I thought it was well worth posting a recent article from PCF and also other links from UroToday on the off chance they may add to the discussion, be of general interest or may be useful, if by chance, others seek information about the pros and cons of focal therapy.
While many readers of FPC and other similar forums will be well beyond considering Focal Therapy as a means of addressing prostrate cancer and many might discount this approach as being far too risky when dealing with a life threatening disease however , it does add another dimension to NPfisherman's very well received recent post and the responses from others - 5 Year Study helping men make informed decisions about prostate cancer treatments completed - ....
Focal Therapy For Prostrate Cancer: If It Sounds Too Good To Be True
Thanks for posting, Marnie... I think this is very appropriate for our forum. Some of the big problems with focal therapy is recurrence, and the side effects from treatment....It is improving as discussed in the one video,,, Last year, a new treatment called Autolase made headlines with curing 13 of 15 patients treated. See below:
The issue is how do we get it done, lowering the recurrence rate and keeping the side effects to a minimum... I believe they are getting closer...The gold nanoparticle treatment called Autolase has not been studied long enough for recurrence and side effects.. Will it become the new standard of care??
As always you have valuable insights into all the different facets of managing this condition.
In relation to focal therapy, it's to be hoped that once refined, further studied and developed it might become a viable option for the seemingly many men who undergo a prostatectomy when something less would do the trick and as a result avoid all the side effects that so significantly affect QOL but also general wellbeing and emotional health.
We all know there are any number of various trials taking place to develop new treatments and to monitor the effectiveness/combination of the various ADT treatments, and while not questioning that these are absolutely critical to finding the ultimate solution, it is to be hoped that serious funding and efforts are devoted to further identify the very best imagining techniques to make focal therapy a very good alternative for the right candidates.
If, as you say this could become the new standard of care for many men (if all the stars are aligned) it's unimaginable the difference this would make to the daily life of some many men and enable them to continue to enjoy a rich quality of life with little difference to pre diagnosis.
As you always say..... the science is coming and who cares where it comes from ....as long as it comes....and very quickly.
Thank you for forwarding this to me--indeed, those with less than GP4 and localized disease should look at focal therapy--see excellent video below from Uro today:
Being a GP4, this was never a potential choice for me... there is the potential to get a second focal ablation for those with recurrence post ablation... A chance to avoid incontinence and ED for those candidates... Good stuff...
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
What we are up against: Know the Beast
Vitamin D metabolism in cancer: potential feasibility of vitamin D metabolism blocking therapy
Thoughts on next steps
