Your thoughts about Total HIFU treatment as a viable option

mcin777
mcin777 Member Posts: 66
in Prostate Cancer #1

I am finally at the place in my journey from being diagnosed in 2011 with prostate cancer to where I will be making a decision about treatment.  I would like to know where to go to find out the best treatment centers (Stanford?) and where I might find the best research on long term survival.  I understand that it is relatively new.  I have met with a local HIFU specialist and since my prostate volume has declined dramatically from 109cc to 52cc after taking Bicalutamide 50mg and Finasteride 5mg for the past five months he believes that once the prostate decreases to 45cc I wouild be able to have the HIFU procedure.

Your comments, wisdom and insights would be appreciated.

 

Jim

Comments

  • Old Salt
    Old Salt Member Posts: 1,530 Member
    #2
    HIFU Only in a Clinical Trial

    My subject line is based on the recommendation of an expert panel from the American Urological Association:

    https://www.auanet.org/guidelines/clinically-localized-prostate-cancer-new-(aua/astro/suo-guideline-2017)

     

     

  • mcin777
    mcin777 Member Posts: 66
    #3
    Old Salt said:

    HIFU Only in a Clinical Trial

    My subject line is based on the recommendation of an expert panel from the American Urological Association:

    https://www.auanet.org/guidelines/clinically-localized-prostate-cancer-new-(aua/astro/suo-guideline-2017)

     

     

    Thank you Old Salt.  It would

    Thank you Old Salt.  It would appear that no one on this board has experience with HIFU.

  • Grinder
    Grinder Member Posts: 487 Member
    #4
    mcin777 said:

    Thank you Old Salt.  It would

    Thank you Old Salt.  It would appear that no one on this board has experience with HIFU.

    search engine

    There is quite a bit of information on HIFU in the forum archives. You jusj have to plug "HIFU" into the SEARCH BY KEYWORDS box above the posts and it will bring up posts from the last 12 years discussing HIFU treatments for prostate cancer.

    I have read much of the archives, and if I remember correctly there were successes with HIFU but there were also abject failures with horrendous side effects BUT the failures were typical of inexperienced administration of the treatment, and in the past HIFU would have to be sought out of the country and not covered by insurance.

    Whether or not HIFU administrators are becoming more experienced, and the treatment is becoming more available is what must be determined. But I do suggest you research the archived information in this forum using the search engine, keeping in mind treatment may or may not be more accessible, and may or may not be administered with more expertise since those were posted.

  • mcin777
    mcin777 Member Posts: 66
    #5
    Grinder said:

    search engine

    There is quite a bit of information on HIFU in the forum archives. You jusj have to plug "HIFU" into the SEARCH BY KEYWORDS box above the posts and it will bring up posts from the last 12 years discussing HIFU treatments for prostate cancer.

    I have read much of the archives, and if I remember correctly there were successes with HIFU but there were also abject failures with horrendous side effects BUT the failures were typical of inexperienced administration of the treatment, and in the past HIFU would have to be sought out of the country and not covered by insurance.

    Whether or not HIFU administrators are becoming more experienced, and the treatment is becoming more available is what must be determined. But I do suggest you research the archived information in this forum using the search engine, keeping in mind treatment may or may not be more accessible, and may or may not be administered with more expertise since those were posted.

    Thank you Grinder.  This is a

    Thank you Grinder.  This is a very difficult decision to make.  I am 75 so I am believing I am good for another 19+ years...if I choose the right treatment and provider and if God wills.

     

  • Old Salt
    Old Salt Member Posts: 1,530 Member
    #6
    Why HIFU?

    Since you mentioned Stanford, I would ask for a consult at their Medical Center.  UCSF is another site that comes highly recommended. 

    You have given very little info about your case so I can't recommend anything other than stating that you should look into (more conventional) radiation treatments. At your age, I doubt that surgery is an option. 

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