cryosurgery cryotherapy prostate cancer treatment procedure

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Cryosurgery, cryotherapy

A newer surgical procedure is making some headway into the cancer scene. Cryosurgery has been around for years as a treatment for external tumors such as skin cancer, but has recently been refined to be used on internal cancers as well, including prostate.

The cryotherapy procedure consists of the insertion of very thin, very long needles through the perineum (the area between the testicles and anus) and into the gland. Then, cold liquid nitrogen or argon gas is pumped through the needles, freezing the prostate tissue and effectively killing the prostate and cancer cells. The operation can be repeated multiple times if needed.

The entire procedure only lasts a few hours, and the patient usually goes home in a day or two. A catheter will remain attached for several days to several weeks, but can return to their normal activity rate very quickly.

What are the advantages of cryosurgery / cryotherapy ?

Cryosurgery offers advantages over other methods of cancer treatment.

It is less invasive than surgery, involving only a small incision or insertion of the cryoprobe through the skin.
Consequently, pain, bleeding, and other complications of surgery are minimized.
Cryosurgery is less expensive than other treatments
Requires shorter recovery time and a shorter hospital stay, or no hospital stay at all.
Sometimes cryosurgery can be done using only local anesthesia.

Cryosurgery has shown its best work on prostates 40 grams or less in size as measured by ultrasound. Three to six months prior to the freezing procedure, the patient is placed on hormone therapy to hold production of male hormones, which cause prostate cancer to grow. Hormone therapy improves the chances of freezing the entire prostate by shrinking the prostate and cancer prior to cryosurgery.

Although not widely performed, cryosurgery is a promising new treatment that solves one of the major problems in men facing prostate cancer. Cryotherapy is currently considered an experimental therapy for prostate cancer because there are no long-term results to document the technique's effectiveness.

Appropriate candidates for cryosurgery

Men whose cancer is localized to the prostate gland.
Men who haven't had previous prostate surgery, including transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).
Men whose prostates are 40 grams or less in size as measured by ultrasound.
Men with high Gleason scores. Cryosurgery is used for local control of the tumor and as an adjunct to hormone therapy.

Side effects of prostate cancer cryosurgery

Cryosurgery for the prostate gland can cause side effects. These side effects may occur more often in men who have had radiation to the prostate.

Cryosurgery may obstruct urine flow or cause incontinence (lack of control over urine flow); often, these side effects are temporary.
Many men become impotent (loss of sexual function).
In some cases, the surgery has caused injury to the rectum.

Disadvantages of cryosurgery

Results of long-term studies of the effectiveness of cryosurgery are not yet available
The cryotherapy procedure may not be covered by your insurance. Several years ago, however, the Health Care Financing Administration approved reimbursement of cryosurgery for primary treatment of prostate cancer.
Some concerns that some cancer cells may escape freezing and proliferate.
Some concerns that other cells may be outside the prostate and will not be treated.

Latest news

Follow-up data on cryotherapy for prostate cancer
In a newly published report, a team of clinicians from Columbia University Medical Center has provided data on the 10-year follow-up of a small group of patients treated with salvage or primary cryotherapy for prostate cancer. Clinicians claim that this is the longest reported follow-up on patients treated with cryotherapy ... [ read full article ]

Is cryotherapy for prostate cancer ready for prime time
Undoubtedly, prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing and prostate cancer treatment saves lives. However, there are growing concerns regarding overtreatment. There has also been a shift toward less invasive approaches to prostate cancer, including cryotherapy. [ read full article ]

Cryosurgery recommended primary treatment option for prostate cancer
Following years of innovation and intensive research, a research team of Binghamton University (BU) working with Cell Preservation Services, Inc., Owego, NY, has broken extraordinary new ground in the recognition of cryotherapy as a primary treatment option for prostate cancer.
[ read full article ]

Cryotherapy: A January 2009 expert overview
A small international group of very highly respected experts has just published an important review of the current evidence surrounding the application of a number of the new and/or evolving treatments available for management of localized prostate cancer, with an emphasis on the potential of focal therapy. [ read full article ]

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