← Return to 44-yr-old prostate cancer patient seeking advice, thoughts, etc.

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@bjroc

I am past one year out from Tulsa, it is the way to go.

Here is my post on Tulsa Pro
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/tulsa-pro-initial-experience/
Tulsa
https://tulsaprocedure.com/find-a-tulsa-pro-center/
https://tulsaprocedure.com/
If wondering about Tulsa Pro from a science point of view, here is a basic Tulsa science overview article
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9231661/
Conclusions:
“As an alternative to conventional treatments, TULSA is safe and effective for prostate tissue ablation in men with primary PCa. There is also evidence that TULSA delivers effective relief of urinary symptoms while treating PCa in a single, low-morbidity procedure. The likelihood of freedom from additional treatment or potency preservation is associated with the planned ablation fraction.”

Tulsa or HIFU - what is the difference

Tulsa Pro uses some of the same ultrasound technology for the ablation as HIFU, but they are not alike. Tulsa Pro can handle a person with a fair amount of BPH, HIFU cannot. HIFU the lesion has limited locations that it can reach so the lesion is best if it is near the rectum, as it is done that way and only reaches a limited area in the prostate. There are other limits some places put on HIFU, and some places put limits on Tulsa too. These are limits the maker of the equipment has not put on using it, as the places doing studies almost always put more limits on who they accept. So bottom line is if you go to a place that is part of a study they may not accept you for TULSA or HIFU or Vanquish, where-as a private physician might. Meaning get multiple opinions.

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Replies to "I am past one year out from Tulsa, it is the way to go. Here is..."

From mayolink’s description of his cancer, I don’t think Tulsa will work for him. Calcifications impede the ultrasound. My doctor at Mayo was ready to do cryotherapy on any spots that didn’t show up in my initial MRI when I had Tulsa. Fortunately he did not have to. I am a huge proponent of Tulsa though for patients who qualify.