Diagnosis/Treatment Prostate Ailments Conventional Treatments

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Transurethral Hyperthermia for Prostate Disease

A Non-surgical Treatment Under Medical Supervision

Introduction

The use of heat as a cancer therapy dates back to the ancient Egypt and Greece. Egyptian scrolls, indicate that breast tumors were treated with hot clay. Greek physicians recommended the use of heat when surgery was not possible. The Mayans in Central America still use heat today. More recently a hot iron was used to burn away cancer tissue.

Physicians refer to the use of high temperature therapy as hyperthermia. This simply means heating body tissue considerably above its normal temperature. During the past 15 years, hyperthermia has undergone enormous technological improvements, particularly in the area of localized hyperthermia. Based on the current knowledge of radio frequencies and short waves the hyperthermia treatment of the prostate has proven to be the most effective therapy for benign prostate hypertrophy, which formerly responded only to surgery.

Obstruction of Urinary Flow by the Prostate Gland

Benign prostate hypertrophy (a usually non-malignant prostatic enlargement) occurs in at least 75% of all males above 60 years. The progressive nature of this disease results in continuous enlargement of the gland. Because of the prolongation of life expectancy the number of cases is steadily increasing with the consequence that one in four males over the age of 60 eventually requires some form of surgical intervention to alleviate obstruction to the flow of urine.

The normally chestnut-sized prostate may become troublesome at an age as early as 40. The first symptoms are:

• frequency of urination
• difficulty in starting the stream
• difficulty in completely emptying of the bladder with association dribbling
• an urge to urinate shortly after having emptied the bladder
• a frequent need to empty the bladder during the night
• and, occasionally even bladder pain.

These symptoms are usually associated with narrowing of the stream and intermittent shutting off of the stream during urination. These are the initial symptoms of obstruction which can lead to a surgical emergency if complete stoppage of the stream should occur.

This is a condition called acute urinary retention. Prolonged partial urinary obstruction can produce kidney damage and even uremia. In older individuals the enlarge prostate can become cancerous. Therefore, early therapy is advisable, but the fear of surgery with all its well-known complications prevents most men from taking effective action. Most doctors first try various herbal treatments, but eventually there comes a need to visit an urologist generally leading to the surgical removal of the prostate.

The usual surgical procedure is a transurethral resection. This is accomplished by the use of an electric wire loop inserted through the urethra. If the prostate has become too large for this surgery it must be surgically removed via the abdominal wall and through the bladder. These operations have a mortality rate of 1-1.5%.

The potential complications of surgery are well known, such as secondary hemorrhage infections, incontinence, impotence and even the need for a second operation with a hospital stay of 8-10 days generally necessary.

The new method of localized hyperthermia is far safer and equally effective with a reduced incidence of complications and as yet no known mortalities. The follow-up experience confirms, that for most patients the obstruction is relieved. Many years of experience with localized hyperthermia have reported excellent results from various countries in the world.

The Procedure for Hyperthermia Prostate Treatment

Before beginning treatment a patient is required to follow a step-by-step examination:

1. General Checkup

2. Exclusion of Risk Factors

3. Measurement of Urinary Flow Rate

4. Ultrasound Measurement of Prostate Size and Consistency

5. CT Possible Cat Scan if Clinically Indicated

The most common diseases of the prostate are:

Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (benign enlargement)

Prostatis (inflammations)

Carcinoma of the Prostate (cancer)

Localized hyperthermia does not require hospitalization. During therapy the patient rests comfortably in an armchair for a period varying from 60-180 minutes, depending on the severity of the problem. Therapy involves 1-3 treatments.

Hyperthermia therapy not only shrinks the prostate, but softens the gland, making it more compliant during urination. Patients who formerly required continuous catheter drainage can often have their catheters permanently removed after the completion of therapy.

Patients with benign growths of the prostate may harbor cancer cells. These cancers may be ameliorated by hyperthermia Long-term (10 years) results with cancer of the prostate have been fully evaluated, and clinical progression of cancer is arrested in many cases where hyperthermia is employed.

Advantages of Hyperthermia

Hyperthermia has a success rate between 70-90% in States I and II and generally avoids progression to State III and IV.

The advantages include:

• No hospital stay
• No anesthesia
• No major surgery
• Elimination of surgical complications
• Far less expensive
• Far less stressful to the patient

Hyperthermia therapy of the prostate is performed with a THERMEX II. This apparatus employs a high frequency generation with an integrated system for temperature. A micro sensor controls the temperature of the prostatic tissue usually preset in the rage of 45-60 degrees Centigrade. The therapy is virtually painless and without side effects. A temperature monitor is visible to the patient. This treatment avoids the requirement for an electrode to be inserted into the anus and repetitive treatments. After this ambulatory treatment and a checkup the following day, a patient is able to leave the facility and return to a normal routine.

For further information on Transurethral Hyperthermia, contact Vera de Winter, Ph.D., at The Biomedical Hyperthermia Center, Braunstr, 7, 81545 Munchen, GERMANY, Tel: (89) 647692 or email.