HIFU Procedure

Hi:

    I had HIFU Ablatherm done on July 9th, 2009 at Sloane-Kettering in NYC,(Clinical Trail-First) Today, I get the Catherer removed 7-23-09. I have been able to eat regularly, walk a mile in the morning, shower and shave with no discomfort. I have been keeping a journal for the past month,so if you have questions, do not hestitate too ask. I will keep all informed of my progress.

On 7/23/2009 george1 wrote:

Hi:

    I had HIFU Ablatherm done on July 9th, 2009 at Sloane-Kettering in NYC,(Clinical Trail-First) Today, I get the Catherer removed 7-23-09. I have been able to eat regularly, walk a mile in the morning, shower and shave with no discomfort. I have been keeping a journal for the past month,so if you have questions, do not hestitate too ask. I will keep all informed of my progress.

Glad you are doing well. I would like to know your history age/psa/gleason/stage/pervious thearpies.

I went to Mexico unsure if the whole HIFU thing was a scam, I mean, I always trusted the American medical system, why would this be taken off shore??  But I knew it was in trials..... 

Then, in Mexico, I was met with a very professional team, my doctor brought his own nurse, anethiesologist and certified mechanic to monitor the Sonablate ultrasound  machine, there was a group of people who all wore international HIFU outfits.  I was met the night prior to treatment and briefed on what to expect and what rules to follow (drink alot, etc). The little San Javier Hospital was perfect in everyway. The morning after treatment the nurse phoned me, all that I reported was that I was fine.  And I had been told to email every 3 days  or phone whenever--day or night--that I needed to, I was given my doctor's blackberry, his home phone and his office phone.  But I never needed any assistance, I had completely easy outcome, and I wish I could tell everyone there may be a better way for you to cure yourself of prostate cancer.

Yes, there are trials and some have awful data to report, I question why they only use inexperienced doctors as my doctor told me, "I feel badly about my first dozen patients".

In the latest UK trial, the head doctor, Mark Emberton, wrote, "Most of the [occurrences of retained debris or stricture] were clustered to the early part of the series at the beginning of our learning curve” and “If rates similar to those reported in this paper had persisted we would not have wanted to continue with this treatment.”

Yes, "learning curve"....can you imagine the stellar outcome if the doctors in the trials had actually been experienced?  Why on earth do they use doctors with no experience???  Even in America they would not let our most experienced doctors into a clinical trial.

The latest trial still has 1 in 172 men with incontinence, those are my kinda results!

I'm a happy guy.  HIFU has worked for me, I had no other treatments, my PSA was 8.6, gleason 7, and I've now sent several other men who all report no troubles.

And I am thrilled to read that george is getting along just fine.  I hope it was a supra pubic catheter.  di dyou take the cautionery drugs that I was prescribed?

BTW George, hot "reply to message", don't start another thread...

On 7/23/2009 ohnoo wrote:

I went to Mexico unsure if the whole HIFU thing was a scam, I mean, I always trusted the American medical system, why would this be taken off shore??  But I knew it was in trials..... 

Then, in Mexico, I was met with a very professional team, my doctor brought his own nurse, anethiesologist and certified mechanic to monitor the Sonablate ultrasound  machine, there was a group of people who all wore international HIFU outfits.  I was met the night prior to treatment and briefed on what to expect and what rules to follow (drink alot, etc). The little San Javier Hospital was perfect in everyway. The morning after treatment the nurse phoned me, all that I reported was that I was fine.  And I had been told to email every 3 days  or phone whenever--day or night--that I needed to, I was given my doctor's blackberry, his home phone and his office phone.  But I never needed any assistance, I had completely easy outcome, and I wish I could tell everyone there may be a better way for you to cure yourself of prostate cancer.

Yes, there are trials and some have awful data to report, I question why they only use inexperienced doctors as my doctor told me, "I feel badly about my first dozen patients".

In the latest UK trial, the head doctor, Mark Emberton, wrote, "Most of the [occurrences of retained debris or stricture] were clustered to the early part of the series at the beginning of our learning curve” and “If rates similar to those reported in this paper had persisted we would not have wanted to continue with this treatment.”

Yes, "learning curve"....can you imagine the stellar outcome if the doctors in the trials had actually been experienced?  Why on earth do they use doctors with no experience???  Even in America they would not let our most experienced doctors into a clinical trial.

The latest trial still has 1 in 172 men with incontinence, those are my kinda results!

I'm a happy guy.  HIFU has worked for me, I had no other treatments, my PSA was 8.6, gleason 7, and I've now sent several other men who all report no troubles.

And I am thrilled to read that george is getting along just fine.  I hope it was a supra pubic catheter.  di dyou take the cautionery drugs that I was prescribed?

BTW George, hot "reply to message", don't start another thread...

Hi: George Here

                           Catherer removed at Northport VA hospital on Long Island on thew 23rd of July. I took all of the prescribed medications. First day a little incontinence. The 24th,walked 2 miles,no incontinence. I am doing Kegel exercises daily. I feel great!! If you qualify, I highly recommend HIFU. A clinical study is ongoing at Sloane-Kettering in NYC. All involved have been super!! I am keeping a daily journal. Also,I am more than glad to share!

It's great to hear from you, please do keep us posted, I feel like the Lone Ranger out here speaking about HIFU.  It is the best thing that's ever happened to me, and to think I wouldn't have found it if I hadn't come to a forum.  Until we are all leaving the country for HIFU I think they will drag their feet to get it approved.  I am hoping that Sloan-K. is different than the hospitals that I spoke to, plus the restrictions to get in to the trials are too strick.  Do you happen to know how many guys are in the Sloan-K trials?  MD Anderson only has 9, they need 21.  Problem is they don't mention the option, you have to ask if you qualify. 

 I wonder--did you ask about HIFU or did your doctor mention it?

On 7/25/2009 ohnoo wrote:

It's great to hear from you, please do keep us posted, I feel like the Lone Ranger out here speaking about HIFU.  It is the best thing that's ever happened to me, and to think I wouldn't have found it if I hadn't come to a forum.  Until we are all leaving the country for HIFU I think they will drag their feet to get it approved.  I am hoping that Sloan-K. is different than the hospitals that I spoke to, plus the restrictions to get in to the trials are too strick.  Do you happen to know how many guys are in the Sloan-K trials?  MD Anderson only has 9, they need 21.  Problem is they don't mention the option, you have to ask if you qualify. 

 I wonder--did you ask about HIFU or did your doctor mention it?

I was the first at Sloane. I feel that I was the one who initiated the the program at Sloane. I think that I was at the right place at the right time.Dr Eastham and his staff have been great!! Everything has been more than I e\xpected!! I am here for all  inqueries.. Do not hestitate to ask questions.

      A real concerned person-George   

 

 

 

On 7/25/2009 george1 wrote:

 

On 7/25/2009 ohnoo wrote:

It's great to hear from you, please do keep us posted, I feel like the Lone Ranger out here speaking about HIFU.  It is the best thing that's ever happened to me, and to think I wouldn't have found it if I hadn't come to a forum.  Until we are all leaving the country for HIFU I think they will drag their feet to get it approved.  I am hoping that Sloan-K. is different than the hospitals that I spoke to, plus the restrictions to get in to the trials are too strick.  Do you happen to know how many guys are in the Sloan-K trials?  MD Anderson only has 9, they need 21.  Problem is they don't mention the option, you have to ask if you qualify. 

 I wonder--did you ask about HIFU or did your doctor mention it?

I was the first at Sloane. I feel that I was the one who initiated the the program at Sloane. I think that I was at the right place at the right time.Dr Eastham and his staff have been great!! Everything has been more than I e\xpected!! I am here for all  inqueries.. Do not hestitate to ask questions.

      A real concerned person-George   

 

 

 

 

George said--

"I was the first at Sloane. I feel that I was the one who initiated the the program at Sloane. I think that I was at the right place at the right time.Dr Eastham and his staff have been great!! Everything has been more than I e\xpected!! I am here for all  inqueries.. Do not hestitate to ask questions.

      A real concerned person-George "

Wow, that's what I thought, they are not interested in doing these trials.  They don't offer it to anyone.  Sloan has had the machine to do them for a year or two.....This is really discouraging.  You are one lucky guy that all went well, as the first person to get a new treatment....well...there could be a learning curve....my doc said he feels badly about his first dozen patients, but that was 6 years ago, so maybe he has published his lessons....or you got lucky!  great.  

I kinda figure they really liked you too.  That they wanted all to go well, they want to be helpful.  We really do need to be out here spreading the word, HIFU is the future.....look at all the money spent on the other treatments (how about Proton beam therapy for $250,000.??!!!), HIFU could save heaps on health insurance and improve quality of life.

Thanks for being here!  And thanks to Sloan, slow off the mound, but with your help--they'll get there!

On 7/26/2009 ohnoo wrote:

George said--

"I was the first at Sloane. I feel that I was the one who initiated the the program at Sloane. I think that I was at the right place at the right time.Dr Eastham and his staff have been great!! Everything has been more than I e\xpected!! I am here for all  inqueries.. Do not hestitate to ask questions.

      A real concerned person-George "

Wow, that's what I thought, they are not interested in doing these trials.  They don't offer it to anyone.  Sloan has had the machine to do them for a year or two.....This is really discouraging.  You are one lucky guy that all went well, as the first person to get a new treatment....well...there could be a learning curve....my doc said he feels badly about his first dozen patients, but that was 6 years ago, so maybe he has published his lessons....or you got lucky!  great.  

I kinda figure they really liked you too.  That they wanted all to go well, they want to be helpful.  We really do need to be out here spreading the word, HIFU is the future.....look at all the money spent on the other treatments (how about Proton beam therapy for $250,000.??!!!), HIFU could save heaps on health insurance and improve quality of life.

Thanks for being here!  And thanks to Sloan, slow off the mound, but with your help--they'll get there!

I urge all of those who live in the New York area and have been diagnosed with early stage localised Prostate Cancer,too look into HIFU-Ablatherm clinical study at Sloan-kettering in NYC. Also, Hackensack Medical Center in New Jersey is involved in HIFU-Ablatherm clinical study

There are also Sonablate trials all over the country, but you have to ASK to be let into them, you must know about them, your doctor will not offer it or bring it up, even if he is involved in them.

 Here are the main phone numbers to find out where the trials are located:

 Sonablate: Mare Ryan, MSN 386-785-0100 mareryan@ushifu.com
or:: Susan Lutte, BSN 386-785-0100 susanlutte@ushifu.com

Main Albatherm trial center: 866-650-4466

Here's a description of HIFU at the website from the Prostate Cancer Research Institute, an independent research charity : http://www.prostate-cancer.org/education/novelthr/Chinn_Tran

The main difference in machines is the Sonablate can treat a larger gland--up to 60cc, whereas a Ablatherm can only treat a gland under 25cc, if your gland is larger then you must take hormones drugs for a month or so, and also  a TURP is reqiored.