High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) - Prostate Cancer Charity

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Treatment Specialist Nurses 0800 074 8383 prostatecanceruk.org2Are there other treatment options?You might have other treatment options forlocalised prostate cancer, such as:• active surveillance• watchful waiting• surgery (radical prostatectomy)• external beam radiotherapy (EBRT)• brachytherapy• cryotherapy (in specialist centres or clinical trials).Read more about all of these possible treatmentsin our Tool Kit fact sheets. Or speak to ourSpecialist Nurses on our confidential helpline.How does HIFU treat prostate cancer?HIFU heats and destroys cancer cells in theprostate. Pulses of ultrasound waves travelthrough the wall of the back passage (rectum)into the prostate gland. This ultrasound energycauses the prostate cells to heat up.Because the heat destroys both cancer cells andnormal prostate cells, the treatment is focused onthe prostate gland to avoid damaging other areas.High intensity focused ultrasoundUnsure about your diagnosis andtreatment options?If you’ve got any questions about yourdiagnosis, ask your doctor or nurse. They willbe happy to explain your test results and talkwith you about your treatment options. It’simportant you feel you have enough time andall the information you need before makinga decision about treatment. We’ve gotinformation about diagnosis and treatmentsin our fact sheets and booklets and online.And you can speak to our Specialist Nurseson our confidential helpline.urethrabladderprostateglandrectumultrasoundwavesprobeFocal HIFUSome specialists are looking at a newerway of using HIFU called focal HIFU. Thismeans that HIFU is used to treat the areas ofthe prostate that contain the cancer, ratherthan treating the whole prostate gland. Earlyresearch suggests it might reduce the risk ofside effects compared to treating the wholeprostate gland, because less of the healthytissue is damaged. This is a new area ofresearch and more needs to be knownbefore it’s made widely available.
Treatment Specialist Nurses 0800 074 8383 prostatecanceruk.org3What are the advantagesand disadvantages?An advantage for one person might not be forsomeone else. Talk to your doctor or nurseabout your own situation.Advantages• HIFU has fewer risks than surgery, so it mightbe suitable for men with other health problems.• You only need a short hospital stay –less than 24 hours.• HIFU may be an option if the cancer comesback after treatment with external beamradiotherapy (EBRT). This isn’t the casewith all treatments.Disadvantages• In the UK, HIFU is only available in specialistcentres or as part of a clinical trial.• Compared with other treatments, we don’tknow as much about how well HIFU works inthe long term.• As with other treatments, there is a risk ofside effects including urinary problems anderectile dysfunction. See page 4 for moreabout side effects.What does treatment involve?Before the treatmentIf you have a large prostate gland, you mighthave hormone therapy to shrink it before startingHIFU. Your surgeon might also suggest anoperation called a transurethral resection of theprostate (TURP) before you have HIFU, to makethe prostate smaller. As with all treatments, thishas some side effects. Read more about TURPin our fact sheet, Transurethral resection of theprostate (TURP).On the morning of your treatment with HIFUyou’ll be given an enema, to help you emptyyour bowels. This is a liquid medicine which isgiven directly into your back passage (rectum).You’ll be asked not to eat or drink for around sixhours before the HIFU treatment.TreatmentYou might have a general anaesthetic so thatyou are asleep during the treatment. Or youmight have a spinal or epidural anaesthetic(injection into your spine) so that you’re awakebut can’t feel anything in your lower body. Withthis, you may also be given some medicine (asedative) to make you feel sleepy.You will have a catheter inserted at the start ofthe procedure. A catheter is a thin tube that ispassed into your bladder, either through thepenis (urethral catheter) or through the wall ofyour abdomen (supra-pubic catheter), to drainurine out of the body.Then, to give the treatment, your surgeon willinsert a probe into your back passage (rectum).This probe gives out high intensity ultrasoundwaves, which are focused on an area of theprostate gland. The probe is surrounded by acooling balloon, to protect your back passagefrom the high temperatures. It takes up to threehours to treat the whole prostate gland.Going home after treatmentUsually, men go home on the same day as thetreatment. Your doctor or nurse will check thatyou’ve recovered from the anaesthetic and arefit to go home. You may have pain in the areabetween your testicles and back passage butyou’ll be given pain-relieving drugs to take athome. You might also get antibiotics to preventany possible infection and a medicine called alaxative to help you empty your bowels.Before you go home your doctor or nursewill show you how to look after your catheter.They’ll also give you an appointment to returnto hospital to have your catheter removed. Youwill need a catheter to help you urinate for upto two weeks after treatment. You might needa catheter for longer if you have HIFU afterradiotherapy. Read more about catheters inour Tool Kit fact sheet, Urinary problems afterprostate cancer treatment.
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High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) - Prostate Cancer Charity

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