Welcome to Radiofrequency Ablation of Cancer! Radiofrequency Ablation of Cancer is not affiliated with any facility or institution, but rather is dedicated to informing the interested public about radiofrequency ablation as a treatment for many forms of cancer. The information contained here is believed to be accurate. However, it should not be substituted for the advise of a physician skilled in this treatment method.




Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) is a cancer treatment which is highly successful, and yet relatively unknown. In its short history RFA has saved many lives. However, many suffer and die because they do not know about this procedure. It is my hope that this web site will reach some of these people.

RFA is a medical procedure in which a special needle is inserted into a tumor. The physician is guided in the placement of the needle by images from an imaging machine, such as a CT scanner. Once the needle is in place, tines are deployed from the hollow core of the needle. These tines penetrate and envelope the tumor. RFA energy is then sent through the needle and tines, destroying the tumor.




Since the patient's body is only penetrated by this special needle, RFA is minimally invasive. Some patients will be able to return home the day of the procedure. Others will be observed overnight before returning home. Because the procedure is minimally invasive the patient can begin, or continue with, chemotherapy. In addition, the needle can be placed in locations unavailable to surgery, so that many tumors can be destroyed which would otherwise be inoperable. And while RFA has previously been used to ablate small tumors, multiple placements of the needle can effectively ablate larger tumors as well. And, even if all of a large tumor cannot be ablated, there is much to be gained from the debulking of a large tumor.

Click here for a video simulation of an RFA procedure




There are many reasons that RFA is unknown to patients. Because it is a relatively new procedure, many doctors and patient are not aware of this lifesaving procedure. Other physicians are simply reluctant to consider new procedures.

However, when this involves the recommendation of surgery to accomplish what could be done in a simple RFA procedure, this reluctance harms the patient. Patients need information to assist their physician in charting a treatment program which is in the patient's best interest.

Most insurance companies will pay for RFA procedures which are FDA approved ablations, such as those to ablate liver cancer. However, for other cancers, such as lung cancer, the procedure is still considered experimental, and may or may not be covered by health insurance.

One insurer who examined RFA as a treatment option for lung cancer, and made the decision to pay for most RFA lung procedures, is AETNA. AETNA made this decision because it was in the best interest of both their subscribers, and their bottom line. For a growing number of cancers RFA is proving to be highly successful, less expensive, and the preferred method of treatment.
Who Does RFA, And Where They Are Located
Articles On RFA
Links of Interest
If you have any questions or comments email them to me at rfacancer@yahoo.com. If I cannot answer your question, I will make every effort to find someone who can.

I would like to thank Yahoo/Geocities for providing this free website, and Boston Scientific for the graphics.

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