1. What is the prostate?
The prostate is part of the male reproductive system. It is a small gland that looks somewhat like a walnut when it is healthy. It sits below the bladder and surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine and semen out of the body through the penis. The prostate gland is responsible for producing some of the seminal fluid that helps nourish sperm as they travel from the testicles and out of the penis during intercourse. When prostates become enlarged they can squeeze the urethra or put pressure on the bladder, which can cause urinary problems.
2. What is prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer is cancer within the prostate gland. It is the second most common type of cancer, second only to skin cancer, and, other than lung cancer, it is the most common type of cancer that leads to death in men. There will be more than 230,900 new prostate cancer diagnoses in the United States annually, according to information from the American Cancer Society. In the past before physicians began using the PSA (prostate specific antigen) test to diagnose the condition, 75% of the diagnosed cases were untreatable because they were highly advanced when they were discovered. Today, however, only about 25% of the cases that are diagnosed cannot be treated.
3. How does prostate cancer spread?
Prostate cancer does grow, and when it does it will eventually grow out of the prostate, the prostate capsule, and the surrounding fat tissue. This can cause it to enter the base of the bladder and the seminal vesicles, which are next to the prostate gland. This condition is known as metastasis. As the cancer leaves the prostate capsule, it often goes to the lymph nodes or the bones, eventually causing death.
4. What prostate cancer treatment options are currently available?
Because of the variety of prostate cancer treatment options, it is best to talk to your physician about your choices. The treatments you will choose will depend on many factors about your particular prostate cancer case. Patients should also consider several professional opinions before choosing a treatment option.
5. Why does my doctor require regular prostate checks?
The earlier that prostate cancer is diagnosed, the better your chances of survival. For this reason, your doctor recommends that you have a thorough prostate screening each year after you turn 50. Following these instructions will protect your life if prostate cancer is found. Remember, prostate problems do not always indicate that prostate cancer is present, but they should be screened. Also, a screening will help a doctor determine whether or not your prostate cancer is growing quickly, which will help the two of you determine which treatment is the best for your case.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
1. What is BPH?
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, or BPH, is a condition that is not dangerous but can cause uncomfortable urinary problems. BPH is an enlargement of the prostate gland and is common in men who are 50 or older. The urinary problems are produced by pressure on the bladder and urethra caused by the enlarged gland.
2. Can High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) be used to treat BPH?
In the countries where HIFU has received approval, the Sonablate 500 is often used for the treatment of BPH. This device uses sound waves to destroy a portion of the prostate, thus reducing the severity of the urinary symptoms. To learn more about the studies that have been released on the results of using HIFU to treat BPH, please visit our clinical data section.
HIFU and the Sonablate 500
1. How long ahs HIFU been used to treat prostate conditions?
Research on using HIFU began at Indiana University in the 1950s. It was not until 1994 that the first human prostate cancer study was performed using HIFU. This study, which was done by Dr. Marberger and Dr. Madersbacher at the University of Vienna in Austria, used the Sonablate 200 to treat 29 prostate cancer cases. After using the device, the prostates were surgically removed. This allowed the doctors to determine that the treatment was safe, could be repeated, and did have an affect on the prostate tissue. A new study was done in 1995 at Indiana University to show that the entire prostate gland could be treated using the device without damage to the surrounding tissues.
Patients were first treated with the Sonablate 200 in 1999 by Dr. Toyaki Uchida. The newer Sonablate 500 received the CE mark from Europe in 2001, and Indiana University began the first patient studies that same year. These studies were headed by Dr. M. Koch. USHIFU was created in 2004, and currently has placed machines in nearly 100 Sonablate 500 HIFU centers across the world in Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, the Caribbean, and South Africa. In these centers, more than 150 doctors are currently treating patients with the Sonablate 500, and so far over 6,000 procedures have been completed using the machine.
2. Where can I find data and statistics about HIFU?
We have clinical papers, data, and abstracts about the device and the studies surrounding its use. Please visit our clinical data section to download the latest documents, or click here to learn more about the benefits of HIFU with the Sonablate 500.
3. Does HIFU only target the cancer, or does it destroy the entire prostate?
HIFU treats prostate cancer by destroying, or ablating, the entire prostate gland utilizing sound waves to target and heat the tissue in six overlapping treatment zones. By destroying the entire prostate, there is less possibility of the cancer returning.
4. What happens to the urethra during the procedure, if the entire prostate is going to be destroyed?
The urethra may be damaged during HIFU, but because it is made up of a different type of tissue than the prostate, it will regenerate. The bladder neck and urinary sphincter are far more important to preserving continence, and therefore during the procedure they are identified and avoided.
Treatment and Travel
1. Where can I go to have HIFU treatment?
Because the Sonablate 500 has not been approved for use in the United States, you will have to travel to another country to have the procedure done. Canada, the Dominican Republic, Argentina, Mexico, and the Bahamas all have facilities where the procedure is available. The Sonablate 500 is currently being studied in clinical trials in the U.S, but the FDA has not decided whether or not it is safe or efficient to use for prostate cancer.
2. How can I schedule treatment?
You can either click here for more details about scheduling treatment, or you can call (803)796-8515.
3. Will Medicare or my insurance company cover HIFU treatment?
Medicare will not cover HIFU because it is not yet approved by the FDA, nor is it performed in the United States. Most U.S. based insurance companies will not cover the procedure. However, many have procedures in place whereby clients can have their expenses reimbursed after receiving the treatment and then filing a claim. Also, the IRS allows you to deduct this type of medical expenses on your taxes. See www.irs.gov for more details as to how this works.
4. What information will you need from me before I can be treated?
We will send you information about how to prepare for treatment after you have set a date for treatment with our HIFU medical team. The first step is to find out if you qualify, which you can do by clicking here.
5. When is the next available treatment date?
To see an updated schedule, please give us a call (803)796-8515.
6. How long do I have to stay in the treatment location?
While we recommend that you arrive one day before your treatment date, the length of your stay will depend on your preferences. Most patients are comfortable enough to travel home after one or two days following their treatments. Some patients prefer to stay longer after receiving treatment, while others prefer to arrive early to be well rested for their procedure.
7. Can I talk to someone who has had the procedure done? What about a HIFU doctor?
Yes, you can talk to both a HIFU doctor and a patient who has been treated with HIFU. In fact, we recommend that you do this as part of your preparations for the procedure. To do this, call (803)796-8515 to arrange a consultation.
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