Hifu

On 10/9/2007 Joe Anne wrote:

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.   

here's my hifu/dr wheeler story:

I'm 55years old,married, diagnosed with a 3+3 Gleason and 6.1 psa in

1998. Watchful waited til 2000 then began more active surveilance with

intermittent hormone therapy--casodex and later casodex

+tamoxofin.--and guided by Dr Wheeler and his chronic disease

management protocol. This continued til April/May 2006. I was then

treated(HIFU) by Drs Wheeler and Suarez in PV Mexico in July 2006.

After the procedure and hours later while back in my hotel with my

wife,the suprapubic cathetar had somehow become dislodged during the

night and I went into urinary retention. I had to be rushed to the ER

to re-insert the cathetar; this time a Foley.This cathetar stayed in

for about 6 weeks.



In November 2006, 90 day post procedure PSA was 0.7, all seemed to be

going well; obviously, no erections but hope prevailed. In January

2007, after several trips to the ER for bladder retention, I underwent

a laser surgical procedure to relieve the strictures by another

urologist, though not schooled with HIFU. Then in March/April 2007 PSA

began to rise again. Dr Wheeler performed a MRIS and determined

cancerous cells remained in the apex of the prostate; however,capsule

and neurovascular bundles intact. We returned to PV in July 2007 to

repeat the HIFU, and months later PSA continue to rise. In November

2007 another MRIS, and this time also a PETSCAN, both essentially

unremarkable.



Prior to HIFU I was completely POTENT with little to no urinary

symptoms. Prior to HIFU I occasionally took 100mg of viagra for that

extra assurance. Since HIFU, I take all 3 of the ED meds, exercise

with VED, and ran the course of bimix, trimx, quadmix penile

injections, with little success, and many issues, ie, penile damage

from the injections and my internist telling me stories of reported

vision loss from normal dose ED meds, and no data yet for guys taking

such high doses.



I remain hopeful, despite 2 other medical doctors, with no dog in this

fight, telling me my nerves were irreparablly fried during both HIFUs.



Today, my last PSA was 6.3 and though low in number, significant that

it is rising again. I'm back on casodex+tamoxofin, impotent and

leaking urine.On the one hand,Dr Wheeler assures me potency will

return. On the other hand, Dr Wheeler also assured me 2 years ago HIFU

would CURE my cancer without potency and urinary complications. I'm

not at all happy with my HIFU results. For me HIFU has been a life

altering disaster. However, I'm not prepared to condemn the technology

because of my bad result.

new hifu support group: 

HIFU group member stat summary:



When was your initial diagnosis? 1998

What was your PSA going in? going in to 1st HIFU 1.1

What was your Gleeson going in? 3+3 =6

Any other treatments? intermittent hormonal casodex+tamoxofin

How much did it cost you (USD) (my initial treatment was 20K and the

2nd treatment 10K)

Did they use the Sonoblate? yes

Do you know/have any idea how long the probe was in (and/or other

data)? no idea