HIFU treatment for prostate cancer

The urologist strongly recommended HIFU treatment for stage II prostate cancer. The treatment has been used in Europe (and other parts of the world) for many years, but apparently it was just recently FDA approved, and insurance does not cover the astronomical cost of it. If you have experience the HIFU treatment please share. I am looking to get a second opinion, and greatly appreciate your doctor recommendations as well.

No experience, but wishing you well.

irag said:
The urologist strongly recommended HIFU treatment for stage II prostate cancer. The treatment has been used in Europe (and other parts of the world) for many years, but apparently it was just recently FDA approved, and insurance does not cover the astronomical cost of it. If you have experience the HIFU treatment please share. I am looking to get a second opinion, and greatly appreciate your doctor recommendations as well.

 Do you know where it is available.  My friend was just diagnosed...so far his doc just mentioned 40 days radiation.  Sloan Kettering has a 5 day protocol, so I am concerned that wasn't mentioned by his doctor and he isn't being given all his options.  Knowing him, he wouldn't pay out of pocket when insurance would cover the radiation, but I want to make sure he knows his options.

IMO most urologists have standing business connections to a therapy source.  Asking the urologist for advice on other sources will probably not elicit much useful advice.  If the patient wants to take advantage of a different therapy source, be sure to check out insurance coverage.  The  newer therapies may be considered experimental and not covered by insurance.

For the OP I would recommend getting a second opinion and maybe even a third. I've just gone through a lot of treatments for cancer.  None that would help you -- endometrial cancer and breast cancer -- and I very much learned (the hard way) the importance of getting at least a second opinion.  

No matter how much you like your urologist get another opinion.  It may be exactly the same or it may be entirely different.  You really need to learn more abut your options and which treatments may (or may not) work for you.   

That is the problem my friend is having...his doc ONLY mentioned the 40 day radiation protocol, didn't mention the 5 day radiation or HIFU.  I get the feeling the doc is suggesting what is best for the doc......not the patient.  Looks like NYU Langone has HIFU.  If it were me, I would want to go to a place that offers various options, not just the one they are financially invested in.

My cat had cancer.  I was highly traumatized my Red Bank Vet (Tinton Falls) who pushed what was best for them...wanted to send my cat 3 hours in PA even without me as they could not treat in NJ.  I did the research and found a place in Clifton that had the treatment...the same one as PA.  But going to Clifton didn't benefit Red Bank.  Red Bank also start by telling me that I could just have a phone consult with the oncologist for $100 after the testing by the internal med vet.  I agreed expecting to get answers about my cat...but instead they charged me to tell me they couldn't tell me about my cat since the oncologist hadn't seen my cat and could only give me general info about possible treatments...showed a complete lack of ethics and a complete disregard for animal welfare.

bklyngirl said:
No experience, but wishing you well.

 Thank you very much

jmitw said:
That is the problem my friend is having...his doc ONLY mentioned the 40 day radiation protocol, didn't mention the 5 day radiation or HIFU.  I get the feeling the doc is suggesting what is best for the doc......not the patient.  Looks like NYU Langone has HIFU.  If it were me, I would want to go to a place that offers various options, not just the one they are financially invested in.


My cat had cancer.  I was highly traumatized my Red Bank Vet (Tinton Falls) who pushed what was best for them...wanted to send my cat 3 hours in PA even without me as they could not treat in NJ.  I did the research and found a place in Clifton that had the treatment...the same one as PA.  But going to Clifton didn't benefit Red Bank.  Red Bank also start by telling me that I could just have a phone consult with the oncologist for $100 after the testing by the internal med vet.  I agreed expecting to get answers about my cat...but instead they charged me to tell me they couldn't tell me about my cat since the oncologist hadn't seen my cat and could only give me general info about possible treatments...showed a complete lack of ethics and a complete disregard for animal welfare.

 According to my doctor, prostate cancer treatments based on the cancer stage and the age of the patient. Radiation is usually recommend for more advanced stages. Five day treatment (cyber knife) is also available at St. Barnabas if your friend is local. Then there is also complete removal which seems to have the best survival rates.

Sorry about your cat - we had to deal with it as well... 

NoraCharles said:
For the OP I would recommend getting a second opinion and maybe even a third. I've just gone through a lot of treatments for cancer.  None that would help you -- endometrial cancer and breast cancer -- and I very much learned (the hard way) the importance of getting at least a second opinion.  


No matter how much you like your urologist get another opinion.  It may be exactly the same or it may be entirely different.  You really need to learn more abut your options and which treatments may (or may not) work for you.   

 100% agree!!

My friend is still getting more tests, but so far it appears to be VERY early..likely stage 1...at very worst stage 2.  I'm not pushing him for details as it is a sensitive subject for some men to discuss.

even if it were more advanced, an ethical doctor would have mentioned that since it is more advanced, techniques such as cyber knife weren't recommended.

the 5 day (cyberknife/MSK precise type) is recommended for early stages.