Promising Treatment For Precancerous Prostate

Promising treatment for precancerous prostate

An alternative treatment for precancerous prostate cells appears promising.   The treatment uses radio waves to heat the entire prostate gland and destroy precancerous cells.  Known as radio-wave hyperthermia or Oncotherm, the treatment has been used widely in Europe for more than two decades.  The advantage of using this method is that the risk of harming healthy tissue is lower, and so complications such as incontinence or impotency are not as common. 

The prostate is a small, walnut-sized gland.  Prostate cells can begin to grow abnormally, eventually forming a tumor. Early prostate cancer may cause no symptoms.  As the abnormal cell growth increases, symptoms of prostate cancer appear and may include blood in the urine, frequent urination (especially at night), weak or interrupted flow, pain or burning when urinating and low back pain. According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the second most common malignancy in men in the US and the second highest killer.