HIFU, or Intense Focused Ultrasound, is often a noninvasive strategy for treatments for localized prostate type of cancer. HIFU focuses ultrasound energy and soundwaves to a targeted area in the prostate causing rapid temperature increases and focal ablation with the treatment zone with great accuracy. Typically, HIFU is performed by using an outpatient basis a single to 4 hours depending on the height and width of the prostate. The most important benefit from HIFU is a very low incontinence rate of lower than 2% as well as a post-treatment erection dysfunction rate of 20 to 30%. The main element to success with HIFU, however, is proper patient selection. Candidates include men with low- to intermediate-risk localized prostate cancer (i.e., no spread of cancer outside the prostate). These men might 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 less (preferably not in excess of Gleason Score 3+4=7), PSA a higher level below 20, and a prostate level of 40 grams or fewer. Initial data to treat appropriately selected men with HIFU shows results comparable to other modalities intended for localized cancer control, biochemical recurrence, and disease-free survival. Additionally, reported incontinence and erectile dysfunction rates after HIFU can be low at less that 2% and 20 to 30%, respectively.
Attributes of HIFU as a technique of treating select men with prostate kind of cancer add a non-surgical, noninvasive technique requiring no stay in hospital. Additionally, the cancer of the prostate tissue is destroyed without the radiation exposure. HIFU is repeatable should re-treatment become necessary in the foreseeable future. Additionally, HIFU may be used to treat recurrent prostate type of cancer which was initially treated by other means, including radiation or proton therapy. Another impressive using HIFU for treatment of localized prostate cancer is based on emerging successes with focal therapy of cancer of the prostate. In these select cases, studies would be performed to make certain a low-volume of prostate kind of cancer restricted to one lobe or possibly a specific focal site from the prostate. The involved lobe or the specific site from the patient's prostate cancer would then be focally treated. Candidates for focal HIFU include men with low-volume (lower than or corresponding to 3 cores positive for cancer, not one core with more than 50% positive), Gleason Score of 6 or less, plus a PSA of lower than 10. These men would undergo "template" or "saturation" biopsies with greater to 24 cores evaluated. Recent studies considering focal therapy of prostate kind of cancer in very select men with low-volume disease are emerging and early results look promising although no lasting information is yet available. Early results in some research has revealed as much as 90% recurrence free survival following focal therapy in observed at close range men. Incontinence rates following focal HIFU were 0 to 1% and male impotence rates below 5% in one study looking at results at three and six months following treatment.
HIFU is often a noninvasive treatment option for men with low- to intermediate-risk prostate type of cancer. The main element to its success as with every choices for treatment is based on appropriate candidate selection. HIFU is conducted internationally and is currently undergoing numerous studies for FDA approval in america. American urologists are competed in performing HIFU and use American teams internationally as a way to offer laser hair removal to appropriately selected patients enthusiastic about HIFU as a technique of treating their prostate type of cancer. Remember, be sure you discuss all options together with your urologist like the risks, benefits and choices to each prior to making an educated decision regarding management of your cancer of the prostate. Maintain open and honest discussions together with your doctor when it comes to these options since the critical for your ability to succeed is choosing the treatment you want as well as your particular cancer the best.
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