[75870]

Has anyone had the cryo used to freeze the prostate? If so was it successful in killing the cancer? What are the side effects? What about sexual functions and incontenence?

[ohno]

Cryo is a very delicate procedure, I believe each doctor has different results, in general a cryo urologist is the most able doctor. Cryo has a published 87% ED rate. And a 2% incontinence rate. As far as cure rate, I don't know of published results, but IMO if the gland has been frozen and is gone....the only way there would still be cancer is if it was already outside the gland, in which case only HIFU or beam radiation holds hope of getting it.

[75870]

Thank you for your response. We are located in the midwest. Where can we find the BEST quaiified surgeon for the surgery?

[ohno]

With a more than 50% chance of incontinence, and at least two years of ED, and a 35% recurrance rate....surgery doesn't look good to me.

I waited 10 years before my HIFU treatment, maybe you should look at your numbers before you make a decision. The magazine Consumers Reports, Jan. 2010 issue says that "the invention of the PSA test has not proved to save lives and increases the risk of unnecessary treatments that can cause incontinence, impotence, or both".

[75870]

My husband is 66, his biopsy results were 1 out of 10 was cancerous, his Gleason was 3 + 3 with no enlargement of the prostate. Maybe we should seek a second opinion?

[ohno]

oh my gosh, yes. What was his PSA? what was his Free PSA? (the Free PSA test is said to be more reliable than the biopsy, it's just a blood test that counts the PSA that is bound to protein--the lower the score the more cancer). What is his PSA history? When was his PSA 1.0? How fast did it go up--if you have the historical record of his PSA, then we'll have it. A doctor friend told me that any PSA over 1. is cancer, they don't tell you it's cancer because it's so low, they watch to see how fast it goes up, if it goes fast (over .75 a year) then it's dealt with, if it goes more than that then it could be aggressive.

As you can imagine the biopsy doesn't tell the whole story.

Just sounds to me like he should wait until HIFU is FDA approved.....there's no one who has had the horid side effects that one can get with surgery or radiation (radiation side effects show up after 10 months, then they can get worse....and every year that goes by his chances of another cancer in the area of radiation (bladder, anal) increases by 1% per year).

Doctors are in such a hurry....my local surgical doctor told me I only had weeks to get surgery....then after my ultrasound treatment (HIFU) the doc told me my cancer was not dangerous, I probably had 10 years to treat it. I really think my local doc was in a hurry to get in my wallet.

Looking forward to his numbers...and request the Free PSA test...it new, so maybe they didn't do it.

[ohno]

There is a wonderful surgeon in Denver, his name is Dr. Crawford, he is head of urology at University of Colorado. Anschutz Center.

[iching]

75870:

I had cryosurgery for my prostate cancer in July, 1997, and I remain cancer-free. The procedure is now generally referred to as "cryotherapy." My cryosurgeon was one of the best in the world but he is no longer in practice. The cryosurgery was done as an outpatient procedure and I was able to return to my motel room that same night.

I had a supra-pubic catheter for a couple of weeks and then had it removed locally. My scrotum was somewhat swollen and discolored but I had little if any pain during recovery. I had a little blood in my urine for three weeks (pinkish) which gradually went away.

I do not have any incontinence but am able to have only a partial erection. I have no trouble having a dry orgasm with manual stimulation.

Although my cryosurgery was done over 12 years ago, I would do it again. Of course, the real key to a successful cryosurgery is the skill of the surgeon. Any surgeon can do cryosurgery but you must locate one who is a real "artist." I had what is called target-oriented cryosurgery and my surgeon was able to leave small portions of my prostate intact. Thus, I do have a small amount of PSA. I had my PSA checked every three months for 10 years and have now changed to checking it twice a year. My last PSA was 0.7.

One of the best cryosurgeons in the country is Duke Bahn who used to be located in Rochester, Michigan. However, he may now be in Ventura, California.

Wishing you all the best,

iching

[75870]

Thank you for your reply. Do any of the ED drugs help with erections?

[iching]

ED drugs would probably help obtain a full erection but I have not and will not use them because of the side effects that may occur.