PROSTATE
CANCER CRYOTHERAPY
Cryosurgery Procedures
Success Rates for Prostate
Cancer
Cryotherapy Treatment
Cryosurgery Results for Prostate Cancer Treatments
Prostate cryosurgery has been used for the clinical management and treatment of localized prostate cancer since the early 1990’s. Retrospective research and studies which have followed 370 patients treated between 1991 and 1996 at the Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA recently reported the success of the minimally invasive procedure, cryosurgery, for prostate cancer when used as a primary treatment. The median follow-up of this study was over 12 years and the study reports a disease-free survival rate at 10 years of 80.56% (low risk group), 74.15% (moderate risk group) and 45.45% (high risk group). The 10-year negative biopsy rate was 76.96%.
Additional, research at the Crittenton Hospital radiology department in Rochester, MI shows the success of the minimally invasive procedure, cryosurgery, for prostate cancer when used as a primary treatment. Over 350 patients were treated with primary prostate cancer cryosurgery, with 279 patients having cancer confined to the prostate and 77 patients whose cancer had spread outside of the prostate, but not to distant parts of the body. After three years, 90% of the 279 patients with confined prostate cancer had successful cryosurgical ablation treatment. Of the 77 patients whose cancer had spread outside the prostate, 74% of patients remained cancer free. More than 86% of all prostate cryoablation patients experienced a successful treatment.
The success rates of primary cryotherapy ablation for prostate cancer compared to other prostate cancer treatment options is at least equivalent to that of conventional invasive radical surgery and radiation treatments for treatment of prostate cancer. Click Primary Cryotherapy for more information about cryotherapy ablation in prostate cancer treatment.
Salvage Cryotherapy Ablation Treatment Results
Research at MD Anderson Cancer Center suggests a high survival rate for prostate cancer recurrence patients treated with cryotherapy ablation. One hundred and thirty-one men were analyzed after their salvage cryosurgical treatments between 1992 and 1995. The patients were followed for approximately five-years. Their overall survival rate was 73%. The success rates for salvage cryoablation prostate cancer treatments are more positive than salvage prostatectomy with lower rectal injury and incontinence side effects. Click Salvage Cryotherapy to find out more about this prostate cryoablation treatment.
Nerve Sparing (Focal) Cryosurgery:
A New Treatment For Prostate Cancer
Initial research shows promising success for nerve sparing (focal) cryosurgery in prostate cancer treatments. Today, urologists are referring to a concept called “male lumpectomy,” which derives its name from the surgical procedure to remove a cancerous tumor from a woman’s breast. A lumpectomy allows for the tumor to be removed without causing extreme physical or cosmetic damage. The male lumpectomy is expected to have a similar effect for the male prostate. The current peer-reviewed literature on focal cryoablation of localized prostate cancer a few papers with evidence from single institutions patient series; no multi-center or prospective randomized trials have been published as of December 2007. These reports contain a total of 65 men treated with focal ablation with a mean follow-up ranging from 28-70 months. Based on these series, the optimal definition of treatment success is presently undetermined and success is best defined by follow-up prostate biopsy. A total of 38 out of the overall 65 men have received a post cryoablation prostate biopsy where only 4 of the 38 men had residual cancer identified. The related side effects appear to be reduced when undergoing nerve sparing (focal) cryoablation relative to those side effected reported in the earlier whole gland treatment approaches. There have been no reported cases of urinary incontinence, rectal injury, urethral stricture or urethral sloughing. The side effect of impotence is also lowered when nerve-sparing (focal) cryotherapy is used as treatment. These reports indicate that 71 – 89% of men treated have preserved their potency. See Nerve Sparing (Focal) Cryotherapy to learn more about this prostate cancer treatment option. |
