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Focal Therapy

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Learn about focal therapy for prostate cancer so you can understand whether this option may suit your situation.

What is focal therapy?

Focal therapy is an emerging prostate cancer treatment that involves killing cancer cells in a region of the prostate without damaging the rest of the prostate. It uses emerging, minimally invasive techniques that reduce the possible side effects (such as changes in urinary and sexual function) and recovery times.

If you have focal therapy, side effects may be less severe than those you may experience with other forms of prostate cancer treatment.

Focal Therapy illustration

What does focal therapy involve?

There are several different kinds of focal therapy treatment options for prostate cancer, including:

  • irreversible electroporation (aka: Nanoknife) – using pulses of electricity to create tiny holes in cancer cells, which kills them
  • laser – using light amplification by the stimulated emission of radiation delivered by fibres placed into the prostate, causing the cells to die (evolving data)
  • cryotherapy – using extreme cold to freeze and remove cancerous cells
  • high intensity focused ultrasound – using ultrasound-generated heat over 60o C to kill cancer cells (approved in UK)

Focal therapies all use targeted, precise high doses of energy to kill prostate cancer cells.

Is focal therapy suitable for me?

Focal therapy may be a suitable prostate cancer treatment option for you if:

  • your specialist can identify the location of the cancer within the prostate
  • the cancer needs treatment
  • the cancer hasn’t spread outside the prostate
  • the cancer is small and in the early stage and you have a relatively low risk of recurrence.

Focal therapy is still a developing treatment option for prostate cancer. It isn’t suitable for everyone with prostate cancer, and there are some risks. Your specialist can give you more personalised advice about whether focal therapy is suitable for you.

What are the side effects of focal therapy?

Although much reduced, there are side effects that can result from the focal ablative therapies, including:

  • mild pelvic or perineal discomfort
  • very low incontinence
  • low erectile dysfunction (<10%)
  • ejaculatory dysfunction
  • recurrence

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