HIFU, or High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound, is the newest breakthrough in prostate cancer treatment technology. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, this new treatment method could be a minimally invasive alternative to traditional, intensive treatments of the past.
HIFU waves target and treat small amounts of tissue through heat concentration at a specific “focal point.” Unlike surgeries or radiation, this means there is no incision point, no blood loss and no widespread damage to any other part of the body during treatment.
Each patient can be treated as a unique case, with a targeted treatment designed around their cancer. This minimizes any nerve damage in the surrounding area, which protects against the impotence typically associated with more aggressive forms of treatment.
HIFU technology has been practiced since as early as 1995 and was FDA cleared in October of 2015. With over 50,000 men treated worldwide, it is largely becoming the biggest breakthrough in prostate cancer treatment to date. HIFU treatments have the same effectiveness and survival rates of traditional procedures, with an impressive 97 percent five-year survival rate and a 97 percent metastasis-free survival rate.
This outpatient procedure involves minimal downtime and recovery. After treatment, there is an increased risk of contracting a UTI due to the use of a catheter for a few recovery days, but after this, the only potential side effects are changes in frequency or urgency of urination, mild discomfort or discharge in the urinary stream in the first few weeks following HIFU.
Before HIFU, men diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer had to choose between a high-risk surgical intervention, careful monitoring of the disease or even no treatment at all. Now, we can treat early, effectively and while preserving your highest quality of life.
For more information about what HIFU can do for you or to schedule a consultation, contact us at 1-877-321-8452.
