People diagnosed with cancer now have a non-invasive solution to treat the condition : HIFU-HCU method. What is it and what are the benefits, says Dr. Nicholas Verga, radiation oncology and specialist HIFU ( High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound ).
This is a new non-invasive solution to treat cancerous tumors with focused ultrasound and is at the moment, “the only viable alternative to traditional treatment methods known” says HIFU expert, Dr. Nicholas Verga.
When this treatment is recommended ?
Only after a preliminary evaluation of CT or MRI images, and a more accurate breakdown of chemotherapy and radiation treatments, the patient is scheduled or not for HIFU treatment. Experts say the new method is used to treat benign or malignant tumors located in: liver, kidney, pancreas, bone, breast, uterus, ENT, prostate, muscle, adipose tissue.
HIFU treatment, unlike chemotherapy and radiation which are highly toxic and aggression have been shown to produce no therapeutic phenomena of resistance or intolerance, nor attack surrounding tissues. Chemotherapy causes an impaired general condition, alopecia, diarrhea, decreased white blood cells, red cell anemia. Although these reactions are reversible in the short term, they decrease the patient’s life. Radiotherapy is used for locally defined tumor regions and metastasize.
Benefits of HIFU treatment
- Painless without surgical shock, without postoperative period, practically devoid of intra-and post-surgical infections, easily borne by the patient;
- No need to use blood ;
- Precise about the limits of cancer ;
- Sure about the therapeutic effect ;
- Short (on average 500 times shorter) the time required specific treatment ;
- Does not produce therapeutic phenomena of resistance or intolerance ;
- Without the side effects of radiotherapy ;
- Environmental radiation protection ;
- Can be applied to patients older than 3 years;
In what situations is contraindicated ?
- Tumors in organs containing gas ( lung, stomach, small intestine ) without contact with the chest wall or abdominal
- Tumors of the spine (partial contraindication, medical board’s decision)
Treatment depends on associated diseases. It can be repeated whenever needed in case of relapse. Only elderly patients with cardiovascular problems or diabetes may occur due to an adverse effect of anesthesia.
What is the cost for HIFU sessions?
For treatment of small tumors takes approximately two hours, and in case of larger tumors required longer treatment intervals. In England, HIFU treatment cost is 19,000 Euros, taking into account the size of the tumor. For a benign tumor such as uterine fibroid or breast fibroadenomul costs amounted to EUR 1,200 and in case of malignant tumors smaller size reach Euro 1500.
History of HIFU
* 1950 – 1960: William and Frank Fry treated patients with Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders.
* 1989: Prof Dr. Wang Ruo and Feng Zhibiao they began researching the effects of ultrasound on tissues.
* 1996: Dr. Wang and colleagues have treated for the first time a bone tumor in a patient at the Medical Institute of Ultrasound Engineering in Chongqing University of Medical Sciences.
