HIFU treatment now available in Wrexham, North Wales and Chester, Cheshire

HIFU treatment, a minimally invasive ultrasound treatment for prostate cancer, is now available in Wrexham, North Wales and Chester, Cheshire.

Mr Shergill, and his team at the Spire Yale hospital, are the first clinical team in Wales to offer HIFU treatment for prostate cancer patients. HIFU (High Intensity Focused Ultrasound) is a minimally invasive therapy option for localised prostate cancer that may offer a balance between eliminating cancer and maintaining quality of life. HIFU treatment involves precisely focused ultrasound waves that, when delivered, raise the temperature of the targeted prostate tissue to 80-90 degrees Celsius in 2-3 seconds. This rapid-firing heat destroys the targeted tissue while leaving healthy structures outside the prostate gland unharmed. Importantly, there are different types of HIFU treatment, allowing focal therapy of prostate cancer cells, in some patients, leaving "normal" prostate gland tissue alone - thus reducing risk of side effects.

Mr Shergill can now offer this very effective treatment, at the Spire Yale hospital. HIFU involves a short operation under general anaesthetic, performed as a one-day case procedure, in virtually all patients. It is a very safe procedure with minimal risks at time of operation and recovery afterwards is usually very quick. Importantly, HIFU is associated with good cancer control and minimal side effects, such as erection problems and incontinence, which commonly occur with radical surgery and radiotherapy treatments. Finally, as HIFU uses an energy source which is not associated with radiation, the procedure can be subsequently repeated, if necessary, again with excellent results, allowing men to have continued treatment with excellent quality of life.

Recently, as reported on Sky News and the national newspapers, research has shown that prostate cancer can now be treated effectively with HIFU, importantly, with very minimal incontinence and impotence rates. There is a 9 in 10 chance of achieving excellent clinical results at 12 months with no urine leak, good erections and no imaging evidence of disease recurrence. Essentially, these results are very encouraging and demonstrate that HIFU provides an alternative to traditional prostate cancer treatments with fewer side effects, which could mean a significant improvement in the quality of life for patients.