Exactly What Is HIFU and Who Is a Suitable Selection With Prostate Cancer?
HIFU, or High Intensity Focused Ultrasound, is really a non-invasive way of treating localized prostate cancer. HIFU focuses ultrasound energy and sound waves to some targeted area in the prostate producing rapid temperature increases and focal ablation of the treatment zone with great accuracy. Generally, HIFU is carried out while on an outpatient basis in one to 4 hours based on the height and width of the prostate. The biggest advantage of HIFU is a very low incontinence rate of below 2% as well as a post-treatment erectile dysfunction rate of 20 to 30%. The important thing to success with HIFU, however, is proper patient selection. Candidates include men with low- to intermediate-risk localized prostate type of cancer (i.e., no spread of cancer outside the prostate). These men could have clinical stage T1 or T2b disease (i.e., no palpable nodule or nodule confined one lobe with the prostate), Gleason score of 7 or fewer (preferably not in excess of Gleason Score 3+4=7), PSA a higher level less than 20, plus a prostate amount of 40 grams or fewer. Initial data for treatment of appropriately selected men with HIFU indicates results much like other modalities pertaining to localized cancer control, biochemical recurrence, and disease-free survival. Additionally, reported incontinence and impotence problems rates after HIFU may be low at less that 2% and 20 to 30%, respectively.
Features of HIFU as a technique of treating select men with cancer of the prostate add a non-surgical, non-invasive technique requiring no a hospital stay. Additionally, the prostate kind of cancer tissue is destroyed without radiation exposure. HIFU is repeatable should re-treatment become necessary down the road. Additionally, HIFU may be used to treat recurrent cancer of the prostate which was initially treated by other means, for example radiation or proton therapy. Another impressive application of HIFU for treatment of localized cancer of the prostate is in emerging successes with focal therapy of prostate type of cancer. Over these select cases, studies can be performed to be sure a low-volume of prostate kind of cancer restricted to one lobe or possibly a specific focal site within the prostate. The involved lobe or specific site of the patient's prostate kind of cancer would then be focally treated. Candidates for focal HIFU include men with low-volume (under or comparable to 3 cores positive for cancer, no core with higher than 50% positive), Gleason Score of 6 or less, as well as a PSA of lower than 10. These men would undergo "template" or "saturation" biopsies with greater to 24 cores evaluated. Recent reports considering focal therapy of prostate type of cancer in very select men with low-volume disease are emerging and early results look promising although no long-term details are yet available. Early ends in some studies show up to 90% recurrence free survival following focal therapy in observed at close range men. Incontinence rates following focal HIFU were 0 to 1% and erectile dysfunction rates under 5% a single study taking a look at results at three and six months following treatment.
HIFU is really a non-surgical treatment alternative for men with low- to intermediate-risk cancer of the prostate. The true secret to its success as with all choices for treatment lies in appropriate candidate selection. HIFU is completed internationally and it is currently undergoing clinical studies for FDA approval in the US. American urologists are been trained in performing HIFU and work with American teams internationally as a way to offer laser hair removal to appropriately selected patients interested in HIFU as a method of treating their prostate type of cancer. Remember, make sure to discuss all options with your urologist such as the risks, benefits and choices to each prior to the best decision regarding treatment of your cancer of the prostate. Maintain open and honest discussions along with your doctor when contemplating these options because step to your success is finding the treatment you like plus your particular cancer the top.
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