Options to save sexual function

If preserving sexual function is important to you there is a viable alternative depending on the location of your tumor and is still encapsulated.

 

That option is Focal Cryoablation.  An over simplification of this is that it is a spot treatment of prostate gland.  Only the tumor is destroyed by freezing and the rest of the prostate gland is left intack.  Advantage of this is that nerve bundles that affect sexual function can be preserved.

 

Had I known this was available when I was treated with Conformal beam radiation in August 2005, I would have opted for Focal Cryoablation instead. 

 

I belong to a prostate cancer group that consist of approximately 20+ men.  One of the men in our group, who is married and maintaining sexual function was of extreme importance to him and his wife, opted for this treatment.  That was about three years ago.  Today his sexual abilities remain equal to prior to his treatment.  Meanwhile his PSA has remained below 0.xx and there is no evidence of any return of his cancer.

Post Edited (BytesDoc) : 10/2/2011 2:33:13 PM (GMT-6)

It sounds very interesting to me. My only concern is my understanding that prostate cancer is often multi-focal. I believe that Dr. Walsh stated in his book that on average they find cancer in 7 locations once the pathology is done on the removed prostate. If that concern could be reasonably remedied, I would consider this type of treatment.

Uh guys, This is basically my TFT that I have posted about the last 3+ years. It can be done by cryo and also laser recently.

Dreamerboy your concern can be easily overcome by a 3D saturation mapping biopsy one must pass before proceeding with TFT. I had 45 cores taken in that effort for a 28gram prostate.

Now James hit on a concern the availability of TFT that I know of only to be found in Denver. The cost ironically isn't an issue with the targeted cryo for cryo has been approved for years the only balk I had with insurance was for the 3D saturation biopsy. For anymore than a normal 12 core must be explained for reason. Of course the reason is the targeted focal and not just freezing, irradiating removal of the entire gland as what present treatments do. The purpose of TFT of course is to remove the tumor and leave a working prostate although as in my case maybe 60% smaller in size. But with no side effects.

The fact that this was seen as an unknown treatment questions why have I even posted about my Pca journey here the last 3 years? Unless its what the majority had done it appears to be quickly disregarded . That said it's a true 21st century treatment that in time will be viewed much more favorably than it is here now. Also what may be new to some here in medicine. Penicillin the new wonder drug read all about it.

Dreamerboy said...
Thanks for the reply Ziggy9. I remember reading your report before but the multi-focal issue was my concern. However, a saturation biopsy could significantly lower that risk. Possibly the compromise between active surveillance and more aggressive treatments that I've been searching for. I'll just have to find out how available the procedure is in Canada.

 

Here's a link to better learn of the procedure and the 3d biopsy. I'm not sure if it's avaialable anywhere in Canada, but it could be.

http://3dprostate.com/

 

Great video.  Wish something like this was standard requirement to be shown to newly diagnosed patient before his prostate could be removed or blasted with radiation.

Mike Age 69 - Los Angeles area
Diagnosed June 1999 age 57 PSA 5.8 Gleason 3+3 one core
Watchful waiting plus diet & herbal supplements for 6 yrs
Treated Aug 2005 PSA 29.x with 37 treatments of Conformal Beam Radiation combined with hormone thearpy 3 months prior and 3 months after radiation PSA nadir dropped to 0.1x  May 2008 PSA 6.x put on Avodart June 2010 PSA 9.x received 6mo's Lupron PSA after 0.1x March 2011 PSA .08 by July 1,2011 PSA 14.0 July 15 PSA 17.0 plus 3cm tumor on pelvis. Immediatley started Casodex plus Lupron. Sept 2011 PSA 0.24  Pelvis tumor to be radiated if still  present on followup imaging.

ziggy,

i think its important that your keep your primary treatment choice alive and well here, as well as your particular sucess with your journey so far. Even though its in the obvious extreme minority here, its critical that men new to PC know of all treatment options, including yours.

just keep telling your story, there will be others choosing that route, and your testimony on the subject is a good and knowledgable one.

its not all about surgery or seeds, even though it seems that way sometimes.

david in sc

English Alf,

Sorry I did not tailor poll to allow for those that had already received treatment.

Apparently there is now way to edit poll once it has been created. 

Do not see any reason why those who have already been treated could not answer poll on based on how they would have had they know about this option at the time they where considering treatment options.

BytesDoc

I am one year post TFT and the results have been excellent no sexual or urinary problems. I also had my procedure done at the University of Colorado, but they are also doing Cryo TFT at NYU and Duke plus other places.

The word about TFT needs to be spread. 25-40% of men with prostate cancer could qualify for the treatment. Thus improving the quality of life for a lot of men.