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Information on Cryotherapy Treatment for Cancer

Cryotherapy (also known as cryoablation and cryosurgery) is a procedure that uses intense cold to kill diseased tissue and cells. The long-term effects of cryotherapy are not completely known, which may cause insurance issues.

  1. Significance

    • Cryotherapy can be a cheaper alternative to conventional cancer treatments, such as surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. It is a minimally invasive procedure with relatively short recovery times.

    Procedure

    • A cryoprobe is inserted into the cancerous area, and liquid nitrogen or argon gas is delivered to freeze cancerous cells. The frozen cells are thawed and frozen again until they die.

    Types

    • Cryotherapy is used to treat a number of different cancers and precancerous tumors including: retinoblastoma, skin cancers, bone cancers, prostate and liver tumors, actinic keratosis, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, and Kaposi sarcoma (AIDS related).

    Side Effects

    • The side effects of cryotherapy are not as severe or troublesome as conventional cancer treatments. For example, the side effects of cryotherapy for skin cancer include: nerve damage, hair loss, and scarring.

    Limitations

    • Cryotherapy can only treat localized cancers because it targets a specific area of the body. Microscopic cancers that do not appear on radiologic scans may go untreated.

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