Member takes advantage of less invasive prostate treatment

In late 2009 I was found to have a rising PSA and scheduled an appointment with a physician for testing for prostate cancer. As my wife, a former urology nurse, and I, a very nervous patient, began researching treatment options, the results were not encouraging. Not only were the cure rate results not encouraging, but the personal testimonies of a number of patients undergoing the treatments available at that time resulted in them suffering a host of side effects.

As my wife prepared to go to Vermont to visit her sister, she grabbed the latest issue of Samaritan’s Christian Health Care Newsletter. When she got to Vermont she called and shared with me about a new procedure she read about to treat prostate cancer called High Intensity Focused Ultrasound or HIFU. At the time, this procedure was not approved to be conducted in the United States, although it was approved in other countries. The doctor who performed this procedure, Dr. Ronald Wheeler, was located in Sarasota, Florida, about 1 ½ hours from our home. I scheduled an appointment where I underwent an MRI-S, which is far safer and more accurate in determining the health of the prostate. Having the traditional needle biopsy may not only miss the diseased portion of the prostate but, through needle tracking, can deposit cancer cells in other parts of the body.

Once it was determined that I had a diseased prostate, I scheduled an appointment with Dr. Wheeler to perform the procedure in Mexico.

It has now been six years since my procedure and, to date, I continue to have a PSA of <0.1 ng/ml.

Just as important, though, as being cured of prostate cancer are the side effects. Having a prostatectomy, which traditionally has a cure rate of about 70 percent, will most likely leave you impotent and wearing diapers for the rest of your life. Further, I don’t believe men consider the mental anguish they experience when the above takes place. I know men who are 45 and are now impotent for life.

At this time, six years since my procedure, I have no side effects whatsoever but have full bodily functions.

The main reason for this letter is to inform all who read this that the HIFU procedure was approved by the FDA in 2015. Although it has been approved, there is very limited availability. Also, it should be pointed out that a great deal of the success can be attributed to the experience of the physician performing the procedure.

More than 40,000 men with prostate cancer have been treated with HIFU with a cure rate generally averaging around 65-72 percent. However, with a modification to standard therapy, Dr. Wheeler has been able to demonstrate a cure rate of 100 percent of 57 consecutive patients with a known prostate cancer in a patient group that has a PSA of less than or equal to 8.5 ng/ml over the past 30 months. When you add this data to a group of 67 patients treated from 2006 to 2013, the cure rate drops to 99 percent. The secret is in the experience, the skill, the imaging, and the innovation. Dr. Wheeler has performed over 400 HIFU procedures. I urge all men who are experiencing prostate issues to consider the HIFU procedure.

More information can be found on his website.

If you are experiencing prostate problems and would like to speak to members treated with MRI-S or HIFU, send an email to [email protected].

See related post: An nnovative approach to prostate problems