Prostate news article, November 2004
| HIGH INTENSITY
FOCUSSED ULTRASOUND - A POSSIBLE NEW TREATMENT FOR
EARLY PROSTATE CANCER
Editorial by John Anderson, CEO, Prostate Research Campaign UK |
 |
Many of our visitors will have seen the front page article on High Intensity Focussed Ultrasound (HIFU) in the Daily Telegraph on Saturday, 6 November. According to the article, this revolutionary technique, already in use overseas, uses focussed high intensity sound waves "to melt away prostate cancer without distressing side effects".
UK trials of this non-invasive treatment are due to start in January 2005, although we gather that the trial is restricted to men with early to medium stage prostate cancer, with PSA levels less than 15 ng/ml, and a prostate of less than 40cc in volume. The trials will involve two establishments: the Institute of Urology at University College London and the Churchill Hospital, Oxford, where the lead investigators will be Mr. Mark Emberton and Mr. Simon Brewster respectively.
The article also explains that HIFU can only be used to treat single tumours or large parts of tumours, and cannot treat advanced cancers that have spread. It goes on to suggest, perhaps rather optimistically, that if it were to be successful it might pave the way for a national prostate cancer screening programme.
We will be featuring HIFU in the Winter Edition of our magazine, UPDATE, and will include an interview with one of the first patients treated with HIFU in the UK. For those keen to find out further information immediately, we suggest that you visit: UKHIFU Limited at www.ukhifu.co.uk or call them at 0845 456 7853.