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Tulsa Pro Experience, Mayo Clinic MN – July 2024
Gleason 7 (4+3). I was treated Wednesday July 17, 2024. I checked in at 7am, entered the MRI/Tulsa suite at 8:15, and woke up in the recovery room around 11:30am. Approximately 30% of my prostate was ablated. I woke up with no pain and catheter in. The first 5-6 hours of the catheter were a little tough as I felt an urgent need to pee, but you can’t because you have the catheter in. Was fine after that. I did take Oxybutynin for bladder spasms at night. At 12:30pm, I walked out of the hospital and 2 blocks to my car to be driven home to Minneapolis.
Over the course of the next 40 hours, I just needed to regularly empty the catheter bag and continued to have no pain. Didn’t even take a Tylenol. The morning after TULSA I took my normal 2 mile walk. Catheter was removed at 7:45 Friday morning and I was good to go home. Catheter removal was not bad and they had to ensure I could pee on my own before release. Urine stream is about half of normal but will improve as inflammation of urethra declines. No medication needed at this point.
I did a ton of research before deciding on TULSA Pro. I talked to 7 different doctors. 4 current and 3 retired (1 had RP and another had radiation). The technology and low risk of side effects made this an easy choice for me. I was also fortunate to have the cancer contained in a fairly small lesion.
I couldn’t be more pleased with the procedure and my care at Mayo.
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I saw a News special on HIFU last fall and told my wife if I do get cancer, that is what i want to do. My cancer was anterior so HIFU was not an option. My urologist mentioned Mayo was doing some advanced things but she recommended surgery. I just didn't like the high risk of side effects. I found the Mayo clinical study on TULSA and submitted all my info to see if I could get in. TULSA appeared to be HIFU on steroids' with a high level of precision and exponentially fewer side effects. Saw the world class facilities around the country that were using it and I was sold. Talked to Dr. Woodrum who said I was an ideal candidate (contained in small lesion and 45cc prostate) and he did the procedure. Many doctors will tell you it is not the standard of care. My feeling is Robotic surgery was also not the standard of care at one time. A few days after my decision, this study came out that showed ablation has excellent results at 30 months (https://www.renalandurologynews.com/reports/prostate-cancer-focal-therapy-not-inferior-prostatectomy/). Medicare has official codes coming out in January to pay for it. I guess there are some other temp codes that work now and I believe mine will be covered. I was going forward with it regardless and didn't
check any further (I will update you when I see the bill). The follow-up is extensive and that gave me complete confidence in the procedure: PSA every 3 months for 2 years, MRI every 6 months for 2 years, and biopsy at 18 months. Also, all other treatments are still in play if needed down the road. Good luck
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7 ReactionsI'm trying to make a decision between TULSA PRO and SBRT Radiation. I've seen a radiation oncologist at Mayo Rochester and am about to have a consult with Dr. Woodrum at Mayo regarding Focal Therapy for my cancer. Gleason 3+4, less than or equal to 5% pattern 4, lesion approximately 1 cc. One lesion as best the MRI can tell, anterior transition zone mid gland. I have a large prostate 100cc. I would assume you had similar factors to deal with. How did you arrive at your decision? Radiation oncologist tells me TULSA PRO is not a standard of care. Who were your doctors who did the procedure? Was this procedure covered by Medicare if you are on Medicare? Good to hear you had such a good result! Do you know what will be your follow on monitoring and surveillance protocol?
AWESOME. I'm happy everything worked out well for you. I have not had that treatment myself but others on here will have questions. Thank you for sharing and best to you on your journey.