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Cryotherapy
What is cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy uses extreme cold to destroy cancer cells. It’s also called cryosurgery or cryoablation. During cryotherapy treatment the doctor freezes the cancer cells to kill them.
Cryotherapy is called a local treatment, which means that it only treats the area where you have treatment. It doesn’t treat any cancer cells in other parts of the body. After the treatment the body’s immune system gets rid of the dead tissue over a few weeks.
Cryotherapy for skin cancer
Your doctor sprays liquid nitrogen on to the area of cancer or they put it directly on to the area with a cotton swab. The liquid freezes the area. After treatment the liquid nitrogen dissolves and the area thaws.
A scab forms in the area. Over the next month or so the scab falls off along with any dead cancer cells. Side effects include pain, swelling and redness, blistering and infection, although this is uncommon. Rare and longer term side effects might include scarring, numbness in the are and changes in skin colour, it may become either lighter or darker.
Some cancers need to be frozen and thawed a number of times. Depending on the treatment area, it can take from a few minutes to a couple of hours. To help the doctor position the cryoprobe you may have either an ultrasound scan or CT scan. The position of the cancer in the body affects how the doctor puts the cryoprobe into the area. You may have cryotherapy through the skin (percutaneously) or cryotherapy through a scope.
We offer cryotherapy treatments for patients with the following cancers:
The choice to see who you want, when you want
We believe that our patients should have the choice the see the consultant they want to, and we will make sure we fit our specialist care around you.
Treatments are delivered by our experienced and dedicated multidisciplinary team in our peaceful, private and state-of-the-art facilities.
Whatever you choose, our expert team will support and guide you through your course of treatment, ensuring that you are fully informed about every aspect of your care. Find out more about the care we provide at CCL and our values here.
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If you have any questions or would like to book an appointment with one of our specialists, complete this form online or call 020 8247 3351.