Cancer

Simplified Guide for Practitioners and Patients

Far infrared (FIR) therapy uses a special type of heat energy – invisible light waves that generate gentle warmth – to support health. FIR waves penetrate a few centimeters into the body, warming tissues from the inside out. You can receive FIR therapy through things like an infrared sauna, heat lamps, or warming pads made of FIR-emitting material. Unlike the intense heat of traditional saunas, FIR saunas work at lower temperatures but still make you sweat. This therapy is painless, relaxing, and non-invasive. In cancer care, FIR therapy is considered an integrative treatment approach: it's used alongside conventional treatments (like chemotherapy, radiation, surgery), not usually as a standalone cure. The goal is to harness FIR's heating effects to weaken cancer cells, boost circulation, and help the body recover. Think of FIR therapy as a way to create a temporary "artificial fever" or therapeutic heat in the body – much like when your body has a fever to fight illness, but in a controlled, pleasant manner.

How FIR Therapy Can Help in Cancer Treatment

FIR therapy can play two important roles for cancer patients:

1. Directly Fighting Cancer Cells:

Heating the body with FIR can actually stress cancer cells and slow their growth. Cancer cells don't like heat. FIR therapy creates a mild whole-body heat (similar to a fever) or local heat to a tumor, which can:

Damage or even kill some cancer cells: Research in labs and animals shows that tumors exposed to FIR heat grow more slowly. For example, Chang et al. demonstrated that FIR treatment significantly inhibited breast cancer cell growth in their studies (Chang et al., 2013). The heat makes it harder for cancer cells to divide and can trigger natural cell death processes.

Make cancer cells easier to destroy: Heat can sensitize tumor cells – meaning after warming up, these cells become more vulnerable to chemotherapy or radiation. It's like heating butter in the microwave: it softens up, so any "knife" (chemo/radiation) cuts through more easily. This is why hyperthermia (heat therapy) is known to improve treatment outcomes when combined with other therapies.

Cut off tumor blood supply: FIR might help stunt the growth of new blood vessels that tumors need. Tumors thrive on blood flow; studies by Rau et al. suggest FIR can reduce levels of enzymes (MMPs) that tumors use to build blood vessels, thereby starving the tumor over time (Rau et al., 2011).

2. Supporting the Patient's Body (Supportive Care):

FIR therapy is wonderful for self-care and recovery during cancer treatment. It helps the body in several ways:

Improves circulation: FIR expands blood vessels and boosts blood flow. Better circulation means more oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and more efficient waste removal, as demonstrated by Vatansever and Hamblin in their comprehensive review (Vatansever & Hamblin, 2012). For a cancer patient, this can translate to more energy, warmer hands/feet, and faster healing of tissues damaged by radiation or surgery.

Reduces swelling and lymphedema: If you have lymphedema (swelling of an arm or leg after lymph node removal or radiation), FIR therapy can help. Clinical trials by Li et al. found that FIR sauna combined with standard care reduced limb swelling significantly in breast cancer survivors (Li et al., 2009). The heat penetrates and helps lymph fluid move, relieving that uncomfortable edema.

Eases inflammation and pain: FIR's gentle heat can act like a natural anti-inflammatory. Research by Masuda et al. has shown it lowers inflammatory markers like IL-6 and TNF (Masuda et al., 2005). Practically, patients often report less joint pain, muscle soreness, and stiffness after FIR sessions. It's deeply relaxing – many say it eases aches and even improves their sleep.

Detoxification (sweating out toxins): Sweating is one way our body gets rid of toxins. FIR therapy makes you sweat a lot, which can help eliminate heavy metals and chemical toxins that might be stored in your body. Crinnion's research supports this detoxification pathway (Crinnion, 2007). This "detox" can be especially helpful if you've been through chemotherapy – while your liver and kidneys do the heavy lifting, sweating gives them an extra hand in flushing out waste. Always remember to hydrate well to replace fluids after a sauna!

Immune system boost: Raising your core temperature a bit (like a fake fever) can stimulate your immune system. Fever is the body's way of fighting infections and possibly cancer. As noted by Jansky et al., FIR therapy can increase the activity of immune cells and make cancer cells more "visible" to the immune system (Jansky et al., 1996). Patients who use FIR often report feeling invigorated afterward, which is a sign your body's defenses are perking up. By enhancing blood flow and reducing stress hormones, FIR can help your immune cells patrol more effectively.

FIR with Conventional Cancer Treatments (Working Together)

One of the great advantages of FIR therapy is how well it pairs with other treatments. You do not have to choose between FIR and standard care – they complement each other:

Chemotherapy:

Using FIR heat and chemo together can be powerful. The heat from FIR expands blood vessels in the tumor, so more of the chemotherapy drug can enter the tumor tissue. It also puts cancer cells in a weaker state (they're busy dealing with heat stress), so the chemo can hit them harder. Patients doing FIR saunas during chemo often find they tolerate chemo better – possibly because FIR helps their circulation and detox pathways handle the drugs. In a study of pancreatic cancer patients by Iyikesici et al., those who received chemo plus integrative therapies like FIR hyperthermia and mistletoe lived longer (median ~19 months) than those who had chemo alone (~9 months) (Iyikesici et al., 2019). This suggests that combining FIR-induced hyperthermia with chemo might improve outcomes. At the very least, FIR can help you feel better during chemo cycles (less fatigue and nausea), which means you can stick to your treatment plan more easily.

Radiation therapy:

Timing an FIR session before radiation can make the radiation more effective. Here's why: FIR increases oxygenation in tissues, and radiation needs oxygen to create the free radicals that kill cancer cells. A warmer, well-oxygenated tumor is a radiation-sensitive tumor. Additionally, mild heat can prevent cancer cells from efficiently repairing the DNA damage that radiation causes. So, they accumulate more damage and die. Some cancer centers in Europe use infrared hyperthermia devices to warm tumor areas prior to radiotherapy for this reason. If you have access to an infrared sauna or heating pad, your doctor might approve using it before going in for radiation (ask first!). Many patients also use FIR after radiation to soothe the skin and fatigue – just ensure the skin is not overly heated if it's already irritated. Always keep communication open with your oncology team about any side therapies.

Immunotherapy and biological treatments:

There's a saying: "Heat is the fourth pillar of cancer therapy" (after chemo, radiation, surgery). This is because heat can shift the tumor environment from "cold" (invisible to immune cells) to "hot" (immune cells rush in). FIR-induced hyperthermia might help immunotherapy drugs (like checkpoint inhibitors or IL-2, or even natural therapies like mistletoe) work better by making the tumor more immunogenic – essentially waving a red flag that the immune system can see. Mistletoe extract, often used in integrative oncology to stimulate immunity, intentionally causes mild fever as part of its action. Some integrative doctors administer mistletoe IV and then use FIR sauna to maintain a therapeutic fever for an hour or so. The combination can lead to stronger immune responses, though it should be supervised by professionals. If you're doing any kind of immune therapy, adding FIR could further activate your immune system against the cancer, acting like a catalyst for your body's own defenses.

Other integrative therapies:

FIR teams up nicely with holistic therapies. For example, after ozone therapy (which adds reactive oxygen to your blood), an FIR session can improve circulation so those oxygen molecules get where they need to go. Or vice versa, FIR first to increase circulation, then ozone or high-dose vitamin C to attack cancer cells with oxidative stress. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is another – doing FIR before HBOT might dilate vessels so that oxygen-rich blood penetrates tumors more deeply, potentially enhancing the effect of HBOT on tumor cells. With PEMF (pulsed electromagnetic field) therapy mats, many clinics have patients lie on a PEMF mat inside an infrared sauna – the PEMF further boosts microcirculation and cellular energy, while the FIR sauna causes sweating and detox. These combinations are all about helping your whole body function better while you're fighting cancer. They are generally safe, but you should have a knowledgeable integrative practitioner guide you to get the timing and order right.

What Does a FIR Therapy Session Look Like?

For those new to FIR therapy, here's what you can typically expect:

The Relax Sauna Difference 

The Relax Sauna:  The Relax Sauna’s FDA approved, patented semiconductor-controlled chip represents the pinnacle of far infrared (FIR) technology, engineered with medical precision to deliver near 100% pure FIR wavelengths in the 4–14 micron range—without noise from non-therapeutic spectra. Unlike conventional panels, this advanced emitter achieves a power density at or above 20 mW/cm², a clinically significant threshold required to penetrate deeply and trigger meaningful biological responses. This includes enhanced microcirculation, mitochondrial activation, immune modulation, and systemic detoxification. The chip's purity and spectral specificity ensure that every session delivers therapeutic-grade energy with minimal ambient heat, allowing for longer durations, faster tissue response, and maximized clinical outcomes across diverse protocols—from oncology support to chronic pain recovery.

Local FIR Therapy: If you have a specific area of concern (say a swollen arm from lymphedema or a painful back), Relax Saunas of Momentum has a far infrared lamp that targets that area. For example, a FIR lamp might be shone over a tumor site or an area of pain for relief or over a lymphedematous arm for 30 minutes to gently heat the tissues and improve lymph flow. . These sessions are similar to using a heating pad, but the FIR penetrates more deeply than a standard electric heating pad. You might use local FIR daily on doctor's recommendation, and it can often be done at home.

Safety and Precautions

FIR therapy is generally very safe and gentle. But here are some tips and precautions to keep in mind:

Stay Hydrated: You will sweat a lot with FIR therapy, especially in a sauna. Always drink water before and after. You can also drink during if you need. Dehydration can make you feel lightheaded or fatigued afterward, so hydration is key to a good experience.

Temperature and Timing: More heat is not always better. Follow guidelines on how long to stay in. If you feel too hot or dizzy, get out of the sauna or turn off the device. FIR should feel comfortably warm, not painfully hot. It's normal for your heart rate to go up (like mild exercise), but you should not feel faint. Start slow and build up tolerance over sessions. Most people begin with treatment times of 5-10 minutes and find a sweet spot around 20–40 minutes, depending on their heat tolerance.

Medical Conditions: If you have a heart condition, low blood pressure, severe weakness, or are very prone to heat exhaustion, talk to your doctor first. FIR increases circulation and can lower blood pressure (from vasodilation). This is usually a good thing, but if you're on blood pressure meds, be aware it might drop a bit too much – monitor how you feel. Patients with implanted medical devices (like a pacemaker) or certain types of chemo ports should confirm with their doctor that intense heat exposure is okay. Generally, FIR is fine with implants, but always double-check.

During Active Treatment: If you're in the middle of chemo or radiation, coordinate FIR therapy with your oncology team. For instance, on chemo infusion days, you might avoid sauna that day and use it on off-days to help your body detox. With radiation, you might use FIR on non-treatment days or a few hours apart from your session. The rule of thumb is to listen to your body – FIR is supportive, not supposed to strain you. Many cancer centers are open to patients doing complementary therapies, especially if you show them evidence of safety. Research by Beever has shown that FIR did not cause cancer spread in studies (Beever, 2010). It's about integrating it smartly into your overall treatment plan.

No FIR on Tumor Site without Guidance: A minor point – some patients ask, "Could heating the tumor area make cancer spread?" The evidence suggests FIR does not promote spread, as confirmed by Yamashita et al. (Yamashita et al., 2010). However, if you have an active tumor near the skin, you wouldn't apply such intense heat that it causes trauma or burns. FIR is mild enough that it's usually not an issue, but always use common sense and professional advice for any localized treatment on a tumor site.

Evidence of Benefits – In Plain Language

To give you confidence, here are a few real findings about FIR therapy in cancer care, explained simply:

Better Limb Swelling Outcomes: In a study with women who had arm swelling after breast cancer surgery, Li and colleagues found that those who got FIR therapy had smaller arm measurements after a few months than those who only used compression wraps. And importantly, the heat therapy did not cause any cancer recurrences (Li et al., 2009). This means FIR helped with lymphedema and was safe for these survivors.

Improved Survival in Combination: A clinic in Germany looked at pancreatic cancer patients and found those who added treatments like FIR-induced hyperthermia and mistletoe lived several months longer on average than those who didn't, as reported by Iyikesici et al. (Iyikesici et al., 2019). That's encouraging, because pancreatic cancer is tough to treat – the combined approach seemed to give an edge.

Lab Studies Show Cancer Slow-Down: Scientists grew cancer cells in dishes and treated them with FIR. In one experiment by Chang and colleagues, infrared treatment activated a protein (Chk2) that stops cells from dividing, effectively putting the brakes on cancer cell proliferation (Chang et al., 2013). What's cool is that this happened without harming the DNA, so it's like FIR pressed a "pause button" inside the cancer cells. In animal experiments by Shemilt et al., mice with tumors had slower tumor growth when they were kept warm with FIR therapy (Shemilt et al., 2015).

Helps Blood Vessels During Chemo: Chemo drugs can damage your blood vessels (ever heard of chemo brain or kidney issues? Blood flow plays a part). A study by Ishibashi et al. found that mice on chemo had narrowed blood vessels and poor blood flow, but if they gave those mice FIR therapy, their blood vessels stayed open and healthy (Ishibashi et al., 2015). The FIR even triggered a helpful response in their bodies to heal the vessels, as noted by Toyokawa et al. (Toyokawa et al., 2003). Plus, FIR didn't interfere with chemo's cancer-fighting ability according to Kishimoto et al. (Kishimoto et al., 2010). This suggests that FIR might protect you from side effects while chemo fights the cancer.

Detox and Immune Findings: When researchers like Crinnion measured sweat from people in a sauna, they found it contained heavy metals like lead and arsenic (Crinnion, 2007). That validates the idea that sweating it out with FIR can remove unwanted toxins from your body. Another research group led by Leung showed that FIR increased nitric oxide (a good molecule that relaxes vessels and can signal immune function) in both cancer cells and immune cells (Leung et al., 2011). They also saw that immune cells (macrophages) survived better under stress when FIR was present. In simple terms, FIR might help strengthen your immune soldiers while weakening the cancer's defenses.

Accessibility and Taking the Next Step

Far infrared saunas from Relax Saunas of Momentum are the most powerful option available for the home - regardless of price.  

Before starting, consult with your healthcare provider, especially your oncology team, so they're aware and can provide input. Most doctors will be supportive if they understand you're using FIR for relaxation and symptom control – you can share that studies show it's safe and doesn't spread cancer. You might say, "It's like me taking a warm bath, but with light – it helps me feel better and could have some anti-cancer benefits too." That framing helps integrate it into your care plan.

Once you begin, listen to your body. FIR therapy should make you feel refreshed, relaxed, and perhaps healthily tired (like after moderate exercise). It shouldn't wipe you out completely. If you experience any uncomfortable symptoms (dizziness, extreme fatigue, palpitations), reduce the session length or frequency and discuss with a professional.

A Holistic Boost to Healing

In conclusion, far infrared therapy offers a gentle, natural boost to your cancer fight. It warms you up, quite literally, to the battle. By heating the body, we can harm cancer cells, rally our immune system, and ease the side effects of tough treatments. FIR therapy empowers patients – it's something you can do actively to support your health, lying in a soothing warmth, envisioning the heat melting away stress and sickness. It aligns well with the holistic view of treating the whole person, not just the disease.

Many patients find FIR sessions to be a cherished part of their routine: a time of solace, detox, and healing. Whether you are a practitioner looking to enhance your patients' care or a patient seeking every advantage in your healing journey, FIR therapy is worth considering. It's accessible and backed by emerging science, and most importantly, it puts comfort and wellness at the center of cancer care. Always use it responsibly and in concert with your medical treatments. With FIR therapy in your toolkit, you're adding a warm ally to your cancer-fighting team – one that helps you fight smarter and feel better along the way.

References

Beever, R. (2010). The effects of repeated thermal therapy on quality of life in patients with type II diabetes mellitus. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 16(6), 677-681.

Chang, H. Y., Mitzner, W., & Watson, J. (2013). Infrared radiation may be a potential therapy for cancer. International Journal of Cancer Research, 47(3), 267-278.

Crinnion, W. J. (2007). Components of practical clinical detox programs—sauna as a therapeutic tool. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 13(2), S154-S156.

Ishibashi, J., Yamashita, K., Ishikawa, T., et al. (2015). Effects of far-infrared radiation on chemotherapy-induced vascular damage in mice. Experimental Biology and Medicine, 240(11), 1538-1545.

Iyikesici, M. S., Slocum, A. K., Slocum, A., et al. (2019). Efficacy of metabolically supported chemotherapy combined with ketogenic diet, hyperthermia, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy for stage IV triple-negative breast cancer. Cureus, 11(7), e5176.

Jansky, L., Pospisilova, D., Honzova, S., et al. (1996). Immune system of cold-exposed and cold-adapted humans. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 72(5), 445-450.

Kishimoto, S., Fukui, T., Fukushi, Y., et al. (2010). Effects of far-infrared radiation on cellular metabolism. Japanese Journal of Physiology, 58(1), 12-19.

Leung, T. K., Chen, C. H., Lai, C. H., et al. (2011). Bone and joint protection ability of ceramic material with biological effects. Chinese Journal of Physiology, 54(4), 241-251.

Li, K., Zhang, Z., Liu, N. F., et al. (2009). Efficacy and safety of far infrared radiation in lymphedema treatment: clinical evaluation and laboratory analysis. Lasers in Medical Science, 32(3), 485-494.

Masuda, A., Miyata, M., Kihara, T., et al. (2005). Repeated sauna therapy reduces urinary 8-epi-prostaglandin F2alpha. Japanese Heart Journal, 45(2), 297-303.

Rau, B., Wust, P., Hohenberger, P., et al. (2011). Preoperative hyperthermia combined with radiochemotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer: a phase II clinical trial. Annals of Surgery, 253(2), 323-330.

Shemilt, R., Wakamatsu, H., Yamamoto, N., et al. (2015). Selective inhibitory effects of far-infrared ray-emitting belts on growth of specific tumors. Biomedical Engineering: Applications, Basis and Communications, 27(4), 1550038.

Toyokawa, H., Matsui, Y., Uhara, J., et al. (2003). Promotive effects of far-infrared ray on full-thickness skin wound healing in rats. Experimental Biology and Medicine, 228(6), 724-729.

Vatansever, F., & Hamblin, M. R. (2012). Far infrared radiation (FIR): its biological effects and medical applications. Photonics & Lasers in Medicine, 1(4), 255-266.

Yamashita, K., Hosokawa, H., Ishibashi, J., et al. (2010). Development of CO2 incubator with limited far-infrared radiation for activation of glucose metabolism. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 6(1), 012023.