HIFU - Patients' stories

Mr Martin Gibbs, 55

My father had prostate cancer back in the 1950’s and at the time the only treatment available was injections into his stomach. He passed away at 76 with bladder cancer, but he still had prostate cancer when he died. My elder brother also had problems with a very high PSA reading and eventually had a radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer.

With a family history of prostate cancer I decided to have a check. I started to have blood tests which showed that my PSA was slowly creeping up. I decided that I didn’t want to live my life from PSA test to PSA test and so I decided to have a biopsy taken. I had my biopsy at the Park Hospital in Nottingham and my Gleason score was 4+3. I was told that I did have prostate cancer and a radical prostatectomy was recommended. I really did not feel ready for this major surgery and so I decided to ‘watch and wait’.

Then I saw the article in the press by Mr Mark Emberton about HIFU. It looked quite interesting as it did not involve major surgery and had less severe side effects. I asked my surgeon in Nottingham to refer me to Mr Mark Emberton.

In July 2005 I had my HIFU treatment. It proved to be a good experience. I didn’t have any side effects at all. The only thing that I found a little difficult to accept was that although my erections are fine, I don’t produce sperm anymore.

I had another biopsy in July 2007 and a minuscule amount of cancer was found with a PSA rating of 0.14. I am very happy with these results and although I am keeping an eye on my PSA rating I would recommend HIFU to anyone.

Jack Avery 57, Wymondham in Norfolk - First patient to be treated in the trial for Focal Ablation Treatment

"I was treated at University College Hospital for prostate cancer in July 2007. I had two tumours one each side. The treatment I had was High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) Focal Ablation. 
It uses a beam of ultrasound which is focused on an area the size of a grain of rice. The tumours are identified and targeted then zapped.
I was sedated at 9:30am, woken up at 1:30pm given tea and biscuits, was up and around within an hour and left the hospital in the afternoon.
I'm back at work and feel great! I was invited to be on a trial and was the first patient (from Norfolk ) to be treated on the trial that will hopefully be the norm one day for men with prostate cancer".

Guy Macpherson, 70, of Reading was given HIFU treatment in December 2004.

“I rate it very highly, and even gave a patient’s talk to 70 Urologists about the treatment. I was very happy about the treatment. I had no side effects and my PSA has returned to normal limits.
The day following the treatment I was walking the dog, washing the car and going Christmas carolling. Everything was going normally.
I have people phoning up and asking me about the treatment, and I tell them I thought it was revolutionary.”

Leslie Jewkes, 53, of Ellesmere Port said having the HIFU treatment was the right decision for him.

“The day following the procedure I was on a train back home.
I’m now back at work as a fireman and can do everything I did before I was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
I have had some bladder problems but to be perfect honest the issues are minor to live with as opposed to cancer, so I’m more than happy with the treatment.
For those considering their options, take time to study each type of treatment and do what is best for you.
I was given so many different options, but I felt HIFU was the right way forward for me. I felt more comfortable going down that route than radical surgery.“

Douglas Findlay, 73, from the borders just north of Carlisle had HIFU treatment in February and had 80% of his cancer removed (it is rare to remove less than 100% and was due to the unusual height of the prostate) Mr Findlay is now in remission.
I feel fine, excellent in fact.
Anyone who can qualify for HIFU should opt for that option.
HIFU does not have the same impact on sexual function that radioactivity does. Radioactivity stops sexual function for life, HIFU doesn’t.
There was no knife involved and I woke up from the treatment feeling like it was a summer morning.
There is a huge reluctance for men to get checked, they’re sewing the seeds of future problems if they don’t.’’

My 'Challenge' with Prostate Cancer - By John Crow:

In March 2002 at age 59, I was officially diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. I say 'officially' because it is likely this disease had been lurking in the background for some time.

Having previously been fit, healthy and leading a very active and interesting life, such as travelling the world and pursuing many hobbies and interests, including Flying, Climbing, fast cars and computers, to be told you have cancer is quite a shock to say the least.

I started my working life by serving 12 years in the Royal Air Force, followed by career advancements in Computer Engineering and Data Communications sales, not to forget a contract with the European Space Agency.

My final career move was to become a Director of a very successful Data Communications company, the aim being to retire at age 55. I almost met this goal by retiring at 56, in order to continue pursuing my hobbies and travel.
BUT--------------- Cancer , intervened.

I had to take the view that this was yet another 'Challenge' in life and so followed all manner of treatments.

Problems began with the typical sign of frequent 'peeing', especially at night. Call it fate if you will, but I had bought a book "Small Gland Big Problem' by Professor of Urology Roger Kirby and having read it, I knew I had a problem, so 'Thank you Roger'.

Several visits to the doctor and many antibiotics for Prostatitis did nothing to alleviate the problem, so I requested a referral, which I was advised could take 3 to 6 months. This was not an option, so I paid to see an Urologist. A PSA was taken which revealed an alarming 27ng/ml (normal should be below 4ng/ml), however by the time I had a Biopsy; this had risen to 32.5ng/ml. The Biopsy indicated Cancer in both lobes of the Gland with a Gleason 6 score (moderately aggressive).

Bone and MRI scans did not indicate any spread outside the capsule, but the high PSA ruled out Surgery, as a result of which I was advised to take the Hormone therapy and Conformal Radiotherapy route (every day for 6 weeks), both of which can present some rather unpleasant side effects.

This treatment was initially successful, however the PSA started to rise again after 2 years and I was advised to recommence Hormone therapy in the form of an Anti Androgen (Casodex).

I knew this treatment would not offer me a cure, and that eventually I would become resistant, so I decided to look for an alternative.

The alternative is HIFU, which involves a probe being placed in the rectum under general anaesthetic, and High Frequency Ultrasound totally ablating the interior of the Prostate and hence 'frying' the cancer to death.

My procedure was performed in June by Mr Mark Emberton at the UCHL. A recent post HIFU PSA has been taken and I am pleased to report a PSA of 0.5ng/ml. Obviously this needs to remain low and only time and further PSA tests will tell.

Had HIFU been available at the time of diagnosis, I would have opted for this method, since it offers a repeatable, safe method with the least side effects and risks.

May I conclude with a message to all men?

Be aware of symptoms and do something about it NOW. If you are passed off with repeated antibiotics, insist on a PSA test.
Anyone diagnosed with Prostate Cancer should, “Fight it, and Beat It”. Please remember to involve wives and partners in as they suffer also.

Good Luck - 27 September 2006

Mr Berkley-Hill:

On the 14th of September I had my operation at the BUPA hospital in Bristol. I chose HIFU as a treatment because it was fast and I would be back home the same day. The treatment at the BUPA hospital was very good and the facilities were excellent. Since having the treatment I have had a small ache in the groin, but it is only a nagging pain and does not worry me. I would certainly recommend this treatment to anyone.

Royston Webber Aged 74 years:

‘I saw Mr Persad in Bristol who recommended HIFU as a treatment option in June 2007. I had the HIFU treatment in the 1st week of July. My prostate is large and so I had to have a catheter for seven weeks after the treatment rather than the normal two week period. Two weeks after the catheter was removed I had problems urinating and then had to self catherise for a couple of days. However this was not really a problem and at no point was I in any pain. Since then everything has been fine. I have had no other side effects from the treatment and feel really well’.