Most people are familiar with traditional treatment options for prostate cancer including surgery (radical prostatectomy) and radiation. There are other alternatives that can yield the same success rates. Using High Intensity Focused Ultrasound to treat prostate cancer continues to increase in favor with patients and urologists alike. The main benefits are that it is a non- invasive, one time outpatient procedure with quicker recovery time and fewer side effects.
Prostate cancer is the leading cancer for men in North America and men over 50 should get regular screenings. The screenings will consist of a digital rectal exam where your doctor checks the prostate for tumors via a gloved finger inserted into the rectum. If tumors or cancer is suspected, your doctor will order additional tests including a PSA - or prostate-specific antigen test. The only way to confirm prostate cancer is with a biopsy. If prostate cancer is confirmed, the doctor will want to determine what stage the cancer is in, and if it is confined to the prostate or if it has spread to outside tissue or other organs.
Survival rates are very high when prostate cancer is treated in the early stages. There are several options available to treat the prostate cancer, which will depend on the stage of the cancer as well as the age and health of the man being treated.
With radical prostatectomies, or surgery, the entire prostate is removed. Since nerves around the prostate can be damaged during surgery, nerve sparing surgery is usually performed. Nerve damage can result in erectile dysfunction and/or urinary incontinence. Younger men, between 50 and 75, that are affected with prostate cancer are usually concerned with these significant side effects which result from some prostate cancer treatments.
High Intensity Focused Ultrasound results in fewer significant side effects since damage to surrounding nerves and organs is minimal. With this procedure, the heat from the ultrasound waves destroys the cancer in the prostate. An urologist trained in HIFU uses a computer controlled rectal probe which recreates a 3D image of the prostate on a high resolution computer screen. The computer program controls the firing of 600-700 pin point accurate rays to the targets on the prostate. The ultrasound waves are focused and delivered through the rectum, with computerized controls in place that halt the process if the sensors detect any movement. The ultrasound waves are very focused on their targets and precise up to 1/10th of a millimeter. With Ablatherm HIFU, there is minimal risk of damage to local tissues. Since it is a single treatment done on an ambulatory basis, it does not affect the patient's sense of well-being. The traditional treatments of surgery and radiation do alter the patient's sense of well-being as they are very invasive procedures and can result in significant side effects.
HIFU has gained in popularity over the years as the research and results continue to prove its effectiveness and success rates. HIFU clinical results date back over 10 years from European study results. HIFU was approved by Health Canada in 2003.
In North America, the first clinic to offer high intensity focused ultrasound as a treatment option for prostate cancer was Maple Leaf HIFU. This clinic offers world class procedures inside the Cleveland Clinic Canada in Toronto. Maple Leaf HIFU is licensed by the province of Ontario and all its physicians are registered with the Royal College of Physicians in Canada. Since HIFU has not yet been approved in the U.S., many Americans travel to Toronto for the procedure.
The medical director is urological surgeon, professor and published author William Orovan. He became involved with HIFU after almost 30 years performing prostatectomies since he believed that an effective, non-invasive option was a step in a better direction.
HIFU has had comparable rates of success to the more invasive surgery and radiation, but with fewer side effects and down time. HIFU is a prostate cancer treatment option that should be considered by all men diagnosed with organ confined prostate cancer. Learn more about the HIFU prostate cancer treatment and discuss your options with your urologist.
Nancy Stonecutter is a nurse who writes about family, mens and child care. Visit her blog at http://www.nancythenurse.wordpress.com/ for more information.
