The fact is that the HIFU ultrasound waves have a very precise way of hitting the cancerous cells without affecting the cells around it. This makes it unique and causes the least amount of disturbance to the system.
HIFU has become very popular within the last five years. It is being covered in a lot of news stories and TV reports. It is a non-FDA approved treatment which is being practiced widely in Canada,
Europe, India, China, Russia, Japan, the Dominican Republic, and many other countries. It is not very surprising as many doctors recommend it as a first-line treatment for localized prostate cancer.
Although it is not yet FDA approved there is a trial underway and approval is expected in the US in the near future. Thus no medication, cutting, or radiation is used in treating the patient, and he can resume his normal lifestyle within days of treatment.
HIFU ultrasound cannot, however, be used at all stages of prostate cancer. For example, if the cancer has spread outside the prostate, using HIFU will not be effective. At that point another treatment like androgen suppressant therapy should be used, or if the cancerous cells are 1% or less, active surveillance would be sufficient to deal with the cancer.
Many governments are investing in this technology as international HIFU clinics are promoting the technology around the world. Experts are also available from Germany, France, and Canada to train these urologists in the use of the Ablatherm device.
There are many websites that have been created to inform the patients and their spouses about prostate cancer and this non-invasive treatment option. Many patients have traveled across borders to access the HIFU treatment. Although the procedure can be expensive, more than 30,000 people around the world have availed themselves of the treatment, and the number is continuously increasing. The area destroyed by each beam is very small and precise. By repeating the process and moving the focal point it is possible to destroy the prostate tissue.
People prefer the treatment as it is non-ionizing and, unlike surgery, there is no loss of blood as no cutting is involved. The non-invasive treatment is performed on an outpatient basis and many patients describe returning to their normal daily activities after only a couple of days. People who do not have health care insurance find it preferable to other options as it is generally less expensive.
Whatever the case may be, HIFU ultrasound has gained a lot of popularity in the past few years through the media, the internet, and word of mouth. As more and more studies are published with positive results, people are increasingly comfortable with having HIFU and it's only expected to grow in popularity.
