PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

Prostate cancer affects one in eight men, but if detected early the cancer is easier to treat.

A new treatment offered at Allegheny Health Network is meant for patients with early-stage prostate cancer. AHN is the first health care system in western Pennsylvania to offer the high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment, where ultrasound waves directly target cancerous tissue without affecting the surrounding area.

“Most patients undergoing this therapy are able to go home the same day as their procedure and fully recover in about five days,” AHN urologist Ralph Miller, who first performed focal therapy at Allegheny General Hospital in May, said in a statement. “We are fortunate to have a variety of good treatment options for prostate cancer, particularly when it’s diagnosed early, and this is one that can help some patients avoid the risks and side effects of traditional surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.”

Treatment for prostate cancer typically includes radiation therapy and/or a prostatectomy, a surgical procedure to remove the entire prostate gland.

The new ultrasound treatment is less invasive. It’s performed under general anesthesia; doctors insert an ultrasound probe into the rectum to direct ultrasound waves at the cancerous tissue while protecting the surrounding tissue.

The treatment is intended for patients whose cancer is in early stages and is located in only one area of the prostate.

Miller said patients undergoing the procedure are less likely to experience side effects that are often associated with more invasive treatments, such as urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction.

One recent study showed that patients’ prognosis was similar for those who had the ultrasound treatment and those who had a prostatectomy.

“HIFU is another exciting addition to treatment options when considering how best to care for an individual who is diagnosed with this disease,” said Miller.