Reinventing the Ice Age: Exploring the Benefits of Cryoablation on Breast Cancer Tumors

It’s one of the most dreaded calls a healthcare practitioner has to make…telling a patient that they have a tumor and that it needs to be removed. How big is the tumor? Is it cancer? Will the procedure hurt? How long is recovery?

With so many questions and uncertainties swirling around, healthcare professionals are constantly looking for the best—and least invasive—treatment options available. 

Cryoablation—also known as cryosurgery or cryotherapy—has recently emerged as an innovative and effective option for managing both malignant and benign tumors, including breast tumors. And, as cryoablation technology continues to advance, this (quite literally) cool treatment is becoming the go-to for many medical professionals. 

Understanding Cryoablation: Freeze-Frame on Breast Tumors

Cryoablation is emerging as a new alternative to surgery for those with non-cancerous breast tumors or early-stage or lower-risk breast cancer. The minimally invasive procedure uses ultra-cold temperatures to target and destroy breast tumors. It is typically performed as an outpatient procedure with local anesthesia.

During cryoablation, a healthcare professional, usually a breast surgeon or breast radiologist, carefully inserts a thin probe—or cryoprobe—directly into the tumor using CT or ultrasound imaging technology. After the probe is properly positioned, the targeted area is rapidly cooled and a wall of ice forms around the tissue and tumor. Frozen in time, the tumor cells are destroyed— without the need for excision.  

Over time, the body naturally re-absorbs the newly destroyed tissue—allowing the area to heal with little to no scarring.  

Simply the Breast: The Benefits of Cryoablation

Cryoablation is becoming more and more popular for breast tumors due to solid clinical data and several advantages it has over more traditional treatment options, such as surgery (mastectomies or lumpectomies) and radiation therapy. While both surgery and radiation therapy remain solid options for breast tumor treatment, they often come with risks such as incision pain and scars, infection, lengthier hospital stays and additional trauma for patients. 

The ICE3 trial investigated cryoablation for the treatment of early-stage, low-risk breast cancer in 194 patients. The results showed for women treated with cryoablation and endocrine (hormonal) therapy, the recurrence free rate was 96.3%. Both patients and physicians in the trial expressed high satisfaction with the cosmetic results of the procedure. 

Beyond its precision and non-invasive nature, there are many benefits to using cryoablation for managing breast tumors.

• It’s less burdensome for families: One of the biggest advantages is that cryoablation can be performed in an outpatient setting—with patients typically being able to return home faster after receiving local anesthesia. Because there aren’t larger incisions or any tissue removed (as with surgery) and the process doesn’t span weeks and with potential rehabilitation (as with radiation), people who opt for cryoablation are able to resume normal activities faster. This is especially critical for those who may have other health issues or are prone to anxiety or stress.
• It’s relatively safe with fewer side effects: Cryoablation typically results in fewer side effects and other complications compared to more traditional treatment options. Due to the precision probe approach and minimal incision requirements, those who undergo cryoablation therapy may be less likely to experience side effects such as infection or hemorrhages. That said, there are potential side effects with cryoablation, with typical ones including temporary pain and discomfort, scarring, bleeding, damage to nearby tissue (frost injury), swelling, bruising, and hematoma. Most procedure-related risks were considered mild to moderate, occurred early, and resolved without permanent effects. 
• Healthy breast tissue is preserved: Because it only targets the tumor and select areas around it—unlike surgical procedures that remove significant tissue—cryoablation preserves much of the healthy breast tissue, which allows for better overall outcomes while also potentially avoiding cosmetic or reconstructive procedures.  
• It can be less costly over time: The efficiencies and reduced need for post-procedure care can also mean fewer costs for both patients and providers when cryoablation is used. 

The Future Is ICE

Research in cryoablation is evolving with new and advanced techniques in the pipeline, along with an increasing number of clinical trials and data reinforcing safety and efficacy. While cryoablation for fibroadenomas (benign breast tumors) has FDA clearance, FDA clearance for cryoablation for breast cancer is currently pending review with an answer expected in the first half of 2025. 

Cryoablation may not always be a replacement for more traditional options like surgery or radiation. Nevertheless many doctors are now looking to cryoablation as a more holistic approach to breast tumor management—and a new staple in the future of cancer treatment.

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