Ablation Therapy

We use ablation therapy to treat bone, lung, liver, kidney, prostate and uterine cancers.

You experience less pain and recover faster.

Our approach to ablation therapy

We take a collaborative approach to your care with a strong emphasis on multi-specialty coordination. 

Our interventional radiologists (doctors who use minimally invasive techniques), surgeons and other clinicians will diagnose and treat your cancer. 

How to work with us

If your primary care doctor has referred you to the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center for evaluation, we’ll schedule tests. We assess your cancer's location, accessibility and your overall health to determine if ablation is the right treatment for you.

Types of ablation treatments

Ablative therapy is the least invasive therapy to destroy your cancer while leaving nearby healthy tissue intact. 

The most common types of ablation we use are cryoablation and radiofrequency ablation.

• Cryoablation
  We use special needles to freeze tumors with tiny balls of ice colder than -100 degrees Celsius.
  We can target this ice ball so exactly that it destroys your tumor while preserving healthy tissue and nearby structures. 

• Radiofrequency ablation
  In radiofrequency ablation, we introduce a needle electrode through the skin to heat the tumor to more than 50 degrees Celsius. This kills the cancer cells.
  We use ultrasound, CT scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to pinpoint the tumor and monitor the ablation procedure. 

Other ablation techniques

• Embolization
• High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU)
• Interstitial lasers
• Irreversible electroporation (NanoKnife®)
• Microwave ablation

What is an ablation?

The word ablate means to destroy. An ablation is the process of delivering heat or cold with needles or different frequencies to kill cancer. It works on both malignant and benign tumors.

Even better, ablation leaves the tissue surrounding your tumor healthy and intact. 

What are the side effects of tumor ablation?

The side effects are minimal. You might feel sore for a few days, or experience temporary flu-like symptoms. We can treat both of these with medication.

Is ablation better than chemotherapy?

They can both work well. 

Ablation is a highly localized procedure with fewer side effects compared to chemotherapy. 

Chemo affects your whole system whereas ablation affects just the tumor site.

We’ll determine together whether you need chemotherapy, ablation or both depending on the type and stage of cancer you have.

Who is a good candidate for ablation?

Ablation could be for you if:

• Your tumors are small
• You can’t have surgery or don’t tolerate anesthesia
• Your chemotherapy was partially successful
• We can’t surgically reach your tumors 

What type of cancer and other conditions does radiofrequency ablation treat?

We often use radiofrequency ablation for liver, lung, kidney, bone, breast, prostate or thyroid cancer in combination with other treatments. 

We also use ablative techniques for noncancerous medical problems. In cardiology, there is a subspeciality called cardiac ablation. We use it to help correct irregular heartbeats and certain structural heart diseases. 

We may also ablate uterine fibroids, depriving them of blood to reduce their size.

Benefits of ablation

• There is some discomfort but minimal pain 
• Ablation reduces your exposure to radiation
• This less invasive technique preserves the tissue near the tumor site, keeping it healthy and undisturbed
• Avoiding surgery also means you avoid infections, complications and extensive overnight stays
• You’ll benefit from a speedy recovery at home

How to prepare for ablation

For the most up-to-date information, please discuss with your doctor how best to prepare.

• Mention medication allergies 
• Tell us what medications you’re on
• We may advise you to stop taking blood thinners, aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• Expect to fast the night before 
• You might be able to drink water up to two hours before
• Wear comfortable, loose clothes or a hospital gown
• Avoid wearing scents, lotions and deodorant
• Take off any jewelry or eyeglasses
  • Be prepared to stay one night, but you may not need to

What happens after my ablation therapy?

• Rest. Expect to stay for a few hours or overnight in the recovery room, where we’ll monitor your vital signs.
• You may feel fatigued afterward and for a few weeks.
• Expect muscle soreness and body aches for up to five days.
• Avoid lifting heavy objects or engaging in strenuous activities.
• Though unlikely, you may get an infection.
• Be prepared to return for an imaging scan in a month to six weeks to check on your progress. 
• We’ll schedule regular follow up appointments to monitor your progress.

Why choose UCI Health for ablation therapy?

Our ablative oncology center is world class

We are the nation's first multidisciplinary clinical and academic center dedicated to the ablative care of disease. We’re the only such center in Orange County. Our approach – destroying tumors inside the body without incisions – is unique in clinical medicine.

We target cancer with great precision

Our oncologists, vascular and interventional radiologists and surgical specialists collaborate closely to ensure the pinpoint accuracy of your treatment. We use one of the world's most powerful magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems for live imaging during your ablative procedure.

Our goal is to deliver the most advanced ablative technologies clinically available. 

Our dedication to educating the next generation ensures a superb continuity of care

We take every opportunity to transfer our ablation team skills to students, nurses, technicians, residents, fellows and community physicians. What that means for you is a consistently high quality patient experience.