancer. It targets the specific part of the body where the tumour is growing.
An Israeli company IceCure - Innovating Cryotherapy Solutions has gained recognition for the ProSenseTM Cryoablation Technology that uses liquid nitrogen injected into the tumour that freezes it within minutes. They claim it destroys the tumours leaving surrounding mass and tissues intact and unharmed.
This kind of treatment has worked well for malignant and benign tumours of the breast, lungs, renal, and bone cancer. It can be used in cases of retinoblastoma, skin cancers, including basal cell and squamous cell, carcinomas skin lesions from AIDS-related Kaposi sarcoma, early-stage prostate cancer, liver cancer that is confined to the liver, bone cancer, mostly chondrosarcoma non-small cell lung cancer and soft tissue tumours like fibromatosis.
Benefits of Cryotherapy
- It's minimally invasive so patients can be treated as outpatients. Only a small cut is made. Usually, local anaesthesia is required. Reduced bleeding, pain and other problems related to surgery.
- Mostly does not destroy surrounding healthy tissues.
- Fewer side effects
- Cost-effective
- It can be an option for those who can’t undergo surgery because of age or other factors.
- Can be used when patients aren’t responding to other forms of treatment.
Major Drawback
- It can be used only for tumours or growth that can be seen on the surface of the body or through imaging tests.
- It is still to be ascertained how long a patient’s life can be prolonged with this form of treatment.
Some Side Effects
- The side effects of Cryotherapy are of less severity compared to other forms of treatment like radiation and chemotherapy.
- Cervical cell treatment can cause cramps or bleeding.
- Swelling in certain parts of the body where treatment was done
- In certain rare cases, liver treatment can lead to damage of the bile duct, blood vessels or bleeding. Tumours in the bone can lead to weak bones.
- The side effects depend on the part of the body and the stage of the tumour.
Follow up care
- If treatment is carried out on an external part of the body you will be given local anaesthesia and can leave in a day. If it’s carried out on an internal part of the organ then a patient needs to be hospitalised.
- Complete hygiene has to be maintained around the part that has been treated.
- Depending on the condition and stage of abnormal growth that has to be treated your doctor will advise you on what to follow or restrain from.
Cryoablation In India
India is increasingly becoming the chosen destination for medical treatment among people from all around the world. High standards matched with affordability have led to this development. The cost of living is within reach of the masses. Discovered somewhere in the 19th-century Cryoablation is now gaining importance in the treatment of cancer. It is available at several hospitals across major cities in India. These hospitals adhere to the highest standards of medical procedure. The very fact that the demand for liquid nitrogen in the pharmaceutical sector is growing considerably indicates the use and success of cryoablation in India.
The rate of failure in surgery is very low in Cryosurgery. So, the use of this method is growing but at the same time, research and development are ongoing with new investors and equipment being developed. Cryoablation in India has a long journey ahead!