Latest Treatment on Prostate Cancer : Prostate Cancer Freezing Treatments or Cryotherapy

Freezing treatment or Cryotherapy is the latest treatment used for prostate cancer. Freezing treatment is used when all the other treatments including external radiation treatment and hormone treatment fail to show their effect. Freezing treatment for prostate cancer can be helpful with the patients of stage 2 prostate cancers. Freezing treatment or Cryotherapy is a best option for those who want to avoid the risk of surgery.

Freezing treatment, a latest treatment for prostate cancer kills cancer cells by freezing them. Freezing treatment eliminates prostate cancer by freezing the prostate gland. It involves the use of ultra-thin needles, which produces ice balls. Freezing treatment is performed on an outpatient basis under local or regional anesthesia. Firstly, a three-dimensional computer image is removed that helps doctor to know the exact position for the placement of needles in a template frame. The frame is used for holding the needles so that their tips can be arranged exactly around the prostate area.

Then the patient is anesthetized so that the needle insertion is painless. And then the needles are inserted into the prostate gland through the perineum. After the placement of needles, high-pressure argon gas is used to form an ice ball at the tip of each needle. These ice balls then grow together to form a larger ball around prostate. These ice balls are at extreme sub-zero temperatures and therefore kills the cells in the prostate. These killed cells are reabsorbed into the body harmlessly.

Ultrasound is used to guide insertion of the needles and also to control the size and shape of ice balls. It also helps the doctor to keep a watch on the whole freezing process. The freezing treatment destroys the entire prostate and cancerous tissue within it.

Advantages of Freezing Treatments

Freezing treatment for prostate cancer is much more beneficial than external radiation treatment and surgery. Freezing treatment requires only two hours and the patient can return to his normal routine within 2 days. Freezing treatment gives a minimal pain and discomfort. Some of the advantages of freezing treatment include:

• Less recovery time
• Shorter hospital stay
• Less blood loss
• Minimal pain.
• Can be repeated if needed

But as you know, every coin has another side. So along with advantages, there are some side effects associated with freezing treatment. As it is the latest treatment of prostate cancer, its long-term effectiveness is unknown.

Side Effects of Freezing Treatments

One of the major side effects associated with freezing treatment most common in men is impotence. In order to ensure the destruction of all cancerous tissue, sometimes it becomes necessary to freeze tissue beyond the prostate wall. During this, the sensitive areas such as nerve bundles are often damaged. And when the nerves controlling erections are damaged, there can be impotence. Other side effects may include:

• Moderate pelvic pain
• Incontinence
• Urethral scarring
• Blood in the urine
• Swelling of the scrotum
• Mild urinary urgency
• Mild lower abdominal pain

Urethro-rectal fistula may be one of the side effects associated with freezing treatment. But it affects only one percent of the men. Most of these side effects go away within few weeks of the treatment.