Cancer Treatments in Bangkok without Chemo or Radiation
When it comes to cancer care, Bangkok is one of the premier destinations for international visitors who want to try alternative treatments that don’t involve radiation or chemotherapy. Treatments that are not typically covered by insurance, treatments that are less expensive in Thailand compared to western countries, treatments that have proven track records and which offer hope to patients and their families. As covered in previous blogs and listed on our website, the most cutting edge, non traditional treatment for cancer is called Car T-Cell therapy, which can cost as much a 1 million USD in the United States vs around $250,000-$500,000 USD in Thailand. This treatment however is limited at the current time to certain types of blood cancers such as leukemia and multiple myeloma. While it is highly effective & has FDA approval in America, there are many other cancer types that it is not suitable for – specifically solid state tumors. However, other cutting edge treatments that can used to fight tumors are available in Thailand, without the need for radiation or chemotherapy. This article will focus on a few of these modalities, specifically, Hyperthermia (Heat Therapy), High Dose Vitamin C infusions & NK Cell immunotherapy
Hyperthermia – Non Chemotherapy based Heat Treatment For Cancer
Hyperthermia is a non radiation, non chemotherapy based treatment that has been FDA approved in America for over 35 years, and is used to effectively fight cancer. Hyperthermia is a therapy which uses heat to kill cancer cells with the ability to apply it locally to target specific tumors, or to the whole body depending on the circumstance. The therapy uses heat which can be generated in several ways including via high-energy radio waves, microwaves, lasers & ultrasound. The heat raises the temperature in and around a tumor – to destroy cancer cells and the blood vessels that feed it. In Bangkok both options (local hyperthermia or whole body hyperthermia) are available, including the next generation of the technology called Oncothermia (It’s a form of hyperthermia, but unlike standard hyperthermia, oncothermia focuses thermal energy on the nanoscopic rafts of cancer cells). Often patients who are undergoing chemotherapy will supplement their treatments with Oncothermia or Hyperthermia, to improve the effectiveness of the chemotherapy. Likewise, for patients that are not doing chemotherapy, Hyperthermia or Oncothermia is typically part of a larger treatment plan that includes other therapies alongside it – For example NK Cell therapy or High dose vitamin C infusions. Hyperthermia treatments need to be done typically once every 2 or 3 days for a period of a few months for maximum effectiveness (18-24 sessions is common) – Pricing for a full round of treatment in Bangkok costs from ฿200,000 Baht – ฿400,000 Baht ($6,000 USD – $12,000 USD).
Intravenous High-Dose Vitamin C Cancer Therapy
Approximately sixty years ago William McCormick (MD) noticed that cancer patients usually had extremely low levels of vitamin C in their bloodstream with common symptoms similar to scurvy (scurvy is caused by a lack of vitamin C), which led him to speculate that vitamin C may be help protect against cancer. In several studies since, vitamin C has been shown to slow cancer and tumor growth (You can reference this overview of the studies here) – A quote from the paper “Mounting evidence indicates that vitamin C has the potential to be a potent anti-cancer agent when administered intravenously and in high doses (high-dose IVC)”
While it is not a cure and does not replace standard cancer treatments like chemotherapy, it is widely accepted as helpful in battles against cancer. The best way to get vitamin C into a person is via IV infusion (opposed to orally) – This is because if the vitamin is sent directly to the bloodstream, it can be absorbed by the body with maximum efficiency (unlike orally where the vitamin C tablets go through the digestive system and much less of it actually gets absorbed in the body). Vitamin C therapy is a popular add-on treatment for those with cancer who are utilizing several modes of care at the same time. It is readily accessible in Bangkok at both hospitals and certain clinics with dosages ranging between 25 gm & 50 gm in most cases. Costs per IV infusion in Thailand under the supervision of a oncologist is commonly between ฿5,000 Baht -฿10,000 Baht per infusion ($150 USD -$300 USD per infusion)
NK Cell Therapy (Immunotherapy) For Cancer
Natural Killer Cell Therapy (NK Cell Therapy) is a popular, cutting edge immunotherapy that targets and destroys cancer cells without the use of radiation or chemotherapy. NK cells are category of white blood cells that search for and destroy tumors and viruses. NK Cell therapy boosts the immune system and boosts the number of healthy NK cells in the body. Typically, either cancer patients have a reduced number of NK cells in their body, or the NK cells they do have are deformed or abnormal – which limits their ability to fight the disease. By supplementing the body with strong NK cells, slowing down, battling and eradicating cancer is a possibility. This form of therapy, as well as other immunotherapies like Car T Cell therapy, have been heavily studied in recent years – Read more of the peer reviewed scientific literature from National Library of medicine in the United States called NK Cell Therapy: A Rising Star in Cancer Treatment. A quote from the paper “The therapeutic effects of NK cell therapy alone or in combination with other agents have been widely demonstrated in multiple clinical trials, and further preclinical studies are underway.”
NK Cells are administered directly into the blood with an IV infusion and are available in Bangkok at major hospitals and some qualified clinics. They are often given alongside a Dendritic Cell (DC) cancer vaccine injection to trigger the body’s immune system to attack cancer cells. It is common that NK cells are administered once per week or once every two weeks – either alone or in conjunction with other cancer therapies. The cost of NK Cell therapy in Bangkok can range from ฿150,000 Baht – ฿300,000 Baht per infusion, which is approximately $4,500 USD – $9,000 USD per infusion depending on the hospital and specific patient details (The process will includes the culture of the cells and lab work as well as the infusion).
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In conclusion, Bangkok offers a wide range of cancer therapies including both traditional chemotherapy and radiation therapy, as well as alternative options such as immunotherapy (NK Cells, Car T-Cell Therapy), Heat therapy (Hyperthermia or Oncothermia) & High Dose Intravenous Vitamin C infusions. All of these treatments can be had in Bangkok at top tier, international hospitals at a discount to western countries, with no wait times for care.
If you or a loved one needs help battling cancer, getting care in Thailand might be life saving option. Contact Health Tours Thailand for details and planning.