HIFU Prostate Cancer Treatment Pros and Cons: What You Need To Know

Prostate cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the UK — and while a diagnosis of prostate cancer can be frightening, the good news is that it is very treatable if it is caught early.

Exactly what that treatment will look like will depend on your individual circumstances, but you will have a say in which treatment you choose. This is important, because what’s not talked about enough is what life looks like after prostate cancer. Because — even after prostate cancer is treated, even if you become cancer-free — there are longer-term effects to consider.

FACT: prostate cancer treatments can have a debilitating effect on your quality of life.

The side effects of some traditional prostate cancer treatments are a well-kept secret. But we say that being cancer-free alone isn’t enough if you are forced to live with a lesser quality of life after prostate cancer.

Fortunately, there are prostate cancer treatments that have a far less significant impact on your quality of life. One of these is HIFU.

What is HIFU for prostate cancer?

HIFU stands for High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound — a focal cancer therapy with over 20 years of clinical use on more than 50,000 patients. It is most effective in treating medium to large-volume prostate cancers in the lower part of the prostate gland, where over 75% of prostate cancer occurs.

As a soundwave-based therapy, HIFU is non-invasive, meaning that no incisions are made and there are no wounds to heal. The treatment uses a pair of high-intensity ultrasound beams to heat cancerous areas of the prostate, destroying the cancer cells. Cutting-edge 3D MRI fusion technology is used to guide the treatment, which is performed under general anaesthetic to ensure maximum comfort.

What are the pros of HIFU treatment for prostate cancer?

A high success rate combined with minimal side effects makes HIFU treatment a popular choice for men with medium to large-volume prostate cancers.

The greatest benefit of HIFU lies in the fact that it is a targeted therapy. What this means is the treatment is focused purely on the cancer cells and leaves surrounding healthy cells untouched. Unsurprisingly, this is something that helps to drastically limit side effects.

98% of HIFU patients are fully continent after 2 weeks

Urinary incontinence is one of the taboo side effects of conventional prostate cancer treatments.

This is because cancer medications like chemotherapy can cause nerve damage, irritation and even vomiting that puts stress on your bladder, making leaks more likely. Similarly, radiation to the pelvic area has been shown to irritate the bladder.

Bladder leaks can be embarrassing and even shameful. However, since HIFU targets only the cancer cells, the risk of urinary incontinence is significantly reduced.

95% of HIFU patients maintain erectile function

Erectile dysfunction is the other side effect that remains taboo after conventional cancer treatment. Statistics from Prostate Cancer UK state that 76% of men who are treated for prostate cancer experience erectile dysfunction. One study has shown that just 16% of men who had a radical prostatectomy were able to obtain the quality of their pre-surgery erections again.

HIFU treatment is focused only on the cancer cells, limiting the impact on surrounding tissues and making erectile dysfunction considerably less likely.

You can go home the same day

HIFU is performed as an outpatient treatment. This means that you don’t need to stay overnight and can go home the same day — sometimes as soon as just 90 minutes after your procedure.

A minimally-invasive procedure means a faster recovery

Since there are no incisions and no wounds to take care of, recovery from HIFU is faster than most conventional NHS prostate cancer treatments, with most patients feeling 100% within 3 days of their procedure.

There is also minimal post-operative discomfort, meaning less need for pain medications.

Preserve your future treatment options

HIFU doesn’t exclude the option of radiotherapy or surgery down the line if it’s needed, and it can be repeated if necessary.

Are there any cons of HIFU treatment for prostate cancer?

The only real disadvantage of HIFU treatment is that it’s not currently available on the NHS, except under limited clinical trial conditions.

In fact, treatment options on the NHS are limited and all have unpleasant and debilitating side effects. At The Focal Therapy Clinic, we offer the latest and most advanced prostate cancer treatments to our patients, including HIFU.

Any cancer treatment can pose a risk of side effects and HIFU is no exception. However, the side effects associated with HIFU are minimal and temporary when compared to NHS treatments. These include:

• A short-term need to wear a catheter
• Temporary urinary symptoms and a small risk of contracting a urinary tract infection
• Blood and seminal fluid in your urine while the tumour breaks down
• Decreased ejaculatory fluid which could impact your fertility

However, most men experience no side effects at all.

The only other thing to remember is that HIFU treatment may not be right for you based on your individual needs. That’s why our experienced and knowledgeable team of specialists assess every patient comprehensively before they recommend a specific treatment.

What is the success rate of HIFU for prostate cancer?

HIFU has a very high success rate with reports that HIFU can be as effective as surgery or radiotherapy but with fewer effects.

A landmark study by Imperial College London found that following HIFU treatment, the cancer survival rate was 100% at five years.

The research also showed that the risks of side effects like urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction were lower than NHS treatment options, at just 2% and 15% respectively.

Am I suitable for HIFU treatment?

HIFU is suitable for the majority of focal therapy patients. However, every patient is unique. HIFU prostate cancer treatment is generally recommended for patients who have medium to large-volume prostate cancers in the lower part of the prostate gland where over 75% of prostate cancer occurs.

Where the prostate gland is relatively large or the tumour is located at the anterior of the prostate, NanoKnife focal therapy may be more suitable.

However, the best way to find out if you are a suitable candidate for HIFU treatment is to schedule a consultation with one of our leading consultant urologists.

To find out more, visit our guide on focal therapy suitability.

If preserving quality of life is one of your priorities after prostate cancer treatment, focal therapies are the solution. Contact our team today for a no-obligation consultation.