Benefits of Ablatherm HIFU
What are the Benefits of Ablatherm® HIFU?
HIFU is a non invasive treatment for localized prostate cancer. Rather than using surgery or radiation, this treatment uses High Intensity Focused Ultrasound energy (sound waves) to destroy specifically targeted areas of the prostate. HIFU is on of the latest, state-of-the-art thecnologies using heat to destroy cancer tissue in the prostate with pinpoint accuracy. HIFU destroys cancerous cells and leaves healthy cells undamaged, leading to fewer side effects and a quicker recovery time. As the procdure is non-invasive, the HIFU patient can usually return to normal activity after only a few days.
The Maple Leasf HIFU clinic treats hundreds of patients from around the world every year. We offer the only Ablatherm HIFU device in North America in our world class Toronto clinic, in association with the U.S. Cleveland Clinic. Our physicians are top urologists trained in HIFU procedures. Call us today for more information on this effective prostate cancer treatment alternative.
The treatment of localized prostate cancer with High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) has many benefits and advantages:
- Destruction of the cancerous tissue with no incident of injury to the rectum since parameters were updated in 2002.
- Patient does not undergo any radiation exposure.
- No hospital stay is required.
- Treatment is performed under spinal anesthesia.
- Treatment can be repeated if necessary.
- Other therapeutic alternatives can be considered in case of incomplete results.
- Ablatherm® HIFU can be used for the treatment of local recurrences (i.e. after external beam radiotherapy)
- There is no burning sensation as associated with radiotherapy.
- The treatment is not painful and is performed with local anaesthetic (epidural) or, on occasion, general anaesthetic.
- Patients rarely feel pain after the treatment, but may feel a slight discomfort which disappears after a few days
- HIFU is suitable for men who, due to their age or other illnesses, do not wish to undergo surgery
-
HIFU may be suitable for men who have a return of the prostate cancer following radiotherapy
Clinical Results
Many clinical studies show the effectiveness of HIFU treatments compared to traditional therapies.
An independent European study of 402 patients with localized prostate cancer that were treated with Ablatherm® HIFU, resulted in 87.2% of patients having no cancer found in their biopsies and normal PSA levels in 81.4% of treated patients.
Another study showed that 86% of HIFU treated patients had no cancer found in their biospy tests 9 years after treatment.
© 2011 | Toronto, Canada
