Hyperthermia anyone?

I did both regional hyperthermia (14 times, twice after each of my first 7 chemo treatments) and whole body (once, after my last chemo).

My tumor was initially too big for surgery, and my lymph nodes were matted. The surgeon and onc said I needed to do chemo first, hoping to shrink the tumor and loosen up the nodes so surgery would be more successful. They said the second half of chemo (taxotere & herceptin) would hopefully shrink the tumor. I had an MRI after chemo #4, I assume as a baseline to measure shrinkage of the tumor from the remaining chemo... and the tumor was gone. There was no indication of cancer in either the breast or the nodes. (Yay!) I credit the hyperthermia and the other stuff my naturopath had me doing, since I hadn't yet had the drugs that were supposed to shrink the tumor.

Here's the link to where I went:

http://www.integratedhealthclinic.com/_cancercare/cancerCare.htm

I've met several people at the clinic (including people who have travelled here from all over North America) who have had treatments for mets and have seen significant shrinkage of tumors. With the whole body hyperthermia they've also seen an overall improvement in immune function, such as cuts and scrapes healing faster, stuff like that.

I'm happy to answer any specific questions you have! And best of luck to you. This is hard enough with teenagers - it's got to be a whole lot more challenging (and scary) with small kids.

Sue

I'm just outside Vancouver, BC, and the clinic I go to is in Fort Langley.  I didn't actually tell my onc that I was doing this... 

The Naturopath I see at this clinic is actually part of a mainstream clinical trial for the hyperthermia for ... pancreatic cancer?  I think that's the one.  In Canada, the mean survival time is 2-3 months (or something like that) while in Germany, where hyperthermia is much more mainstream, survival is 2-3 years.  That's a big difference!

Hyperthermia is only available in a handful of places in North America.  The clinic in Fort Langely, Duke University, and some where in California.  I think there are some places in Mexico too, but I don't know of any specifics. 

I didn't get stats on anything breast-cancer related.  I did do some reading online, and looked into some of the mechanisms the naturopath talked about.  I figured that with stage 3 cancer we needed to throw everything at it we could. My thinking - to be very, very blunt - was that if it helped it was money well spent, and if it didn't and I didn't make it then there is insurance to cover the expenses.

Treatment was after every chemo, so about 6 months.  I think there's a protocol to go back and do a whole body every 3-6 months for the next few years, which I will follow once I get through active treatment.  Insurance doesn't cover any of this, although some people might have extended medical through work or whatever that would.

Sorry this is kind of disjointed - had my UMX last week and fill yesterday, so still a little wacky myself. 

Sue

PS There are clinical trials!  Check the Duke University website!  They are doing research specifically on breast cancer (they have a "boobie jacuzzi" there).  I don't recall who has whole-body hyperthermia in the US, although I think someone does. And someone in Calgary is getting set up to do hyperthermia, although I don't know if it's regional or whole-body.  (There are two people I know who come here from Calgary after every chemo to have HT done here, and lots of people who travel from other places around NA.)

Sue, I am SO appreciative of you posting this and Hendrick to you as well for asking!!



I have done lots of research into WBT, and followed the progress closely at MD Anderson, Univ of Texas, Duke, Sanoviv and St Georg, amongst others,in Germany. The price in Germany at the time I checked was $8500. Quite out of reach for this mom to 3.



But, Fort Langley just told me that with a $299 consult they can do the whole body hyperthermia for $975. That's very exciting news!



I am going through tissue expanders now, and with my luck would melt them, lol. So I will shoot for having this treatment sometime next year.

Does anyone have any information on whether hyperthermia can be used with women who have Stage 0 DCIS (cancer only in the milk ducts)?

Thank you for this topic. Very interesting....cheering you on Hendricks1 and hoping it serves you well by killing those cancer cells!!

Geewhiz I know this is off topic but would you mind sharing with me if there was a kit or such that you used to start growing wheatgrass?? I've figured out how to grow broccoli sprouts...yeah me...but wheatgrass seems hard!! I also did Vit C infusions after treatment....may decide to continue to do them...I know you did Vit C and wondered if you were still or had stopped...hope that is not to personal a question...if so don't answer. You seem very on top of organic treatments and I value your info....realize this is not for everyone....I also do lots of green juicing!! Thank you for any info and sorry for being off topic!!!

Geewhiz,

Thank you so much for sharing! I have a Humor juicer that does well with the wheatgrass...its just so expensive to juice wheatgrass when I have to buy it, so now I put my wheatgrass in my Vitamixer with my whey protein. If you say its easy to grow,  I'll give it a try...getting tried of the cost of buying!!

It's nice to hear from someone else who is doing the Vit C infusions. I did all that MD Anderson recommended for treatment and then researched what other treatments, lifestyle, diet, supplements might be helpful...always questioning myself as to whether I am making the right choices for me..thank you for sharing your choices! I use the time that I do the Vit C infusions as my "guilt free nap time"!!

Thank you again for sharing and hope you heal fast! Doing a cardio class four weeks after recon sounds like your doing great!!!