Hifu Story

Hello fellow searchers,

I just returned from Puerto Viallarta, Mexico. Actually had HIFU  treatment on July 15th and stayed for a week to relax. There was no pain associated with the proceedure. My Doctor was a surgeon from the U.S.

I must say that I am quite pleased at the results thus far. On thursday of that week (the 19th) I was first able to relieve myself with out the use of the catheter. since then I am capable of relieving myself about 50-60% of the time.  The best news was when I actually had an erection also on the 19th and have had several since then and was actually able to lets say engage lightly and carefully with my partner. I can't wait to have the catherer removed from my bladder. That is the only uncomfortable thing to deal with except the constant urge to urinate, which is slowing deminishing.

My PSA pre HIFU was 6.1 and Gleason was 4 +3

 I am relieved at this point at not having the worry of what course of action to take. For me it seems that I am on the road to full recovery, I know that results differ from patient to patient and also that depending on how severe the amount of Ultra Sound used during the treatment is a big factor.

I am posting this because I want others to know more about HIFU as a possible alternative to the currently accepted treatments.

Martino

 

On 7/27/2007 Martino wrote:

Hello fellow searchers,

I just returned from Puerto Viallarta, Mexico. Actually had HIFU  treatment on July 15th and stayed for a week to relax. There was no pain associated with the proceedure. My Doctor was a surgeon from the U.S.

I must say that I am quite pleased at the results thus far. On thursday of that week (the 19th) I was first able to relieve myself with out the use of the catheter. since then I am capable of relieving myself about 50-60% of the time.  The best news was when I actually had an erection also on the 19th and have had several since then and was actually able to lets say engage lightly and carefully with my partner. I can't wait to have the catherer removed from my bladder. That is the only uncomfortable thing to deal with except the constant urge to urinate, which is slowing deminishing.

My PSA pre HIFU was 6.1 and Gleason was 4 +3

 I am relieved at this point at not having the worry of what course of action to take. For me it seems that I am on the road to full recovery, I know that results differ from patient to patient and also that depending on how severe the amount of Ultra Sound used during the treatment is a big factor.

I am posting this because I want others to know more about HIFU as a possible alternative to the currently accepted treatments.

Martino

Hi Martino, Max here--- I had hifu on june 28 in Toronto with the ablatherm machine, they said it went well, my recovery has been good i.e. urinary function, had the g-d cath. for 12 days and oh my god what a dreadful thing it is, old Capt. Midnite is not quite up to snuff yet and the dry orgs are quite strange, oh well we don't need to change the sheets so much. Had the procedure at 7:30 a.m. and was in the cab at 2:20 going back to the hotel. Had a psa of 7.8, up from 7.2 a year ago and 4.6 3 years ago, the prior biops were neg. altho last year was told that there were some areas that were atypical but not cancerous, gleason was 3+3 feeling ok a little frustrated but am at least 1 or 2 months ahead of where I would be if I  let them slice and dice me here like they wanted to. Would like to hear from you... max

Max,

 Thanks for the message. I concur that damn Catheter is annoying and I am learning how to sit another way, walk differently and more than once I forgot to turn the toggle in the off position. I now carry an extra set of pants in the car.

All in all not really too bad considering the clear mind I have about side effects. The main reason I choose HIFU was my concern about radiation and radical removal was out of the question as long as I had some hope that it was still contained.

 Anyway I am sure that in a few years HIFU will be used in the US as a prefered treatment in many cases.

 

I hope that your recovery is swift.

 Martino

Hi Guys, I just wanted to say I wish you both a speedy and safe road to recovery. My dad also had BrachyTherapy done in May and if it was up to his original urologist they would have sliced and diced him in April..... However I am not one to accept first opinions so I searched the internet for other less invasive options that would give him as good an outlook. We are in Dublin Ireland and I found Europes leading guy in the field here on our very doorstep. My dad was so excited to hear this as he was very scared of the radical op that was offered to him originally. His results pre-procedure were.... PSA: 4.27 Gleason: 3+3 Stage: T1c So hopefully he is now on the road to recovery. We lost my beautiful mother to pancreatic cancer a year and a half ago aged 57 so this has been a very hard few years for us. I wish you both the very best of luck in your recovery. Tina

I have just come back from a doctor's visit. The doctor has talked to me about HIFU. He told me that it was not performed in the U.S. He mentioned Puerto Vallarta. The only thing that got me was the cost - about $30,000.00. He said this money had to be paid up front and then a company would work with my insurance company to get my money back.

Is this procedure this expensive? I understand the procedure is very good -is it worth $30.000 ?.

Jaime85 

 

$30,000?????  Isn't your life worth that?

 Enough said.

 

Pete W.

 

On 8/6/2007 Jaime85 wrote:

I have just come back from a doctor's visit. The doctor has talked to me about HIFU. He told me that it was not performed in the U.S. He mentioned Puerto Vallarta. The only thing that got me was the cost - about $30,000.00. He said this money had to be paid up front and then a company would work with my insurance company to get my money back.

Is this procedure this expensive? I understand the procedure is very good -is it worth $30.000 ?.

Jaime85 

 

Hi;

Had my Hifu in early March in Munich and total Hospital charges including a 12 day stay was about $10,000 US plus airfare, etc.

 

 

On 8/6/2007 Jaime85 wrote:

I have just come back from a doctor's visit. The doctor has talked to me about HIFU. He told me that it was not performed in the U.S. He mentioned Puerto Vallarta. The only thing that got me was the cost - about $30,000.00. He said this money had to be paid up front and then a company would work with my insurance company to get my money back.

Is this procedure this expensive? I understand the procedure is very good -is it worth $30.000 ?.

Jaime85 

 

 

I had HIFU treatment in Mexico on June 16th. My PSA was 6.0 and Gleason score was 3+3. While the catheter was very uncomfortable, I was able to work and get around with it for 17 days. I missed one day of work while I was traveling back from Mexico. Within a month I was back to doing normal activities, including swimming and having intercourse. Everything is functioning fine and I've not had problems with urinating, although when I need to go, it is more urgent than it was before. It is rare that I would need to get up at night and go, no different than before the treatment. I now have a greater appreciation for basic bodily functions, for sure. My followup PSA will take place in two weeks and that will indicate whether the treatment was successful. The cost for the treatment was $23K US plus travel and hotel for 4 nights (approx $1500). If you are considering this treatment, I highly recommend that you contact people that have been through it to get the real facts (both positive and negative) about their experience. I spoke to 12 men and a couple of their wives before making the final decision about HIFU. All of them said they would do it again, but there were a few that had some difficulties. Best to be prepared for the worst and hope for the best, they say.

Following HIFU on June 16, ,ust rxd my 3 month PSA results: 1.1 (down from 6.0). I've been told that the low point will be at the 6 month point so am hoping to see it drop to below .5. I'll update the msg board when I get the next results.