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 anesthetic 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.