We have been working with IRATHERM® since 2002. We treat 70% of cancer patients as a combination therapy of whole-body hyperthermia (WBH) with chemo- / immune- / antibody- / radiotherapy, based on our experience in Europe and the USA. We treat in the area of mild/moderate WBH with core body temperatures up to max. 40.5°C. Here we follow the publications and lectures of Prof. Weigelin. This ensures that we do not “overtax” the patient’s immune system and do not suppress the immune response.
With the exception of brain tumors or brain metastases, all tumor entities can be considered. The therapies last 4-6 hours. We rarely give patients medication to relax them. After the therapy, patients take a shower, have a drink and can go home after about 30 minutes of follow-up observation.
The frequency of these therapies depends on the oncological therapy cycle and is usually carried out once every 4 to 6 weeks.
Following WBH, we may also carry out local hyperthermia at the “site of need”.
As we work “multimodally” here, it is difficult to determine the proportion of WBH. But in our evaluations, we definitely have longer survival times without any additional reduction in quality of life.
For non-oncological indications, but also after the end of oncological therapies, we carry out WBH as a prophylaxis for infections and pain in the sense of “detoxification/immunomodulation”. The duration of therapy is between 60 and 150 minutes. The core body temperatures are usually 1.5 – 2 °C higher than the initial temperature.
During the corona period, we treated many patients prophylactically with approx. 1 h of WBH and infusions. Such prophylactic use of WBH is also indicated for “normal flu epidemics” and “chronic fatigue syndrome”.
In the case of non-oncological indications, I can say with certainty that those affected benefit quickly and lastingly from WBH (including my family and myself).
As a classical radiotherapist and palliative physician, I would not want to do without WBH under any circumstances. There are publications today that support the sensible use of hyperthermia for bone pain and radiotherapy in combination with hyperthermia.
I hope and wish, on behalf of those affected, that more colleagues will take an interest and “catch fire”