What is cryoablation for breast cancer as used by Dr. Ramesh Sarin?

Cryoablation is a minimally invasive treatment that destroys breast tumors by freezing them, rather than removing them through surgery.

Who is a good candidate for cryoablation?

It's suitable for early-stage breast cancers in patients who are medically unfit for surgery due to age or other conditions.

What are the success rates of cryoablation for breast cancer?

Major trials show high success rates, with nearly 100% ablation for very small tumors and over 90% for tumors up to 2 cm.

Home / Health / Freezing Tumors: A New Hope for Elderly Cancer Patients

Freezing Tumors: A New Hope for Elderly Cancer Patients

23 Jan

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Summary

Cryoablation freezes breast tumors, offering an alternative to surgery.
This method suits elderly patients with heart conditions and aggressive cancers.
Success rates are high, but long-term outcomes are still under study.

Freezing Tumors: A New Hope for Elderly Cancer Patients

Cryoablation, a groundbreaking therapy that freezes breast tumors, is providing a crucial alternative for elderly patients facing aggressive cancers and other co-morbidities. This minimally invasive procedure is emerging as a viable option for individuals deemed too high-risk for conventional surgery.

For patients like Chanderkala Lohani, 78, who was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, cryoablation offered a lifeline. Standard treatments such as general anesthesia surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy were contraindicated due to her fragile heart condition and the cardiotoxic nature of some therapies.

During cryoablation, a probe is inserted into the tumor under imaging guidance, and extremely cold temperatures are applied. This creates an ice ball that damages and kills cancer cells, which the body then gradually removes. The procedure is typically performed under local anesthesia, leading to a quicker recovery, minimal pain, and reduced scarring.