Prostate Cancer and HIFU FAQ1. What prostate cancer treatment options do I have? Patients facing a prostate cancer diagnosis have several treatment options to discuss with their doctors. Watchful waiting, surgery, Cryotherapy, and radiation are all common choices for prostate cancer patients. HIFU and other emerging prostate cancer therapies are increasing in popularity because they limit the possibility of life-altering side effects, are minimally or non-invasive, and have a high success rate. 2. What is the history of HIFU? How long has the procedure been performed? HIFU research started in the 1950s at Indiana University. Dr. Marberger and Dr. Madersbacher at the University of Vienna, Austria, used the Sonablate® 200 to perform the first prostate cancer study using the technology in 1994. The goal of early studies was to determine whether or not the energy delivered during HIFU was sufficient to destroy prostatic tissue. These early studies showed the treatment was effective, and Indiana University showed that the entire gland could be treated without damaging the surrounding tissue in 1995. Dr. Toyaki Uchida started treating patients with the Sonablate® 200 in 1999. The updated Sonablate® 500 received the CE mark in Europe in 2001, and Dr. M. Koch treated the first patient at the Indiana University that same year. USHIFU was created in 2004 to pursue FDA approval for the device and facilitate patients who wish to find treatment outside of the U.S. in clinics in Canada, Mexico, South Africa, Costa Rica, and the Caribbean. Around 100 HIFU centers around the globe are currently using the Sonablate® 500. This amounts to over 150 physicians using the device and over 6,000 procedures having been done using the machine. 3. Do you have any HIFU prostate statistics and data? Yes. To read detailed information about the treatment, visit our clinical data section. Here you can download up-to-date data and reports on the Sonablate® 500 and HIFU treatment. Learn more about the benefits of HIFU with the Sonablate® 500. 4. Does HIFU ablate the entire gland or just the cancer cells? HIFU destroys the entire prostate gland by sending the treatment into six overlapping treatment zones. This not only destroys the tissue, but also lessens the chances that the cancer will return. The organs and tissue surrounding the prostate gland are unaffected with HIFU using the Sonablate® 500. 5. Is the urethra damaged during the HIFU process? The urethra has several segments, one of which, the prostatic urethra, runs through the prostate gland. During HIFU, this portion of the urethra is destroyed along with the prostate gland, which is vital to the success of the treatment since it can contain cancer cells. This leaves a cavity that serves as a conduit when the patient urinates. Over time, the urethra can regenerate, because it is made of a different type of tissue than the prostate gland. Regardless, this temporary damage to the urethra does not typically affect the voiding process. The bladder neck and external sphincter are the structures that affect urinary function, and these are not affected during HIFU treatment. Traveling for the HIFU Procedure 1. Where can I have HIFU? HIFU is not approved in the United States and is currently only being used within the country as a part of clinical trials. Patients who are not part of these trials can travel to one of the many clinics around the world that are treating patients with the Sonablate® 500. Clinics can be found in Europe, Central America, Asia, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Canada. 2. How can I make arrangements to have HIFU done in an approved country? To schedule a HIFU procedure in one of these countries, call the HIFU CARE center at 1-866-422-2284. They will be able to tell you the treatment schedule and book your spot for the treatment. HIFU CARE Center works directly with USHIFU, and they will give you the information you need to arrange travel and payment for the procedure. 3. Is the procedure covered by Medicare or my insurance? Until the procedure is approved for use in the United States, most American insurance companies do not cover the treatment. Medicare also does not cover HIFU. Some insurance companies, however, will be able to get reimbursement for their expenses through their insurance companies after receiving treatment by filing an independent claim. Patients can also claim the expenses on their tax returns as a qualifying medical expense. GE Consumer Finance offers Care Credit, a financing option that allows HIFU patients up to 60 months to pay for their treatment. Find out more at HYPERLINK "http://www.carecredit.com" http://www.carecredit.com. 4. When can I have a HIFU procedure performed? Call 1-866-422-2284 to find out the upcoming dates for HIFU. You can also visit our calendar to learn the upcoming treatment dates. 5. How long will I be gone for a HIFU procedure? We recommend that you plan to arrive a day before your procedure is schedule. This allows you the chance to meet the medical team, get settled into your room, and rest before the treatment. Most patients are recovered enough to head home one day after their HIFU treatment. You should plan at least three days for the procedure. If you wish, you can arrive early in order to rest and see some of the sites of the area. These travel preferences will vary from patient to patient. 6. How can I speak with Dr. Scionti or patients who have already had HIFU? Dr. Scionti is more than willing to talk with you about HIFU, and we encourage patients to call our free prostate cancer treatment hotline at 1-866-422-2284 to arrange a consultation. We can also put you in contact with patients who have already had HIFU to learn their experiences. |
