prostate-report.org

Freezing prostate cancer does a man’s body good

According to studies released at the Society of Interventional Radiology’s 34th Annual Scientific Meeting, focal cryoablation, called “male lumpectomy” - a minimally invasive interventional radiology treatment for prostate cancer - is as effective as surgery in destroying diseased tumors and can be considered a first-line treatment for patients of all risk levels and particularly those who have failed radiation.

With focal cryoablation, interventional radiologists insert a probe through the skin, using imaging to guide the needle to the tumor; the probe then circulates extremely cold gas to freeze and destroy the cancerous tissue. This minimally invasive treatment targets only the cancer itself, sparing healthy tissue in and around the prostate gland rather than destroying it, as traditional approaches do.

Data show that focal cryoablation is as good for prostate cancer control as any other treatment, but it is less invasive and traumatic for patients, preserves sexual and urinary function and has no major complications. Interventional radiologists tailor treatment to each patient’s disease. Instead of removing the entire prostate, or freezing the entire prostate or using radiation on the entire prostate, interventional radiologists can find out where the cancer is and just destroy the cancer.

Cryoablation (or cryo or cryotherapy) spares as much as possible of the prostate gland and its neurovascular bundles, limiting the side effects of bladder control problems (incontinence) and erectile dysfunction (impotence) that result from more radical prostate cancer treatments. It also represents an advantage over “watchful waiting,” because all treatment options are preserved. Patient can go home on the same day of the procedure, and he can repeat the treatment, if needed, in later years