Prostate cancer

Prostate cancer, is the most common form of cancer amongst men in Germany, with almost 50,000 new cases being diagnosed every year. In the case of prostate cancer, cells begin to grow rapidly without any known cause; they can then infiltrate surrounding structures and lymph nodes or bones.

A distinction is made between curable localised tumours and advanced or metastatic tumours. Often, within the context of preventative care, prostatic carcinoma, which is the medical term for prostate cancer, is detected at an early stage when it can still be treated successfully. However, a diagnosis may often not occur until the patient shows advanced symptoms such as pain due to bone metastases. In these stages, effective treatment of the prostate cancer is still possible - even if a cure is no longer possible.

What action should be taken?

The radical surgical removal of the prostate is the most common method used for treating prostatic carcinoma. However, recent studies show that only 6% of those who have had the operation actually benefit from invasive surgery, due to the significant side effects.

The HIFU procedure and the IRE procedure provide alternative treatment concepts. Both methods of treatment are highly suitable for the focal, that is to say focused treatment of prostate cancer: diseased tissue can be treated individually and with millimetre precision. The HIFU procedure with the Sonablate 500 uses high intensity ultrasound to destroy cancerous cells through heat. Treatment of the entire prostate is also possible here.

Irreversible electroporation (IRE procedure) is a modern, non-thermal method of treatment that uses electrical pulses to destroy the cancer cells without the surrounding areas being irreparably damaged. The Clinic for Prostate Therapy is the first urological clinic in Germany so far to use the IRE procedure in a standardised manner for the treatment of prostate cancer.