HIFU Patient Story

Doug from Ontario

July 25, 2006

I am pleased to highly recommend the HIFU treatment for prostate cancer that I received at the Don Mills surgical unit, Toronto, in February, 2006.

Five months elapsed between my diagnosis and treatment. During that time I researched the available options as extensively as I could, including meeting with practitioners in each area. My only choice was surgery in the end, and I “interviewed” three recommended surgeons, chose and was accepted by my first choice and set a date. During the lead-up period to surgery, I first heard about HIFU. I guess I was looking for an alternative treatment to surgery, because I found my hopes rising as I started to investigate HIFU. I found the urological medical journal articles that I was referred to very useful in making my decision.

The surgeons and staff at the Don Mills surgical unit are uniformly excellent. For me personally, the involvement of Dr. William Orovan was the clincher. That this urological surgeon, Professor and Chair of the Department of Surgery at, arguably, the best medical centre in Canada believes in the efficacy of HIFU was important to me. He was the first scientist that we had encountered in all our long dealings with the medical profession to that time.

I am 59 years old and otherwise in good health. At diagnosis my PSA was 10.7, Gleason score 7 (3+4), stage T1-C and 3 of 6 biopsy samples were positive for prostatic carcinoma.

Post-treatment, I experienced no rectal difficulties and I have no urinary control issues. After 6 months erectile function has not returned to normal, but I have observed changes and I am cautiously optimistic that it will do so with more time.

I think HIFU is the direction in which treatment for prostate cancer is headed.

Next Story: Greg from Ontario