Hifu

Hi,

 I am researching some information about HIFU TREATMENT for a friend. I have found many articles and think that this is the best treatment for him.  I am just looking to see if anybody could give me some websites or hospitals that offer this treatment outside the US, PREFERABLY EUROPE OR ASIA.  I have read about one in Germany, which is the cheapest.  Can anyone give me some insight?  I have read that the cost in Germany is about 8000 EUROS.  Does that include EVERYTHING(airfare, lodging, food and procedure) or just the procedure?  Which one do you recommend?  I also read in the blogs about Japan  costing about $10,000USD.  If anyone can help with where he can go for the best treatment, please let me know.  I appreciate it.

 D

If you Google "HIFU" you will get all of the websites out there.8000 Euros equals about $10,800 dollars. That will be what you pay the hospital before you leave them. Travel, food and lodging are not included in that number. Not every PCa patient is a candidate for this procedure. I suggest that you and your friend do his homework and research all options. No treatment out there is 100% assured of a cure, but some treatments "fit" better than others. What are his PSA, Gleason, Stage., Volume ,Age, etc,etc,?

There is an awful lot of hype on most of the HIFU websites. Some folks are in the business of selling Hifu. Others are more interested in treatment and a cure. One thing I can assure you is that HIFU is not HIFU. It matters which machine you choose, where you choose to get it done, and above all, as with any treatment you choose, who you choose to do the procedure. Do your research. You'll be confused and amazed, but you will make the right choice for you.

Regards,   murph

Thanks for your response.  He is a healthy 57 year old with a PSA of 4.2 and a Gleason score of 3+3(6).  He feels that HIFU treatment with be best for him in giving him back his quality of life.  I understand that there are two different machines, Sonablate and Ablatherm. I have heard pros and cons for both.  Which do you suggest?  Have you been through the HIFU treatment?  What are your suggestions?  We found majority of the response pf people who have gone through HIFU treatment were treated by Dr. Suarez in Mexico, Germany and Canada.  I have found a place in Japan at the Tekiyo Hopital and would only cost about $7300 for the treatment minus the lodging, airfare and food expense.  Does anyone know about this place?

With his age and stats. he should look into the FDA clinical trial on HIFU. They are looking for low risk guys like him for the study. No cost to him!

I came back from Munich 6 mos.ago I had hifu treatment with Prof. Chaussy and Dr. Thuroff. My last two PSA results have been 0.1 They use the Ablatherm machine. They do a TURP prior to the HIFU. They use different frequencies and duration of pulses than some other treatment centers. You are in a hospital for several days. You walk out without a cath. I mention this because in my mind "HIFU IS NOT HIFU" It matters who, what, when and where you get the peocedure performed. Recovery has not been without its obsticals, but so far I would do it again. Do your homework, get armed with all the informatiuon you can. Check out all treatment options, get second and third opinions on your condition and options from the 'experts'. You will find a path to a cure.

Had I not gone to Germany I would have gone to Japan. I spoke with a Doctor who gives similar treatment as I received in Germany, He practices in a hospital outside Tokyo but I forget his name.

"Cancer is a word, not a sentence"

murph

On 10/6/2007 Petermurph wrote:

With his age and stats. he should look into the FDA clinical trial on HIFU. They are looking for low risk guys like him for the study. No cost to him!

I came back from Munich 6 mos.ago I had hifu treatment with Prof. Chaussy and Dr. Thuroff. My last two PSA results have been 0.1 They use the Ablatherm machine. They do a TURP prior to the HIFU. They use different frequencies and duration of pulses than some other treatment centers. You are in a hospital for several days. You walk out without a cath. I mention this because in my mind "HIFU IS NOT HIFU" It matters who, what, when and where you get the peocedure performed. Recovery has not been without its obsticals, but so far I would do it again. Do your homework, get armed with all the informatiuon you can. Check out all treatment options, get second and third opinions on your condition and options from the 'experts'. You will find a path to a cure.

Had I not gone to Germany I would have gone to Japan. I spoke with a Doctor who gives similar treatment as I received in Germany, He practices in a hospital outside Tokyo but I forget his name.

"Cancer is a word, not a sentence"

murph

 

Murph - recently diagnosed - gleason 6 psa 5.6 - interested in hifu or proton beam. Why Germany not Canada?  Feel it is best to go with experience. Would like to talk to you if possible

thanks Bob

My husband had HIFU 2 months ago and so far so good.  Everything is working fine.  He is having some minor problem but nothing to be concerned about at this point.  We went to Mexico and his Dr. uses Sonoblate.   I do not know anything about Canada or the  Ablatherm device .   The only negative thing I can say is we were told that the day after the procedure, other than the catheter, “You would not know that you had anything done.”  Your recovery time is not like having surgery, that for sure, but it done take a few days to get your strength back.    We have talked to several gentlemen that have had HIFU and they all agree with this.  But there are no regrets he is glad he went this route.  His doctor  is Dr. Ronald Wheeler in Sarasota Florida and I highly recommend him.   

Bob

Nice to talk to you yesterday. I have contacted several other HIFU patients and one Proton Beam patient that I know of, and asked if they would mind me giving you their e-mail address. Keep doing the leg work. The more info you consume the better off you will be in the long run. I go for my 6month PSA test tomorrow. Its amazing how anxious this makes me feel. I will let you know how it comes out, and I will update my YANAnow post.

Hi,

Thank you all for the information you provide.

I ws diagnosed with Gleason = 6(3+3), PSA = 3.8, VOLUME = 200 CC, hence I am qualified to the HIFU. I am 60 years old and in excellent physical shape + reasonable sex (not like 18, but there are advantage to teh experience) 

I made lots of reseacrch and tried to find solid information, and it is so difficlt to.

My main goals are quality of life an dlife expectancy.

The main conclusions I have are:

HIFU is the treatment I woudl select. 

SB500 seems to have better results than ablatherm although ablatherm gained much more experience.

There is a learning curve, and one should go to those that practiced at least 75-100 procedures. Hence, if you want to participate in a trail (which I would have had I been a US citizen), make sure you are treated by an experienced Dr.

I exchanged emails with several Dr. doing the HIFU, I must say that they were VERY collaborative despite the fact that I asked lots of questions.

Living in Israel, there is a local  Dr. who made 20 procedures, to the best of my understanding with very good resuts, I spoke with the latest one who wa svery happy. Yet, I tend to do it oversea, just becasue of teh experience.

 Initilly i tended to do it in Mexico, the professor was great, very helful and has lots of experience with very good statistics. However given the distance and 36 hours light back home and the need for occational treatment (follow up is not a problem), i am trying to narrow the radius.

I met with another one, in Canada, who made a large number of procedures and spent 45 minutes with me. I am confident that I can trust him too, again the only draw back is the distance and possible additional treatments that probably no Dr. would like to take in Israel since i was not treated by him.

Questions:

Based on the above, woudl you encourage the HIFU + SB500?

Is there really a need for complementary treatment (removing cathether, flushing the area treated can be done anywhere). So, is distance a probelm?

What are your PSA nadir and Biophsy taken after x period? I knwo that you are not statistics, but it is good to hear.

What are the drwawbacks of this procedure compared with Radical Prostatecomy (RP)? RP was recommended by my local Dr. and I can have it done by the top Dr. in Isarel. They do not like the HIFU since there is not enough data and mainy not enough long term data.

 Any other advise is welcome

 Thanks, MoniStar

Hapy that this was just a typo. the volume is 20 CC "only"