HIFU is a relatively new way to treat cancer and is a non-invasive treatment that minimises side effects and preserves patient quality of life.

HIFU has so far been most successful in treating prostate cancer. Although initially the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommended the use of HIFU for the treatment of prostate cancer in the UK, they reversed that decision in April 2008, so now HIFU is only available either via a research trial or via private healthcare.  This decision has greatly saddened us, as HIFU appears to be very successful in treating local prostate cancer.

HIFU works by heating the cancerous cells, and has the potential to treat tumours with less damaging side-effects, it does this by targeting just the cancerous tissue, and can be given in one to three hours on an outpatient basis, with epidural anesthesia – which is great news!

More detailed information on HIFU can be found Here – NHS.