High Intensity Focused Ultrasound, or HIFU, uses heat to destroy cancerous tissue and is a new option for treating prostate cancer. "This technology could be an alternative treatment to more traditional approaches, such as radiation therapy and surgery," said
Urologist Cary Robertson, M.D. "HIFU offers a new approach for prostate cancer treatment not previously available in the United States.
HIFU works by means of a probe inserted into the rectum. The device sends ultrasound waves through the rectal wall to the prostate, producing intense heat that destroys the cancerous tissue. HIFU works best with men who are diagnosed early and have low-grade cancer that is localized. The procedure leaves about 50 percent of men with some kind of sexual dysfunction, and about 10 percent with mild urinary incontinence.
Prostate cancer is second only to lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer-related death in men in the U.S. In its early stages, it usually has no symptoms, and is most often detected through a digital rectal exam or a PSA blood test.
Print Page 
Forward Page 
