Prostate cancer is the 2nd most common form of cancer and the 4th most common cancer overall. The study suggests that more than 1.4 million people across the world were diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2020. Prostate cancer is a prevalent health concern for men globally. While traditional treatments like surgery and radiation are effective, they can come with side effects like incontinence and erectile dysfunction. HIFU (High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound) offers a minimally invasive alternative for treating prostate cancer. This blog explores the cost of HIFU treatment for prostate cancer in India, making it an attractive option for many patients.
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What is HIFU Treatment?
As the name suggests, high-intensity focused ultrasound is a treatment that utilizes high-frequency sound waves to target and destroy cancer cells within the prostate gland. In this process, the high-energy sound waves are concentrated at the tumor, called the focal point, producing heat to kill the cancer cells. It is a revolutionary treatment approach that can kill off the cancer cells without harming the healthy ones (cells outside the focal point).
HIFU surgery is one done only for benign or early-stage prostate cancer, i.e., when the cancer has not spread to other parts of the body. This minimally invasive technique using focal ablation has made early cancer treatment highly accessible and secure for men. The side effects are less severe, and the patient can leave the hospital the following day.
You might have HIFU treatment to either:
- The whole prostate gland. This is the whole prostate HIFU.
- Specific areas of the prostate gland. This is focal HIFU surgery.
This procedure offers several advantages over traditional methods:
- Minimally invasive: No scalpel or incision is required, reducing recovery time and risk of infection.
- Outpatient procedure: Typically, an overnight stay isn’t necessary.
- Preserves potency and continence: Nerves and urinary structures surrounding the prostate are often spared, minimizing side effects.
- Targeted treatment: Only cancerous cells are targeted, leaving healthy tissue unharmed.
Who Is an Ideal Candidate For HIFU Prostate Surgery?
- You have localized (benign), early-stage, or locally advanced prostate cancer that’s visible on an MRI or ultrasound scan.
- Tolerance for anesthesia.
- Your cancer has reoccurred after earlier treatment like surgical removal, brachytherapy, cryoablation, proton beam therapy, etc.
- You don’t want to undergo surgery or adjuvant therapies like chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy, etc.
What Are The Advantages Of HIFU Therapy?
The high-intensity focused ultrasound for prostate cancer comes with a lot of advantages for men looking for treatment in India, such as:
- Minimally invasive as no surgical incision occurs, hence minimal infection risk.
- The outpatient procedure requires no hospital stay unless required.
- Leaves out healthy tissues, hence preserving continence, erectile, and orgasmic function.
- Doesn’t use radiation.
HIFU has fewer side effects than more invasive types of tumor treatment, including:
- Chemotherapy.
- Radiation therapy.
- Open surgery.
What Happens Before The HIFU Surgery?
HIFU therapy for prostate cancer comes with two main conditions – the cancer should be low-grade or benign, and the tumor should be visible on the MRI. Your healthcare professional will take an MRI or ultrasound of your prostate gland to get a clear picture of the tumor and its location. After the scans, you will be given further instructions on how to prepare for the treatment.
How to Prepare For HIFU Treatment?
HIFU is an ultrasonic treatment for prostate cancer. As it is non-invasive, you won’t face many complications compared to surgical interventions. Do check with your healthcare provider for any special instructions to prepare for the ultrasound therapy for prostate cancer.
Here are some specific ways your health practitioner may ask you to prepare for the ultrasound treatment for prostate cancer:
- Your doctor may ask you to undergo an enema or take a laxative drink to empty your bowels. An enema is a liquid-filled pouch with a nozzle that you put into your back passage (anus). This causes your bowel to empty.
- You will be asked to stop eating 6 hours before the surgery but can still take liquids. However, you will have to stop drinking 4 hours beforehand.
HIFU Treatment For Prostate Cancer Procedure
The procedure of HIFU therapy for prostate cancer is quite simple, not to mention uncomplicated. It can be done within 1-3 hours, depending on the extent of the cancer and the type of HIFU you are undergoing. The procedure involves:
- Your doctor will administer your general anesthesia. Now, you will be asleep and feel nothing during the procedure.
- You have a small tube (cannula) put into a vein in the back of your hand.
- Your surgeon inserts a thin tube called a urinary catheter into your bladder through the urethra to drain out the urine.
- Your doctor will use an ultrasound or an MRI to determine the exact location of the tumor.
- A lubricated probe, the size of your index finger, will be inserted into your rectum. This probe gives out high-intensity ultrasound waves that can destroy the cancer cells in your prostate.
- Using the image, the probe will be placed towards the targeted tissue.
- A test dose will be delivered to the center of the targeted tissue.
- After the first dose, some adjustments can be made based on the depth of the tissue.
- Now, more bursts of ultrasonic waves will be delivered to the tissue.
- They’ll use an imaging test to ensure the targeted tissue was destroyed.
Treatment with HIFU usually only requires a single session or procedure.
HIFU Treatment For Prostate Cancer Cost In India
India has emerged as a leading destination for medical tourism, offering high-quality healthcare at a fraction of the cost compared to Western countries. HIFU treatment for prostate cancer in India is significantly cheaper than in other parts of the world. The HIFU treatment for prostate cancer cost in India between USD 14,000 and USD 16,000, depending on the extent of the cancer and the facility chosen.
What Are The Causes That Affects The Cost Of HIFU Treatment In India?
- Hospital facilities: Treatment costs can vary depending on the chosen hospital’s reputation and amenities.
- Surgeon’s experience: A highly experienced surgeon may command a higher fee but will guarantee a higher success rate.
- Geographic location: Costs differ slightly between major cities and smaller towns.
It’s important to note that this is an estimated range. For an accurate cost assessment, it’s recommended that you contact hospitals directly.
Benefits of Choosing HIFU Treatment in India
- Cost-effectiveness: India offers significant savings on HIFU treatment compared to other countries.
- Advanced technology: Many Indian hospitals boast state-of-the-art robotic HIFU equipment.
- Experienced doctors: India has a pool of highly skilled and qualified urologists specializing in HIFU procedures.
Which Are The Best HIFU Surgery For Prostate Cancer Hospitals In India?
Many hospitals in India offer affordable HIFU treatment. These hospitals are renowned for their patient-centric approach to treatment. They are also equipped with the latest medical technology, providing the best and most affordable treatment with high success rates.
The hospitals:
- Max Super Specialty Hospital, Saket, Delhi
- Apollo Specialty Hospital, Chennai
- Kauvery Hospital, Alwarpert, Chennai
- Cytecare Cancer Hospital, Bangalore
- Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram
- Medanta The Medicity, Gurugram
- Artemis Hospital, Gurugram
- Fortis Hospital, Mulund, Mumbai
- Manipal Hospital, Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- BLK Super Specialty Hospital, Delhi
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HIFU Vs Radiation For Prostate Cancer Treatment
| Characteristic | HIFU Therapy | Radiation Therapy |
| Target Cancer | HIFU provides precision targeting and is generally restricted to small, easily detected cancers that have not spread. | Radiation can be used on almost any type of cancer. |
| Number of sessions | External beam radiation therapy requires multiple treatment sessions. Brachytherapy requires surgery and anesthesia to insert the radioactive pellets on or near your tumor. | HIFU is usually completed in one session but can require anesthesia to place the ultrasound equipment into the rectum. |
| Specialist | HIFU is most often given by a urologist in an outpatient procedure for prostate cancer. | A radiation oncologist administers external beam radiation therapy at a cancer center. Treatments are usually five days a week for a few weeks. Brachytherapy is a one-time surgical procedure to place the seeds in the prostate. |
| Energy Wave Used | HIFU uses low-energy sound waves to produce heat for killing the cancer cells. | Radiotherapy uses high-energy rays like gamma rasy of X-rays to kill cancer cells. |
| Condition Of Surrounding Tissues | Surrounding tissues remain unharmed as the low energy sound waves of HIFU do not damage the tissue they pass through. | Surrounding tissues get harmed as the high-energy rays damage the genetic material of the surrounding tissues. The adjacent rectum, bladder, urethra, nerves and blood vessels that are harmed but do not die, then recover and heal. |
HIFU Treatment For Prostate Cancer Pros And Cons
Pros of HIFU Treatment For Prostate Cancer:
- Uses clean energy.
- Surrounding tissues are left unharmed.
- It can also be performed under local anesthesia.
- Treatment can be repeated without any significant side effects.
- It can be done after other treatments like radiation therapy or radical prostatectomy if the cancer has reoccurred.
- It can be combined with other treatments like proton beam therapy.
- Doesn’t involve side effects like incontinence or impotence.
Cons of HIFU Treatment For Prostate Cancer:
- Not for every type of cancer.
- Not suitable for metastatic or advanced-stage cancer.
- The efficacy may be affected by large tumors or enlarged prostates.
- People with irritable bowel syndrome of the rectum or other related circumstances, such as previous rectal surgery, may not be good candidates for HIFU.
What Are The Long-term Side-effects Of The HIFU Treatment For Prostate Cancer?
- Pain in the area between your testicles and back passage (rectum).
- Blood or small pieces of prostate tissue in your urine (for a few weeks). It is expected as it’s your body’s way of discharging the damaged tissue.
- Difficulty having or keeping an erection. Gets normal after a few weeks.
- Urine infection. Contact your doctor immediately if you are having a fever.
- Prostate swelling after HIFU treatment, leading to problems with urination.
- Infections in your testicles.
- A hole between the bladder and the back passage – this is rare.
Prostate Cancer Recurrence After HIFU
There are chances of prostate cancer reoccurring after the HIFU treatment. The median time to post-HIFU recurrence has been around 16 months. While not everyone experiences a recurrence, a few may do. The MRI biopsy demonstrated that 56% had in-field recurrence. In comparison, 21% had an out-of-field recurrence, and 23% had both recurrences. According to NIH, HIFU resulted in local control rates of 82.6%, which is consistent with the results reported for the other treatment modalities.
Conclusion
HIFU treatment provides a promising option for prostate cancer patients seeking a minimally invasive and potentially nerve-sparing approach. With India’s growing medical expertise and cost-effectiveness, it’s a destination worth considering for your treatment journey. Remember, consulting with a qualified urologist is crucial to determining if HIFU is the proper treatment for you.
FAQs On HIFU Treatment For Prostate Cancer Cost In India
Q: What is the success rate of HIFU therapy for prostate cancer?
A: HIFU successfully controls cancer in about 75% of men. About one in five men need to have a second HIFU procedure within the first five years after treatment. And about one in 15 men need to have surgery or radiation therapy for prostate cancer that’s come back. In terms of success for urinary function, HIFU works very well.
Only about 1% of men have any urine leakage after HIFU. In terms of sexual function, for those men who don’t need any tablets for erections before HIFU, about two in three continue to have erections without any tablets afterward. About one in three will need some tablets to help with the erections.
Q: Where can I get HIFU treatment for prostate cancer?
A: India is one of the best countries to get HIFU treatment for prostate cancer. Unlike other countries, many cities in India offer world-class treatments within affordable ranges. These cities include Delhi-NCR, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Bangalore.
Q: How effective is HIFU treatment for prostate cancer?
A: The HIFU treatment for prostate cancer has been effective in almost all cases. 95% of the cases have seen an absence of clinically significant cancer in the treated lobe, optimal preservation of the continence for 97% of the patients, and erectile function for more than 78% of them.
Q: Does HIFU work for prostate cancer?
A: HIFU focal therapy uses low-energy, heat-producing sound waves that heat up the targeted tissues/cancer cells, which are then destroyed. Yes, studies have shown the high effectiveness of HIFU for treating prostate cancer.
Q: Can HIFU be used for treating breast cancer?
A: Yes, HIFU can be used for treating many types of early-stage cancers, one of them being breast cancer.
Q: What HIFU machines are there for prostate cancer treatment?
A: Sonablate HIFU, Focal One Robotic HIFU, and Ablatherm HIFU are some noninvasive surgical devices used to deliver precise, focused, and controlled ablative energy to treat cancers, such as prostate cancer, breast cancer, and tumors.
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