THERMOTHERAPY METHOD FOR TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF BREAST CANCER AND CANCER IN OTHER ORGANS.

摘要

A method is disclosed for treating cancerous or benign conditions of an organ by selective irradiation of the organ tissue with focused energy. The method includes the steps of inserting an E-field probe sensor to an appropriate depth in the organ tissue, monitoring temperatures of the skin surface adjacent the organ (if focused energy is used), positioning two or more energy applicators around the organ, setting the initial power level delivered to each energy applicator, setting the initial relative phase delivered to each energy applicator to focus the energy at the E-field probe positioned in the organ tissue(if focused energy is used), delivering energy to the two or more energy applicators to selectively irradiate the organ tissue with focused energy and treat at least one of cancerous and benign conditions of the organ, adjusting the level of power to be delivered to each energy applicator during treatment based on the monitored skin temperatures, monitoring the energy delivered to the energy applicators, determining total energy delivered to the energy applicators and displaying the total energy in real time during the treatment, and completing the treatment when the desired total energy dose has been delivered by the energy applicators to the organ. Either focused or non-focused energy may be employed with microwave energy applicators being the preferred energy source. However, any combination of energy applicators such as electromagnetic, ultrasound, radio frequency and laser may be used together to form the focused energy. Non-focused energy may be combined with focused energy to enhance the thermotherapy. Several applications for breast cancer treatment include treatment of advanced and early stage breast cancer, breast cancer prevention, and treatment of benign breast disease and ductal carcinoma in situ.