High-intensity Focused Ultrasound for Prostate Cancer: Patient Care Resources
High-intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) may be a treatment option for some prostate cancers that are confined within the prostate gland.
Advanced imaging techniques help your doctor focus the ultrasound to the tumor area alone, rather than the whole prostate gland.
WHAT TO KNOW TO PREPARE FOR HIGH-INTENSITY FOCUSED ULTRASOUND FOR PROSTATE CANCER
1Getting Started In Your Care
2Getting Your Diagnosis
3Planning Your Treatment
4Undergoing Treatment & Follow-Up
High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound: Patient Care Resources »
Getting Ready for High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound
Your care team has worked with you to develop the therapy plan that’s right for you, based on the details of your diagnosis.
Before
During
After
Several days before your treatment, you will meet with your doctor to:
- Review your medical history
- Review your treatment plan
On the scheduled day, you will come in for your treatment.
High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound is generally performed as an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia. It generally takes about 2 hours to complete.
Come in for your post-treatment appointment
Your follow-up appointment takes place 7 to 10 days after your treatment. We will work with you before your treatment to choose a day and time for this visit. During the appointment, you meet with your doctor and other members of your care team to:
- Review the results of your treatment
- Address any concerns such as side effects
Several days before your treatment, you will meet with your doctor to:
- Review your medical history
- Review your treatment plan
On the scheduled day, you will come in for your treatment.
close Before
High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound is generally performed as an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia. It generally takes about 2 hours to complete.
close During
Come in for your post-treatment appointment
Your follow-up appointment takes place 7 to 10 days after your treatment. We will work with you before your treatment to choose a day and time for this visit. During the appointment, you meet with your doctor and other members of your care team to:
- Review the results of your treatment
- Address any concerns such as side effects
close After
If you need HIFU, our surgical oncology (cancer surgery) team manages your care during this part of your treatment. We work with you to explain our recommendations for your care to help you decide what’s right for you. We also help you prepare for your treatment, recovery, and any follow-up care.
You are an important part of the care team, too, so ask us questions and voice your concerns at any point in your treatment. Members of your surgical oncology team include:
Your Doctors
Surgeon
Also known as a surgical oncologist, your cancer surgeon specializes in surgical procedures to diagnose and treat cancer. Your surgeon serves as your attending physician, the doctor who directs your care team.
Surgical oncologists perform biopsies (taking tiny samples of tissue) to test for cancer and confirm a diagnosis. They help you choose the best type of surgery for your care. Potential options include traditional (open) approaches or minimally invasive techniques to remove tumors and surrounding tissue.
View All {0} Surgeons »Anesthesiologist
An anesthesiologist is a doctor who specializes in using medications to block pain during surgery. These medications also help you relax during the procedure or ease you into unconsciousness. After giving medication, your anesthesiologist monitors vital functions such as breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate throughout your surgery and immediate recovery.
Depending on the type of surgery you have, you may need local (small area), regional (larger area), or general (overall) anesthesia. You will meet with your anesthesiologist at your pre-operative visit to review your case in detail.
View All {0} Anesthesiologists »Pathologist
Working closely with your oncologist, your pathologist performs and reads laboratory tests to determine the type and stage of cancer present. These doctors have special training to detect and diagnose cancer. They use a microscope to examine tissue samples taken during a biopsy. As with radiologists, you may not meet your pathologist while he/she works with your oncologist to diagnose your cancer.
View All {0} Pathologists »
Extended Care Team
This health care provider works with your surgical oncologist to help with diagnosis and treatment. An APP can be a nurse practitioner (NP), physician’s assistant (PA), or clinical nurse specialist (CNS).
Our MCC will call you before your surgery to provide instructions about preparing for the procedure, as well as for your recovery at home. This call will cover:
- What to do in the days before surgery
- How to handle your return home, including arranging for help for the first few days
- Answers to your questions
The CAA helps with administrative issues such as scheduling your appointments, managing your paperwork, and requesting your medical records.
If you need to stay in the hospital after surgery, a registered nurse will take care of you.
This team member greets you at the front desk and registers you for your appointments.
A Surgery Scheduler will arrange your pre-surgical appointments with your surgical oncologist. This staff member also schedules your surgeries
Support Services
PATHWELL SUPPORT SERVICES
PathWell is your connection to personalized support services before, during, and after your treatment. Our teams of doctors, nurses, social workers, spiritual care providers, nutrition experts, financial counselors, and more work with your oncology team to provide comprehensive specialized care to you and to your family.
- 650-498-6000 Ask for the PathWell team
Stanford Health Library
For confidential help with your health care questions, contact the Stanford Health Library. Professional medical librarians and trained volunteers, access journals, books, e-books, databases, and videos to learn more about medical conditions, treatment options, and related issues.
- 875 Blake Wilbur, Palo Alto: 1st floor near the cafe, 650-736-1960
- South Bay Cancer Center: 3rd floor lobby, 408-353-0197
Email us your questions: healthlibrary@stanfordhealthcare.org