Cryosurgery: Putting the Freeze on Prostate Cancer
According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 200,000 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed each year. That makes it the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in American men. Today, thanks to the widespread introduction of prostate cancer screening, physicians are diagnosing the disease in earlier stages, when a local cure is still possible.
"Traditionally, radical prostatectomy and external-beam radiotherapy were the treatments of choice for localized prostate cancer," states Dr. Shirish Desai, Urologist at Uniontown Hospital. "Today, cryoablation, or cryosurgery, is an excellent option for many patients."
"Cryosurgery uses extreme cold to destroy abnormal tissue," says Dr. Desai. "If the cancer is confined to the prostate gland, cryosurgery may be a good alternative because it's minimally invasive, and has fewer side effects than other types of treatments."
In fact, cryosurgery is not only less invasive, it's also less expensive and requires a shorter recovery time.
"Cryosurgery requires just a small incision. And because we can focus the treatment on a limited area, we can avoid destroying surrounding healthy tissue." Desai adds, "Cryosurgery was introduced in the late 1960s. Since then, technological advances and refinements to the procedure have made cryosurgery more effective than current standard treatment options for prostate cancer."
Note: All treatments for prostate cancer produce side effects. Common effects are incontinence, impotence, frequent urination, pain or swelling. Talk to your doctor about the probability of these symptoms, and what treatment is best for you and your lifestyle.
Return to LEARN MORE: Cancer Care
