An advanced new treatment for prostate cancer, High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) is a minimally invasive, nonsurgical option that allows patients to go home the same day.
What Is HIFU?
HIFU is one type of focal therapy, which only treats the part of the prostate gland that has the cancer, rather than removing the entire gland. HIFU uses highly targeted ultrasound waves to ablate or destroy cancer cells in the prostate. It focuses on the affected area and rapidly heats up the cells to kill them without damaging healthy tissue or other areas around the cancer.
The prostate is first scanned using an ultrasound probe and these images are constructed into a three-dimensional model. From there, your urologist can plan the procedure to target the cancer cells precisely, leaving the healthy tissue unharmed.
Why choose HIFU
HIFU is a safe and painless treatment for prostate cancer performed under general anesthesia. It allows for precise treatment of the affected part of the prostate without damaging the healthy tissue and nerves. This procedure may allow your doctor to provide curative treatment for your prostate cancer without the need for other treatments like surgery or radiation. Benefits of HIFU are:
- Non-invasive. No incisions involved.
- Low risk of side effects. Compared to surgery or radiation therapy, the risk for side effects, such as incontinence or erectile dysfunction, is far less.
- A quick recovery. HIFU is an outpatient treatment for prostate cancer with minimal time away from work or other activities.
Why Roswell Park?
Roswell Park is the only provider in WNY to offer HIFU therapy for prostate cancer treatment.
Who can get HIFU prostate treatment?
HIFU is recommended for people with early-stage prostate cancer that has not spread beyond the prostate — patients with low to immediate risk disease such as:
- Patients who are currently undergoing active surveillance, but may start to feel anxious about monitoring their cancers.
- Patients who have prostate cancers that show signs of progressing and need to consider treatment. HIFU may be an alternative to surgery (radical prostatectomy).
- Patients with higher risk cancers who are too sick to undergo surgery or receive radiation. In certain cases, it can also be given to patients who have already undergone radiation.
What happens after HIFU treatment?
After your procedure, a urinary catheter will be placed to limit the risk of urinary retention due to temporary swelling. - You will return home, and the catheter will be removed at your first follow-up appointment a few days later.
You may experience some irritation with urination because your prostate is swollen after your procedure, but this will improve over time.
You will receive a PSA blood test at three and six months, and one year after your procedure, as well as an MRI and possibly a biopsy. If you traveled to Roswell Park for HIFU treatment, these tests can be performed by a urologist close to home.
