HIFU uses high frequency ultrasound waves to heat and destroy
cancer cells in the prostate. You may be suitable for this
treatment if your cancer is thought to be contained within the
prostate gland (localised prostate
cancer), and you have:
- a Gleason score of 7 or lower,
and
- a PSA of less than 15ng/ml,
and
- a small prostate gland (less than 40mls).
It may be more suitable for men with other health problems
because it is less invasive than surgery (radical prostatectomy) to remove the
prostate.
HIFU is a relatively new treatment and we do not know very much
about how effective it is at treating prostate cancer in the long
term or how it may affect your everyday life. Because of this, HIFU
is not widely available as a first treatment and may be available
as part of a clinical trial. It is occasionally used
to treat cancer that has come back after radiotherapy (recurrent
prostate cancer).
What other
treatments are available?
Updated July 2011
To be reviewed July 2013