Prostate cancer is the number one cancer affecting men in North America. In the U.S. alone, more than 180,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year. The chances of getting prostate cancer increase with age, with 80% of men over 80 affected by the disease. The prostate is a walnut sized gland that produces semen and is located in front of the rectum, directly behind the bladder. In early stages of prostate cancer, there are no obvious symptoms. It is best to visit your urologist for a
screening. Men over 50 should get regular screenings, and men younger than 50 should go if they have any history of prostate cancer in the family.
One of the latest treatments is HIFU for prostate cancer – High Intensity Focused Ultrasound.
HIFU is a therapeutic option for localized prostate cancer with the advantages of a non-invasive treatment. Nor surgery or radiation is involved, and the ultrasound waves are computer controlled with pinpoint accurracy and minimal effect to the surrounding organs. The heat from the ultrasound waves destroys the cancer without harming nerves and organs near the prostate, resulting in fewer side effects like incontinence and impotency.
This therapy is available with precise local treatment in one session, repeatable if necessary, with a low complication rate. HIFU is performed in an outpatient setting. HIFU has been in Europe longer than in North America and has been available in Canada since 2005. The Cleveland Clinic Canada, located in Toronto, Ontario Canada, is home to the Maple Leaf 
HIFU clinic . Maple Leaf HIFU has performed more Ablatherm HIFU procedures than any other clinic in North America.
Clinical research and trials support the High Intensity Focused Ultrasound as an effective alternative to destroy localized prostate cancer in men without surgery or radiation. Talk to your urologist about this procedure as a safe alternative treatment with fewer side effects than other forms of prostate cancer treatment.
For more information about High Intensity Focused Ultrasound, visit www.hifu.ca
