http://digital.healthcaregroup.advanstar.com/nxtbooks/advanstar/ut_201008/index.php?starid=24
"Although this is another important article in the fast gaining popularity of HIFU as a treatment option for localized prostate cancer, and the efficacy in clinical outcomes. The fact is that as a slow growing cancer, it seems to respond to almost any type of treatment when it is diagnosed early and has favorable PSA and Gleason score. However, Radiation has additional toxic side effects that are not often discussed with the patients. Yet, it remains the most common form of treatment for prostate cancer. Mostly because of men's fear of undergoing surgery and the collateral damage associated with it. Even with radiation there is still high degree of side effects. These include erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence and high degree of irritable or "bother symptoms" (bladder and bowel). What is seldom mentioned is the increased risk of developing a secondary malignancy. Particularly bladder and rectal cancer, reported as high as 70 % greater than men treated with alternatives other than radiation. (1) Furthermore, a recent study from the CaPSURE (Cancer of the Prostate Strategic Urologic Research Endeavor) database has revealed that PSA recurrence after radiotherapy occurred in 63 % of men with 93 % being treated with Androgen deprivation therapy for salvage of PSA failure. (2) The alternative to Androgen deprivation is to treat radiation failures with Salvage HIFU and saving patients from being placed on hormone therapy. That in the end is palliative and never curative."
George M. Suarez, M.D.
Co- Founder,
Medical Director Emeritus, USHIFU