HIFU

What is HIFU?

High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a minimally invasive treatment for prostate cancer. With HIFU treatment, our providers deliver focused sound waves to the diseased part of your prostate through a rectal probe. 

The cancerous tissue absorbs the ultrasound energy, which triggers a dramatic temperature spike, heating the tissue to as high as 194°F. The heat destroys the target tissue but doesn't harm your healthy prostate tissue.

You typically receive general anesthesia for a HIFU treatment, and you can go home the same day. 

Our providers were the first Arizona doctor to perform HIFU treatment, and he's renowned for his expertise in this cutting-edge approach to prostate cancer. 

What are the advantages of HIFU?

In addition to offering excellent results, HIFU treatment has a number of advantages, including:

• Outpatient procedure
• Nonsurgical
• No blood loss
• No radiation
• Painless
• Just one treatment required
• Quick return to work and activity
• Far fewer side effects than other treatments
• Avoids prostate surgery

For many men, one of the most significant advantages is the minimal risk of sexual and urinary side effects. With most prostate cancer treatments, there's a fairly high risk of problems like erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence. 

With HIFU, these problems occur in less than half of patients. No other prostate cancer treatment can come close to this success rate. 

You need to use a catheter for about a week after your HIFU procedure, but you can expect a fast, smooth, and easy recovery overall.  

Who is a good candidate for HIFU?

The best HIFU candidates have early-stage prostate cancer with a low risk of progression. You might be a good candidate for HIFU if you're looking for a treatment option that allows you to maintain normal sexual and urinary function.  

Younger men — those in their 40s, 50s, and 60s — who are currently taking the "watchful waiting" approach to prostate cancer can be excellent candidates because this treatment is a proactive step that can put your mind at ease. 

If you have high-grade prostate cancer that's likely to progress, our providers may recommend another treatment option, such as radical prostatectomy using the state-of-the-art da Vinci® robotic system.

HIFU is an FDA-approved treatment that can reliably fight prostate cancer in its early stages without pain and other side effects. Learn more about HIFU by calling Urologic Surgeons of Arizona, or use the online scheduling tool.