When Is High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Used in ...
Prostate Cancer
When Is High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Used in Prostate Cancer Treatment?
High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) uses high-frequency ultrasound energy to heat and kill cancer cells in the prostate. This relatively new treatment is usually only offered to men with early stage, localized cancer that is in one area of the prostate.
It’s important to note that prostate cancer is what’s called a “multi-focal disease,” so it is rare that a patient has cancer confined just to one area of the prostate. If patients have such a diagnosis, HIFU can “reset the time clock on the cancer so they can avoid the full treatments until a later date,” says Dr. Patrick Swift, a radiation oncologist and Clinical Professor of Radiation Oncology at Stanford Medicine.
The downside? The long-term effectiveness of the treatment is still being determined. Also, HIFU is not widely available–it’s mostly offered through clinical trials–and it can be very expensive.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) uses high-frequency ultrasound energy to heat and kill cancer cells in the prostate. This relatively new treatment is usually only offered to men with early stage, localized cancer that is in one area of the prostate.
It’s important to note that prostate cancer is what’s called a “multi-focal disease,” so it is rare that a patient has cancer confined just to one area of the prostate. If patients have such a diagnosis, HIFU can “reset the time clock on the cancer so they can avoid the full treatments until a later date,” says Dr. Patrick Swift, a radiation oncologist and Clinical Professor of Radiation Oncology at Stanford Medicine.
The downside? The long-term effectiveness of the treatment is still being determined. Also, HIFU is not widely available–it’s mostly offered through clinical trials–and it can be very expensive.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Treatment: When to Start?
Active surveillance for prostate cancer is a very specific protocol with requirements and guidelines. While this is not ideal for everyone, it may work for certain patients and spare them the side effects of treatment.
Treatment: Watching and Waiting
Active surveillance for prostate cancer is a very specific protocol with requirements and guidelines. While this is not ideal for everyone, it may work for certain patients and spare them the side effects of treatment.
Before you decide on a surgeon or a surgical technique for prostate cancer, you should understand the options and some key questions to ask your surgeon.
Treatment: Considering Surgery
Before you decide on a surgeon or a surgical technique for prostate cancer, you should understand the options and some key questions to ask your surgeon.