prostate-report.org

Cryotherapy May Be Effective Against Prostate Cancer

Cryotherapy is a tissue-freezing procedure. That means thin needles are placed into the prostate through which super-cooled argon gas is circulated — reducing the temperature to up to -150 degrees centigrade. The technique freezes the prostate, killing the cancer it contains.

Cryotherapy may be a good option for patients who are likely to fail radiation therapy or for those who have a prostate obstruction that causes them trouble urinating. The method  is offered at a number of hospitals around the country but it is not as common as radiation and surgery. It remains controversial, and experts say that one of the reasons cryotherapy is controversial is the long-term results are still unknown. At the same time, risks associated with cryotherapy are the same as those of other prostate cancer treatments and include incontinence, impotence and not being cured.

Recent studies suggests that cryotherapy may be as effective as more common treatments such as radiation, but researchers say that more trials and evaluations may still be needed to bring therapy into the mainstream.

Tags: cryosurgery, cryotherapy, prostate cancer