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Prevent Cancer with Whole Body Cryotherapy

Researchers and physicians have long debated the relationship between inflammation and cancer. Recent studies are now emerging with evidence suggesting that anti-inflammatory treatments (specifically an aspirin regimen) can protect humans from certain cancers. As is the case with other anti-inflammatory pharmaceuticals aspirin is not without negative side effects. If only there were a drug-free anti-inflammatory alternative that might work in the same way as aspirin….but without the negative side effects….

Enter the concept of whole body cryotherapy. But first, a little background…

Obviously, the best treatment for cancer is to prevent it. According to cancer.gov there are many causes of cancer:

  • Age
  • Alcohol
  • Cancer Causing Substances
  • Chronic Inflammation
  • Diet
  • Hormones
  • Immunosuppression
  • Infectious Agents
  • Obesity
  • Radiation
  • Sunlight
  • Tobacco

Some of these risks are involuntary (i.e. age, immunosuppression, hormones etc). But many of these risk factors are avoidable and doing so mitigates cancer risk. As an example, not smoking, not drinking excessively and not being obese lowers your risk significantly for developing nearly all cancers.

For the purpose of this blog, we will discuss how lowering chronic inflammation (and obesity) through the use of whole body cryotherapy can not only lower the risk of developing cancer…but in the event of cancer, it can reduce the likelihood of cancer spreading to other parts of the body.

Chronic inflammation has been linked to the initiation, perpetuation and metastases of cancer. Here is how it works…

In the case of developing cancer, inflammation can facilitate DNA mutation that creates cancerous cells. Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS) which are abundant during inflammation can induce gene mutations, leading to cancer formation. Inflammation of the tissue surrounding a tumor can hasten the oncogenic process by directly promoting genetic instability and favoring or inducing gene mutations. (1)

In the case of cancer growth and metastases: when cancer cells exist and form a tumor, they can initially scavenge enough oxygen and nutrients from their immediate surroundings. But in order to grow, the tumor accumulates more and more genetic faults and the cancer cells release chemical signals that lure immune cells (macrophages and granulocytes) to infiltrate the tumor. Once inside the tumor, these cells secrete molecules (inflammatory cytokines) that stimulate angiogenesis (blood vessel growth) to import much-needed oxygen and nutrients. Other inflammatory cytokines encourage growth of a cellular ‘pillow’ called the stroma. Meanwhile, other
inflammatory cells spritz the tumor with molecules (free radicals) that further damage their DNA. Inflammation
might also facilitate metastasis by producing chemicals that help tumor cells nibble through the molecules tethering them to their surroundings—allowing them to migrate to other parts of the body. All of these processes indicate that young tumors hijack inflammation and use it to accelerate the progression towards metastatic cancer. (1)

How can whole body cryotherapy help?

  1. WBC reduces chronic inflammation throughout the body including in all organs (lungs, brain, liver, GI tract etc), breasts, muscles and tissue. Since chronic inflammation is implicated in the initiation of cancer, lowering it will reduce risk for developing the disease. (2)
  2. As discussed above, by relieving chronic inflammation, WBC may inhibit the progression of cancer. (1)
  3. Reducing acute and chronic inflammation instigated by cancer tumor expansion, WBC can potentially reduce the likelihood of cancer metastasizing into other parts of the body. Inflammation is linked to the vascularization of malignant tumors, development of the tumor “stroma” and to encouraging the proliferation of the disease.
  4. WBC can contribute to significant weight loss which can lower chronic inflammation linked to obesity.
  5. WBC has been shown to increase immunity by increasing white blood cells counts. (3)
  6. WBC has emotional/mental benefits which can inspire positive lifestyle changes (i.e. quitting smoking, alcohol, starting exercise etc).

Infrared sauna can also be used to lower risk for developing cancer, and for lowering the risk of metastatic disease if cancer does exist. Here’s how:

  1. Hyperthermia (raising body temperature to approximately 105F) has been shown to kill cancer cells. Heating a tumor inhibits homologous recombination, a DNA repair system, so cancer cells cannot mend DNA damaged by radiation or chemotherapy. In this way, infrared sauna can be used as a complement to traditional cancer interventions such as radiation, immunotherapy and chemotherapy.
  2. Infrared sauna activates significant weight loss which can inhibit inflammatory-initiated cancer growth and proliferation.
  3. Infrared sauna reduces inflammation (6) to lower risk for developing cancer and lowers risk for cancer spread.

Obviously, a multi-facted approach to cancer prevention and cancer treatment will work best. High risk Individuals (due to genetics, pre-disposition, family history, toxic exposures, hormones etc) should embrace lifestyle changes to reduce their cancer risk. In addition to lifestyle changes, all individuals can mitigate their risk for developing cancer by lowering their chronic inflammatory levels through the use of whole body cryotherapy and/or infrared sauna.

If cancer does occur, concurrent use of infrared sauna and whole body cryotherapy can alleviate traditional treatment side effects (from radiation and/or chemotherapy). Whole body cryotherapy and infrared sauna can increase energy levels (both mental and physical), reduce skin effects, increase immunity and enhance the cancer-killing effects of traditional cancer treatments.

ChillRx Cryotherapy has a specific cancer prevention and treatment enhancement protocol. Our on-staff medical advisor oversees the formulation of our treatment protocols to ensure maximum client safety and treatment effectiveness. Please contact ChillRx Cryotherapy for more information on our treatment plans.

  1. http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/30667/title/An-Aspirin-for-your-Cancer-/Journal of Thermal Biology 34 (2009) 55–59 Effects of whole-body cryotherapy on serum mediators of inflammation and serum muscle enzymes in athletes Giuseppe Banfi, Gianluca Melegati, Alessandra Barassi, Giada Dogliotti, Gianvico Melzi d’Eril, Benoit Dugue ́, Massimiliano M. Corsi
  2. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2010 May;109(1):67-72. doi: 10.1007/s00421-009-1207-2. Epub 2009 Sep 25.
Do sessions of cryostimulation have influence on white blood cell count, level of IL6 and total oxidative and antioxidative status in healthy men? Lubkowska A, Szygula Z, Klimek AJ, Torii M.
  3. How heat helps kill cancer. Local hyperthermia boosts the effectiveness of cancer treatments by preventing DNA repair in tumor cells. Megan Scudellari The Scientist
  4. Whole body hyperthermia Helps Kill Cancer Cells canceractive.com
  5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2748062/
  6. Far Infrared Therapy Inhibits Vascular Endothelial Inflammation via the Induction of Heme Oxygenase-1 Chih-Ching Lin, MD,a,b,c Xiao-Ming Liu, MD,f Kelly Peyton, MA,f Hong Wang, MD, PhD,e Wu-Chang Yang, MD,c,bShing-Jong Lin, MD, PhD,a,b,d and  William Durante, PhDf
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