Prostate Cancer
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia(BPH):
HIFU & The Sonablate® 500:
Treatment & Travel
Prostate Cancer - Answers
1. What is the prostate?
The prostate is a small gland that is part of the male reproductive system. A normal, healthy prostate is about the size and shape of a walnut. Its position in the body is just below the bladder and in front of the rectum. The urethra- the tube that carries urine from the bladder and semen out through the penis- runs through the center of the prostate. The function of the prostate is to produce some of the seminal fluid that nourishes and carries sperm from the testicles and out of the penis during ejaculation. Because of its position an enlarged prostate can squeeze the urethra causing urinary problems.
2. What is prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in men, and is the second leading cause of cancer death in men after lung cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 230,900 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed in the United States every year. Before the introduction of the PSA (prostate specific antigen) test 75% of prostate cancer patients were diagnosed in the later, incurable stages, now only about 25% of newly diagnosed cases are advanced cancer.
3. Where does prostate cancer spread?
As the prostate grows, it grows through the prostate, the prostate capsule and the fat that surround the prostate. It can also grow into the base of the bladder and into the seminal vesicles which are located adjacent to the prostate. The spread of cancer is known as metastasis. When cancer spreads outside of the capsule it usually goes to either the lymph nodes or the bones.
4. What options do I have for treating prostate cancer?
There are a number of different options for how prostate cancer can be treated, each has its own risks and benefits. Primarily patients choose between watchful waiting, surgery, and different types of radiation therapy. New emerging prostate cancer treatments such as HIFU are becoming increasingly popular because they are non invasive and preserve patient quality of life. Please read more about treatment options here. Learn more about prostate cancer treatments.
5. Why are regular prostate check ups important?
Early prostate cancer has very few to no symptoms, so it can only be found through routine screening. As men get older, especially over the age of 50, it is very important to be tested and to identify any abnormalities. Not all prostate problems are cancer, but prostate cancer is the most serious problem. Some prostate cancers are small and/or slow and do not progress beyond the prostate gland. Some are more aggressive and advance very rapidly. Treatment is more successful if it is started when the cancer is still small and is still contained within the prostate gland.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia(BPH) - Answers
1. What is BPH?
BPH, or Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia is an enlargement of the prostate that is common in men over the age of 50. It is not cancer and is not malignant. If the prostate gets too big it can put pressure on the urethra and bladder, causing problems with urination.
2. Can BPH be treated with High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU)?
Absolutely. The Sonablate® 500 is an acoustic ablation device that is used for the treatment of BPH and prostate cancer. It is a non invasive procedure that can be done usually in one hour for most BPH cases. Several studies have been published on results of using HIFU to treat BPH. You can read more by visiting the clinical data section. Learn more.
HIFU & The Sonablate® 500 - Answers
1. What is the history of HIFU and how long has it been done?
Research on HIFU actually began in the 1950s at Indiana University. In 1994, the first human prostate cancer study was done by Dr. Marberger and Madersbacher at the Univ. of Vienna in Austria using the now Sonablate® 200 treating 29 human prostates in vivo shortly before performing a radical prostatectomy. The goal was to see if the energy delivered was enough to destroy the desired tissue. The study found that treatment could be performed safely and could be repeated. In 1995, a study done at IU showed that the whole prostate could be treated without damaging the prostate capsule or the rectal wall. In 1999, Dr. Toyaki Uchida began treating patients using the Sonablate® 200. In 2001, Sonablate® 500 receives CE mark from Europe and the first patient in the study was treated at IU by Dr. M. Koch. In 2004, USHIFU was created and has placed machines in Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, South Africa and the Caribbean. Currently there are nearly 100 Sonablate® 500 HIFU centers worldwide on six continents. There are over 150 physicians using the Sonablate® 500 worldwide and over 5,000 total procedures have been completed with the Sonablate®.
2. Where can I find HIFU data and statistics?
To read clinical papers, abstracts and data visit our clinical data section where you can download the latest published data and reports. Learn more about the Benefits of HIFU with the Sonablate® 500.
3. Does HIFU only treat the cancerous cells or does it ablate the entire prostate?
HIFU treated the entire prostate by targeting tissue in overlapping treatment zones. The tissue is heated rapidly in small lesion until eventually the entire prostate is ablated. By treating the entire prostate gland, the chance for recurrence, or the cancer coming back is minimized. All the organs and tissue outside of the prostate remain unaffected during HIFU.
4. If the entire prostate is treated, does that include the urethra? What happens to the uretha? Is it damaged?
The urethra consists of different anatomical segments. From the tip of the penis to the base of the bladder: the fossa navicularis, the pendulous urethra, the membranous urethra and the prostatic urethra. During HIFU, the entire prostate is ablated, including the prostatic urethra, as it can have cancerous cells in it. In doing so the end result is an empty cavity that acts like a conduit during normal urination. However, the urethra is derived from a different type of tissue (derived from the bladder squamous type epithelium) vs. prostatic tissue (glandular, fibrotic and muscular) and regenerates/re-epithelializes with time. The sphincter and bladder neck are the vital structures with respect to maintenance of urinary function NOT the urethra. These vital structures are not affected or harmed during HIFU.
Treatment & Travel - Answers
1. Where can I have the treatment done?
The procedure a approved by the FDA for investigational purposes only, meaning as part of a clinical trial. However, the Sonablate® is treating patients worldwide in Canada, Europe, Central America, Asia and the Caribbean. For more information click here. Learn More.
2. How do I schedule treatment?
If you would like to schedule treatment in one of the countries where HIFU is already approved call our HIFU hotline at 1-877-I-LUV-HIFU (1-877-458-8443). Our HIFU coordinators will be able to give you the available dates for treatment and reserve your spot on the treatment weekend of your choice. They can also provide you with payment instructions and a number to call to assist you in making travel arrangements. Click here for more details.
3. Is the procedure covered by insurance or Medicare?
Since the procedure is not yet approved by the FDA and is performed out of the United States, US-based insurance companies and Medicare do not normally provide coverage for the treatment. However, increasingly patients have been able to receive full reimbursement from their insurance company by filing a claim through an independent claims filing service. For more information visit www.InsuranceClaimsFiling.com.
USHIFU will provide a detailed receipt after the procedure to assist in filing and for tax purposes..
You may be able to deduct HIFU, and ancillary costs such as travel and hotel, as a medical expense on your taxes; For more information on deducting medical expenses visit http://www.irs.gov or consult with your accountant.
In addition, patients may finance all or a portion of their treatment for up to 60 months through a division of GE Consumer Finance, called Care Credit. For more information visit www.carecredit.com. Other medical credit agiencies are available as well. Just ask our HIFU consultant.
4. What information do you need from me prior to treatment?
When you make arrangements for treatment and schedule a date the HIFU medical team will send you information about how to prepare for the treatment and what they need from you before you leave. Find out if you qualify for HIFU, contact us via email:
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or call toll free 1-877-458-8443.
5. When is the next available treatment date?
For a list of the upcoming treatment weekends and location please call 1-877-I-LUV-HIFU (1-877-458-8443) or email us.
6. How long do I have to stay in the treatment location?
USHIFU recommends that you arrive one day prior to your scheduled treatment day in order to get settled and have time to rest and meet with the medical team once you arrive. Patients are usually comfortable to travel home the day following treatment. For example if you are scheduled for treatment on a Saturday, you should arrive on Friday to the hotel. Most likely you will be able to travel home on Sunday. Some patients prefer to arrive several days earlier in order to be comfortable and well rested in the location before treatment. Others stay additional days after having the treatment; travel preferences depend entirely on the individual and vary from patient to patient.
7. May I speak with a HIFU doctor or patient about the procedure and their experience?
Certainly. In fact, we encourage it. Call 1-877-I-LUV-HIFU (1-877-458-8443) to arrange a consultation with our HIFU physician, or if you would like to speak with someone who has already been treated with HIFU.
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