Cryosurgery For Prostate Cancer

Cryosurgery For Prostate Cancer - Overview

Executive Summary About Cryosurgery For Prostate Cancer By Samsul S.

Cryosurgery for prostate cancer (also known as cryotherapy, cryoablation, or cryosurgical ablation) is a procedure where the prostate is frozen under controlled conditions in order to destroy cancer cells. For many years in treating skin cancer, cryosurgery is currently considered an experimental therapy for prostate cancer because there is no long-term result to document the effectiveness of the technique.

Cryosurgery for prostate cancer in the prostate of 40 grams or less in size, measured by ultrasound. Three to six months before the procedure, the patient is on hormone therapy to block production of male hormones, the prostate to grow. Hormone therapy reduces the prostate cancer prior to cryosurgery for prostate cancer and increases the chances of freezing the entire prostate.

: cryosurgery treatment for prostate cancer

The procedure of cryosurgery for prostate cancer, the patient either in general or local anesthesia. Special metal probes through the barrier (the area between the scrotum and anus) and directly at the preselected locations in the prostate. Liquid nitrogen is circulated through the probes to freeze the entire gland. The goal is to create an “ice ball” big enough and sufficiently cold to cancer.

An ultrasound probe into the rectum, the placement of probes, the training of the instructors of the ball of ice and ensure that the rectal wall is not frozen. A warming catheter with a brine solution into the urethra so that the heat in the process. During cryosurgery for prostate cancer procedure, a Foley catheter is draining urine, is two to three weeks. Typical hospital stays are one or two days.

Suitable candidates for cryosurgery for prostate cancer

Men whose cancer is localized in the prostate.
Men who have no prior prostate surgery, including transurethral resection of prostate (TURP).
Men whose prostate is 40 grams or less in size, measured by ultrasound.
Men with high Gleason score. Cryosurgery for prostate cancer is local tumor control and in addition to hormone therapy.

Those who should consider other treatments

Men whose cancer has affected the lymph nodes or other parts of the body.

Side effects and complications of cryotherapy for prostate cancer

The most common side effects are irritation of the urethra or bladder symptoms such as frequent urination with little notice, and burning or pain when urinating blood. Irritation of the rectal wall may also occur. Penile or scrotal swelling occurs in about 50 percent of men, which is usually temporary.
Up to 80 percent of men have some degree of erectile dysfunction after cryosurgery. The amount depends on how aggressive the prostate tissues were frozen.
One of the biggest risks for cryosurgery of prostate cancer is the potential for the formation of a fistula - an abnormal connection between the urethra and rectum - and the possibility is not to destroy cancer cells.
In a 1997 study on the effects of cryotherapy for prostate cancer, the most common complication was severe bladder obstruction (narrowing of the urethra, bladder neck, preventing the flow of urine). Transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) is required to address the problem in 23 percent of the patients ¹.
Rare complications include urethral scarring cause difficulty in urination, a catheter.

Benefits of cryosurgery for prostate cancer

The ease and speed of the process
shorter hospital stay and recovery
Relatively inexpensive procedure
There are serious problems with incontinence
Freedom from the start of side effects.

Disadvantages of cryosurgery for prostate cancer

High rate of complications
Results of long-term studies on the effectiveness of cryotherapy for prostate cancer are not yet available
The procedure does not involve their insurance company. A few years ago, but the Health Care Financing Administration approved the reimbursement for cryosurgery of the prostate for the primary treatment of prostate cancer.
Remember that some cancer cells to escape the freeze in May and proliferate.
Remember that the other cells outside the prostate and is not.