New treatment for prostate cancer

Now, men diagnosed with prostate cancer are not required to undergo surgery to get their tumours eliminated.

Now, men diagnosed with prostate cancer are not required to undergo surgery to get their tumours eliminated.

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A city-based private hospital has started providing the Sonablate high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment in which a patient can be discharged the very next day of the treatment.

Shikher Bhandari, director of Orbit Hospital, said, "We always believe in providing best treatment to our patients. The latest treatment option will be more beneficial for aged patients."

Dr Nitin Arora, a surgeon at the hospital, said, "HIFU treatment is very patient friendly as there is no immediate morbidity which is expected if the patient chooses radical surgery. Also the side effects are not expected since the treatment is done by sound waves rather than radiation."

Prostate cancer patients are usually treated through surgery and it takes minimum four to five days for them to recover. But after this treatment, which is much costlier, a patient can go home the very next day.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men over 40 years of age. According to experts, when the tumour becomes more advanced, patients experience weak urinary stream, pain or burning sensation during urination and blood in urine.