- Cryotherapy is a procedure in which a cryogenic substance is used to inhibit cancer cells from growing and developing. In other words, the cancer cells are frozen, causing the cancerous tumor to die. It is also known by the names cryogenic treatment, cryoablation and cryo. Cryotherapy is one of the newer forms of prostate cancer treatment, and many doctors and patients prefer it because it is effective, and not as harsh on the body as radical surgery and radiation are.
- During cryotherapy, a needle is inserted into the patient's perineum, which is the area of skin connecting the anus and scrotum. Attached to the needle is a machine containing the cryogenic substance used for the treatment. Very small balls of ice are them released to the prostate, freezing the cancerous cells.
- Swelling and bruising in the injection area is very common following cryotherapy. Although most patients who undergo the procedure can resume normal activities within a week, many need a catheter put in place for one to three weeks. Individualized instructions for recovery will be given to the patient before and after the procedure.
- Though it is a relatively new form of treatment, many doctors have found that cryogenic treatment for prostate cancer works well for both first-time cancer patients and those with recurring prostate cancer. The recovery time needed is minimal, and compared to invasive radical surgery and radiation treatments, the side effects are mild.
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The effectiveness of cryotherapy as a treatment for prostate cancer is determined by the tumor's characteristics, whether the tumor has low risk features and the patient's biopsy Gleason score.
Since cryotherapy patients seem to have higher rates of impotence than with other types of localized prostate cancer treatments, patients concerned with preserving their erectile function are not ideal candidates. Patients with larger prostates may need neoadjuvant therapy before receiving cryotherapy; this will helps achieve a uniform cold temperature within the gland. - Cryotherapy is a viable alternative for prostate cancer patients for whom radiation therapy was unsucessful. Tumors that are resistant to radiation therapy, chemotherapy and androgen withdrawal may still be vulnerable to cryogenic freezing and thawing. Cryotherapy is effective when radiation therapy is unsuccessful due to recurrent disease rather than metastatic disease.
- Side effects of cryogenic prostate cancer treatment include incontinence, impotence, urethro-rectal fistula, urinary obstruction, hematuria (blood in the urine), scrotal edema, genital inflammation and irritation at the injection site.
