Focal therapy

Focal therapy uses different types of energy to destroy prostate cancer cells. For example:

• High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) uses ultrasound waves that create heat, which then kills cancer cells
• Cryotherapy uses extreme cold to kill cancer cells 

Focal therapy targets the area of the prostate where the cancer cells are.

Focal therapy is only suitable for prostate cancer that hasn’t spread outside the prostate.

If focal therapy is offered as an option for you, data will be collected about your treatment and outcomes. This is because it is a newer treatment and researchers want to knwo more about its effectiveness. Focal therapy might be given as part of a clinical trial. 

Focal therapy is not available in all centres.

The advantage of treatments such as surgery and radiotherapy is that they can cure prostate cancer. 

Focal therapy’s effectiveness at controlling prostate cancer is still being studied.

Because it is a newer treatment, there is not enough evidence about the long-term survival of people treated with focal therapy to show how effective it is.