PROSTATE CANCER is the second leading form of cancer among men in the United states following skin cancer. It’s also the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, outpaced only by lung cancer. In fact, the American Cancer Society estimates that in 2021 alone, about 248,530 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed and approximately 34,130 men will die from the disease.
Traditional prostate cancer treatment involves one of two options: radiation therapy or surgical removal of the prostate gland. Though both treatments are effective, they are aggressive and can cause serious side effects, including incontinence and sexual dysfunction. For this reason—and because prostate cancer is often slow-growing—many patients whose cancer is still confined to the prostate gland opt for a wait-and-see approach, in which the cancer is monitored closely but not immediately treated.
The good news is, advances in technology and screening are helping doctors diagnose prostate cancer earlier. Even better news for men is that the treatment and biopsy options for prostate cancer are becoming increasingly more precise and targeted, helping to reduce damage to healthy tissue and surrounding anatomy, such as the nerves responsible for erections, the urinary sphincter, the glands responsible for producing semen, and non-cancerous prostate tissue.
Among these advanced treatments is high-intensity focused ultrasound, or HIFU, performed locally by Puneet Sindhwani, MD, chairman of The University of Toledo Medical Center department of urology. HIFU is a non-invasive option for prostate cancer that heats and destroys targeted tissue with ultrasound energy, which is delivered using the state-of-the-art Sonablate medical device. Studies and physician experiences show that HIFU has a lower risk of collateral damage than surgery or radiation, which means that the risk for side effects such as impotence and incontinence are lower with HIFU and men can return to their normal lifestyle within a few days of treatment.
Dr. Sindhwani explains, “In very few cancers do we take out the whole organ rather than removing the cancer itself. Combining more precise biopsy techniques with HIFU provides us an opportunity to treat only the area where we found the cancer and spare the rest of the prostate, reducing the risk of side effects. In fact, with HIFU, we can focus ultrasound energy on an area as small as a grain of rice.”
According to Dr. Sindhwani, HIFU is just as effective as traditional methods in treating early-stage prostate cancer but involves no blood loss, incisions, or long-term recovery, often making it possible to perform the procedure on an outpatient basis in a single visit. Furthermore, most patients who undergo HIFU can return to routine daily activities within a week. In contrast, patients who receive traditional treatment may need to be admitted to the hospital or attend multiple visits for radiation therapy.
Men also appreciate the fact that HIFU does not expose them to harmful radiation. “Unlike radiation treatment, HIFU is considered ‘clean energy’ as it does not increase the risk of secondary cancers, can be repeated if needed, and does not increase complications from any future surgeries in the area,” states Dr. Sindhwani.
HIFU has been available in Europe for nearly two decades but is relatively new in the United States. UTMC is the first and only medical facility in the Toledo region using this device to treat prostate cancer. To help make the treatment available in Toledo, the University received a generous grant for urologic innovation from Dr. Ashok Kar, a California-based urologist who completed his surgery and urology training at the former Medical College of Ohio.
“UTMC continually strives to provide patients with access to cutting-edge medical treatments and top-notch care, and we’re proud to make this targeted, non-invasive treatment for prostate cancer available to men in our community,” says Dr. Sindhwani.
For more information on high-intensity focused ultrasound, visit https://utmc.link/hifu or call the Urology Clinic at The University of Toledo Medical Center at 419-473-3446.
