Prostate Cryotherapy: Less Side Effects. Less Worry

Prostate cryotherapy kills cancer cells through controlled delivery of freezing temperatures to the prostate, while avoiding lethal freezing to the surrounding healthy tissues. It is an effective, FDA cleared treatment for prostate cancer.

Prostate cryotherapy is also approved as a treatment for patients who have failed radiation therapy as their primary (or first) prostate cancer treatment. Many of these patients have received hormonal therapy (which lowers the testosterone hormone).

Unlike hormonal therapy, cryotherapy is a curative treatment for recurrent prostate cancer. Click here for more information on prostate cryotherapy for recurrent prostate cancer (salvage cryotherapy).

Compared to other treatments for prostate cancer, prostate cryotherapy has fewer side effects, including very low rates of urinary incontinence (little risk of urinary leakage, or need for pads).

A recent study at Duke University has shown that prostate cancer patients who also have difficulty urinating prior to treatment may also see an improvement in their ability to urinate after cryotherapy. Some forms of radiation therapy can make these side effects worse. With cryotherapy, you can both treat your cancer AND may improve your ability to urinate!

Another recent study specifically compared patients’ quality of life after cryotherapy, surgery and radiation treatment. The study found that patients who underwent cryotherapy reported higher urinary function (less incontinence) and better “urinary bother” scores (improved ability to urinate) than patients who underwent surgery and radiation.

Prostate cryotherapy is typically performed as a one time procedure that does not require hospitalization. Medicare provides coverage in all 50 states, as do most insurance companies.

What are the advantages of cryotherapy?

Am I a candidate for prostate cryotherapy?

What are the side effects of prostate cryotherapy?

Is prostate cryotherapy effective?

The science behind cryotherapy