Fact or Myth: Cryotherapy Treats Cancer

Beauty queens and scientists have at least one thing in common. They both regularly say they are driven to find a cure for cancer. The whole world is rooting them on. We should be. Cancer is devastating. People want a solution but don’t always trust new techniques promising results. That’s why using cryotherapy for cancer treatment can be met with some skepticism.

Fortunately for all of us, this innovative technique is actually helping people with cancer and other maladies. It is not a universal cure. However, it certainly can be regarded as a legitimate treatment option.

What is Cryotherapy?

Cryotherapy has been around awhile. In fact, it was first used almost 200 years ago. You may use cryotherapy to treat common ailments without knowing. Ever applied ice to a swollen ankle? That’s cryotherapy in its most basic form.

The premise of advanced treatment is simple. Most cells in your body contain water. When that water is frozen, it turns to ice crystals. The ice and the extreme cold destroy the cancer cell. Delivering the cold agent to the cells is generally referred to as cryosurgery.

Changing the temperature, duration of exposure, and rate of freezing and thawing all have various effects on cells. By controlling these factors during cryotherapy for cancer, very specific cryosurgery protocols have been developed to attack different types of cancerous cells.

How Cryotherapy is Used for Cancer

Cryotherapy has not yet been proven to be a positive treatment for all forms of cancer. However, it has been shown to treat specific types with great results.

Skin Cancer

Liquid nitrogen applied directly to your skin by a dermatologist will kill various early-stage cancers. This process also addresses precancerous lesions which could become cancer if left untreated.

Cervical Cancer

Precancerous lesions can also be found on and around the cervix. Cryotherapy is used to treat this condition and reduce the potential for cancerous growth.

Bone Cancer

When treating bone cancer, liquid nitrogen has shown to be effective against benign, aggressive, and malignant tumors. In this type of cryosurgery, the liquid nitrogen is delivered directly to the tumor using specially crafted syringes called cryoprobes.

Prostate Cancer

Cryotherapy is often done to prevent early stages of prostate cancer. It is especially effective when the cancer has come back after radiation therapy, and other techniques are not available.

Other Benefits of Cryotherapy

Although rapidly becoming a staple in the medical arsenal against cancer, cryotherapy is best known for its effectiveness in treating less severe injuries and illnesses. Whole body therapy works wonders in fighting inflammation. Muscle pain, joint pain, and skin disorders can all be helped with this technique.

An added benefit of cryotherapy is the positive effect it has on your mental state. Many practitioners report significant improvement in their battle with depression, anxiety, and stress after undergoing therapy.

Cryotherapy for cancer is still in its early stages of testing, but its efficacy is certainly not a myth. More and more uses for this innovative and powerful treatment are being found every day. But, you don’t have to have a catastrophic illness to experience the benefits. Cryotherapy is great for what ails you and treatments are fast and affordable. Stop by San Diego Cryotherapy to see for yourself. Your body and mind will thank you.