The instrument focuses ultrasound waves on a small area of the prostate, the walnut-sized gland below the bladder that makes fluid for semen. The ultrasound creates enough heat to kill the cancerous tissue, and treatment continues until the entire prostate has been destroyed. The outpatient procedure can usually be completed within three hours, and the patient can go home after the spinal anesthestic wears off. For cancer that is confined to the prostate, surgery and radiation are standard options. Complete removal of the prostate, known as a radical prostatectomy, can cause incontinence and impotence.
Radiation therapy can cause rectal and bladder injuries, difficulty urinating and impotence.
For cancer that has spread or metastasized, hormone therapy and chemotherapy are usually recommended. These treatments can also cause impotence, loss of sexual desire, fatigue and osteoporosis, or bone deterioration. More than 400 patients in Europe have been treated successfully with HIFU since 1992. The procedure has been modified since its inception to greatly reduce such side effects as urinary tract infections and incontinence. To be eligible for the study at Baylor and St. Luke's, men must be at least 50 years of age and in good general health.