Soundwave treatment for cancer

Updated on 01 July 2009 Source PA News Men with early prostate cancer could be treated with soundwave technology instead of surgery, according to new research. The experimental therapy also leads to fewer side-effects, according to the study on 172 men whose cancer had not spread beyond their prostate. They were given general anaesthetic and treated with high-intensity-focused ultrasound (HIFU), which uses high-frequency sound waves to kill cancer cells. Small amounts of tissue are heated up to a temperature of between 80C and 90C. The treatment can be used to treat the whole prostate or just the areas with cancer. All the men in the study were day cases and 78% were discharged from hospital in an average of five hours. Out of the group, 159 men were followed up a year later and 92% were found to be cancer-free at that time.... [read full story]                    

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