Medhealth Review

Now, HIFU, the high-intensity focused ultrasound, can regulate prostate cancer.

The medical world can now rely on new technology in the fight against prostate cancer. Medical experts inform that the new technology will help prevent prostate cancer in some male patients without surgery or other medical procedures.

The news comes from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York. Researchers based here have been closely monitoring and working near the HIFU technology. HIFU is an example of a highly advanced focal therapy approach. Magnetic Resonance Imaging is also critical as the technology is guided by the same.

These findings were published in Lancet Oncology on 14th June 2022.

The revelation is the result of research that was done on selected male patients who have prostate cancer. The participants were in the intermediate-risk stage. 

“We believe this novel treatment strategy will improve the lives of many prostate cancer patients. To draw a parallel with how breast cancer treatment changed 30 years ago, you could think of focal therapy as a ‘male lumpectomy.”, says Dr. Behfar Ehdaie, Urology Cancer Surgeon at MSK.

In short, the new approach is all about the thinking that instead of having to undergo surgeries to remove some parts altogether in treating prostate cancer, some affected tissues can be treated.

Surgery was the most relied option in certain types of prostate cancer. Although effective in many cases, surgical removal of the cancer tissues also causes several mild to severe side effects in many patients.

Hopefully, the new technology will be a breakthrough in prostate cancer treatment. As the need for surgery, radiation or even chemotherapy gets eliminated, the possibilities of side effects are significantly reduced. Common side-effects include urinary tract issues, sexual activities, etc.

The HIFU ultrasound is an outpatient treatment. The patient will be subjected to anesthesia before going into an MRI machine. First, the machine scans your lower half to scan a prostate image. The next step involves outlining the selected treatment area to which Ultrasound waves are administered, guided by Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

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