Evolution in HIFU Therapy Brings Prostate Cancer Patients Access to More Options
The largest prostate cancer program in Orange County, Hoag has earned a reputation for introducing the newest technologies to our patients. Those exclusive technologies now include a targeted therapy with fewer side effects than traditional prostate cancer treatment – leading to better outcomes and a higher quality of life.
Focal One, a noninvasive robotic High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) technology, uses high intensity ultrasound energy to ablate only the cancerous portion of the prostate. To find the exact target, surgeons use a transrectal probe and use real-time ultrasound image guidance with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 3D biopsy data to navigate directly to the tumor.
Men typically go home the same day, with reduced risk of erectile dysfunction or incontinence. No incisions are made.
“Hoag is a leader in introducing evidence-based technology that advances care and improves patients’ quality of life,” said Jeffrey C. Bassett, M.D., M.P.H., Benjamin & Carmela Du Endowed Chair in Urologic Oncology. “There is now ample evidence to support that this technology allows us to ablate a smaller portion of the prostate, which lessens the damage to surrounding healthy tissue.”
Surgeons compare the procedure to a lumpectomy versus a mastectomy in breast cancer, as not all men with localized prostate cancer want or need their entire prostate treated.
“Men with low or intermediate risk disease are most likely to benefit from this new treatment,” said Dr. Bassett. HIFU joins an impressive arsenal of advanced treatment options to preserve or restore sexual and urinary function, including the single and multi-port DaVinci robotic surgical systems.
The new HIFU might also be beneficial for men undergoing active surveillance, which safely monitors men with slow-growing cancers, helping them to maintain a better quality of life. Hoag was an early adopter of active surveillance for men with non-lethal prostate cancer.
“HIFU gives men a treatment option with a low risk of urinary and sexual dysfunction when contending with a slow-growing and non-lethal cancer,” said Hoag urologic oncologist Daniel Su, M.D.
Hoag recently introduced Focal One HIFU to Orange County thanks, in part, to the generosity of community philanthropists. It is the latest representation of Hoag’s ongoing commitment to image-guided technology that enables physicians to provide precise, targeted treatment.
Hoag’s multidisciplinary team works with men to help tailor the most appropriate treatment approach to them. Hoag was the first hospital in Orange County to offer prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted radiotherapy for metastatic prostate cancer, as part of Hoag’s Molecular Imaging & Therapy program. The hospital was also the first in Southern California to perform minimally invasive prostate removal through a single incision. In fact, Hoag surgeons have performed the highest volume of single port robotic prostatectomies in the western half of the United States.
And now, Hoag is proud to offer a new treatment option for men with localized prostate cancer.
“Thanks to the generosity and support from our philanthropic community, we are building on our commitment to the highest level of prostate cancer care,” Dr. Bassett said.
Visit hoag.org/cancer or call 949-7-CANCER to learn more.