HCG adds HIFU, a minimally invasive procedure, to treat Prostrate Cancer

Online, August 12, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Bangalore: HealthCare Global Enterprises Limited (HCG), South Asia's largest cancer care network which has been pioneering non-invasive treatment protocols in cancer treatment, today added High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) - an acoustic ablation technique - to its offering portfolio for treatment of prostrate cancer. The oncology major thus joins a select group of hospitals that offers new age treatment for prostrate cancer and becomes the first hospital in Karnataka to install this technology.
HIFU technology utilizes the power of ultrasound to destroy deep-seated tissue with pinpoint accuracy for treatment of prostate cancer. HIFU focuses sound waves in a targeted area which rapidly increases the temperature to 90-95°C in the focal zone causing tissue destruction. HIFU treatment typically is a 2-3 hour procedure performed one time on a patient basically on an out-patient basis under spinal anesthesia. Patients generally are up and walking within hours after HIFU and can return to a normal lifestyle within a couple of days.

Commenting on advantages that HIFU offers to patients, Dr Raghunath S K, Uro-Oncologist, HCG, said, "Unlike radiation, HIFU is non-ionizing which means that this acoustic ablation technique could also be used as a salvage technique if other prostate cancer treatments fail after radiation".

According to Mukesh Rana, Country Manager, India HIFU, "The interest shown by physicians & patients and rapid adoption of HIFU technology in India is impressive. Also we are confident that the momentum will continue to grow as more physicians and patients explore Sonablate® HIFU as a treatment option. It would be our privilege to partner HCG and jointly fight prostate cancer as a team and in the process provide best treatment to patients suffering from prostate cancer".