Focal Therapy

Tissue-preserving treatment options for selected prostate cancers.

Overview

What focal therapy means

Focal therapy aims to treat only the part of the prostate that contains a clinically significant cancer, leaving the rest of the gland intact. The goal is cancer control with a lower impact on urinary and sexual function than whole-gland treatment, in carefully selected men.

Focal therapy is one option among several. Whether it is suitable depends on the location, grade and volume of the cancer on multiparametric MRI and biopsy, and on the patient's overall health and preferences. Eligibility is decided case-by-case at consultation.

NanoKnife (Irreversible Electroporation) Non-thermal focal ablation using short electrical pulses. Used at Urology NSW for selected localised prostate cancers. Laser & HIFU based focal therapy Background on laser and high-intensity focused ultrasound approaches and where they sit relative to standard treatments.

Where focal therapy fits

For most men with localised prostate cancer the standard options are active surveillance, radical prostatectomy and radiotherapy. Focal therapy sits alongside these as a third pathway for selected patients. The risks, benefits and limits of each approach - including the possibility of needing further treatment later - are discussed in detail at consultation.