When diagnosed with prostate cancer, one of the first things many patients need to consider is the treatment options available to them. For instance, patients with localized prostate cancer may be treated with High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU), which is typically used for the ablation of the entire prostate gland. However, all treatment options vary depending on certain factors, including the patients:

      . Age
            Yearly prostate screenings should start at age 50, or at age 40 for
            men at higher risk (with a family history)

            63% of prostate cancer cases occur in men 65 years old and older

. Lifestyle

Diet, amount of exercise, degree of stress, daily supplement intake

. Gleason score (measures aggressiveness of the tumor)

This score is determined by examining the specimen from a recent biopsy

The shape and size of the prostate gland is evaluated, and the score
is based on the differentiation in tissue structure

. PSA level (prostate-specific antigen)

Low levels are normal, but a sign of prostate cancer is an increase
in levels

While this number is not enough to diagnose prostate cancer, it helps
when monitoring levels

. Stageⁱⁱ

Stage I Stage II Stage III Stage IV

Location of Cancer
Contained in prostate gland only
More advanced, but still contained Spread beyond prostate gland Spread beyond seminal vesicles to other organs

PSA Level
Less than 10 10-20 Any level Any level

Gleason Score 6 or less 7 2-10 2-10

Patients who may Benefit from High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU)
HIFU isn't the best treatment option for all patients. However, patients with localized prostate cancer (Stage I or II) that hasn't yet spread to other areas of the body may want to consider this minimally invasive procedure. Also, HIFU therapy may be used for men diagnosed with low or intermediate-riskⁱⁱⁱ.

Those who are low risk:

• Have a PSA level less than or equal to 10 ng/mL

• Are in Stage T1c–T2a, where no nodules are felt on DRE, or a small nodule
is in less than half of one side of the prostate

• Have a Gleason score of 6

Those who are intermediate risk:

• Have a PSA level of 10–20 ng/mL

• Are in Stage T2b where larger nodules are confined to one lobe

• Have a Gleason score of 7

High Intensity Focused Ultrasound can also be used as “salvage therapy” for patients whose cancer recurs locally after radiation therapy.

ⁱ http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/detection/PSA
ⁱⁱ http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/prostate/Patient/page2
ⁱⁱⁱ http://www.ourvoiceinprostatehealth.com/articles/2010/04/high-intensity-focused-ultrasound