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| (Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash) |
HEALTHY HAPPY JOY - Cryoablation is a cancer treatment by freezing cancer cells. If you want to undergo this type of treatment, it's a good idea to first know what cryoablation is.
What is cryoablation ?
Cryoablation is a type of cancer treatment that uses cold liquids to kill or freeze cancer cells in the body. Treatment, known by another name cryosurgery or cryotherapy, is usually performed when cancer cells cannot be surgically removed. It should be noted that not all types of cancer can be killed by cryoablation.
This procedure generally does not involve major surgery such as surgical removal of cancer cells. In cryoablation , a thin needle is inserted into the skin to deliver a very cold substance to freeze the tissue where the cancer cells arise.
Cryoablation is a high-tech cancer treatment that can treat various types of benign and malignant tumors.
By freezing and destroying the tumor, the spread of abnormal cells can be stopped so that the surrounding tissues or organs that are not affected can still function properly.
When is cryoablation treatment necessary ?
Cryoablation is not a specific treatment for certain types of cancer, it can be used to kill benign or malignant tumors that appear in various parts of the body. So far, cryoablation is used in the treatment as below.
- Bone cancer
- Cervical cancer
- Eye cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Heart cancer
- Lung cancer
- Prostate cancer .
This procedure can usually destroy small tumors that are 4 cm in size. In addition to tumors, tissue destruction in cryoablation can be done to remove moles on the skin that are at risk of developing into cancer, nodules, and growing flesh ( skin tags ).
What needs to be prepared before treatment?
Your doctor will usually ask you to stop taking blood-thinning medications such as aspirin for a week before undergoing cryoablation . Some doctors may advise patients to take pain relievers such as ibuprofen (400 mg) before the procedure.
Taking pain relievers can reduce pain and discomfort during the procedure, especially when ablation (freezing and crushing) the tumor is performed on the surface of the skin.
In addition, follow the following preparations before undergoing the cryoablation procedure .
- Inform the doctor about the type of vitamin, supplement, or herbal medicine you are taking, then the doctor may ask you to stop taking it for a while.
- Fasting or not eating and drinking for 8 hours before the procedure.
- Make sure you tell any drug allergies you have, especially to certain types of anesthetics.
How is the cryoablation process ?
Cryoablation is usually performed in a hospital by a radiologist. In this procedure, a thin needle called a cryoprobe is inserted through the skin until it reaches the tissue where there are cancer cells.
Doctors will usually use a monitor that shows the inside of the body as a guide to inject the needle precisely into the cancer cell tissue.
After that, liquid nitrogen or high pressure argon gas will be flowed through this needle to freeze the tissue,
Neither healthy nor diseased tissue can survive in extreme cold. Freezing in cryoablation is usually carried out at -40°C.
At this temperature, crystals will form between the cells and begin to block blood flow. Blood clots will usually last for 10 minutes. Therefore, the cell freezing process is usually carried out for 10-15 minutes.
Once the tumor cells are no longer receiving a blood supply, the cell structure is destroyed. The tissue that eventually freezes is then allowed to thaw.
The process of freezing and thawing tissue can be done several times during a single cryoablation procedure . The frequency depends on the type, size, and extent of tumor spread in the tissue.
If you want to destroy cancer cells on the surface of the skin , a cryoprobe will usually not be injected.
The doctor will destroy the tumor using liquid nitrogen that is sprayed directly on the skin. This is called cryotherapy.
Conversely, if the location of the tumor is deep enough, the doctor will perform surgery ( cryosurgery ) so that it is easier to access the tissue to be destroyed.
What needs to be done after treatment?
After cryoablation , the patient usually has to spend several days in the hospital. Some patients may be allowed to go home after the procedure.
If the doctor performs surgery, you can return to your normal activities after a 2-3 week recovery period. During that time, you should avoid doing strenuous physical activity and get more rest.
The doctor will also monitor the patient's condition through a number of follow-up examinations carried out after treatment, such as a cancer biopsy , X-ray, CT scan, or blood tests. The results of the examination will be presented by the doctor in the following consultation session.
Make sure you inform your doctor about any side effects you may experience after the procedure.
What are the benefits and risks of cryoablation ?
According to the study , in the journal Cryobiology , which reviewed various long - term clinical studies on the effects of cryoablation , ablation methods are very effective in suppressing cancer growth and provide a healing effect that is as good as radiation therapy.
The study entitled Cryoablation and Immunotherapy , which traced various studies of cryoablation treatment , said that this therapy can even treat cancer more optimally when combined with immunotherapy.
However, the tumor cell cryoablation procedure can also pose some risks although they tend to outweigh the benefits. Complications experienced may vary for each patient, depending on the location of the cryoablation.
- The following are some of the complications that patients can experience after cryoablation.
- Bleeding at the site of the needle or incision.
- A buildup of fluid around the lungs during the procedure around the diaphragm.
- Tissue damage in the lungs causing the lung to collapse or collapse
- Injury or impaired bile duct function if cryoablation is performed on the liver.
- Tissue damage or serious infection of the intestines during the procedure around the abdomen.
- Disruption of the rectum (large intestine) during the procedure to destroy tumors in the prostate.
- Permanent impotence due to nerve tissue damage while destroying prostate cancer .
- The sloughing of destroyed tumor cells can block the urinary tract and cause swelling.
Cryoablation is a cancer treatment that can be chosen as an alternative if surgical removal of the tumor is difficult.
However, the effectiveness of this treatment needs to be monitored on a long-term basis because in some cases cancer cells can reappear after the ablation procedure is performed.
To find out if you need to have this procedure, consult your cancer condition with your doctor further.[*]
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