The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved a new non-surgical treatment option for patients with prostate cancer. The non-invasive method is called High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) therapy and Dr. David Samadi explains more about in the video above.
HIFU is used to destroy diseased prostate tissue without harming the surrounding tissue and was approved by the FDA after 10 years of use Europe and Canada.
“For selected patients with low-risk prostate cancer and a small prostate, this can actually play a role. There is a transducer in the rectum, and with a general anesthesia, you basically use a high focus ultrasound energy and you can actually burn the cancer cells,” said Samadi in the video.
Dr. Samadi said data from HIFU in Europe shows effective results among selected prostate cancer patients.
HIFU is meant for low-risk patients in stage T-1 or T-2 of prostate cancer confined to the gland. The treatment consists of ultrasound waves precisely directed at the tumor via a computer controlled rectal probe to destroy the prostate cancer cells. The process can be repeated if necessary. Although side effects are lower than from surgery or radiation, HIFU may cause incontinence or erectile dysfunction.
Maple Leaf HIFU is the first provider of this technology and treatment in North America.
Read more about High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU): http://bit.ly/2260QZa
Learn more about prostate cancer.
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