If you’ve been diagnosed with prostate cancer, you’re likely considering different treatment options and weighing the potential benefits and risks of each.
With many choices available, finding a treatment that aligns with your health needs and personal preferences is essential.
One approach to managing prostate cancer is called TULSA.
TULSA stands for transurethral ultrasound ablation. It’s an innovative, minimally invasive treatment designed to precisely target and destroy prostate tissue using heat generated by ultrasound energy. It provides an alternative to traditional therapies that may have more significant side effects or longer recovery times.
How Does TULSA Work?
Unlike surgical treatments, TULSA doesn’t involve any incisions. Instead, it’s performed inside a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suite. MRI is a type of imaging technology that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create detailed pictures of the inside of your body without any exposure to radiation.
During TULSA, the MRI provides real-time images of your prostate. This advanced visualization capability enables your surgeon to develop an exact and customized resection plan.
A special device called an ultrasound applicator (UA) is inserted into your urethra. This device emits ultrasound energy that heats and ‘ablates’ or destroys the targeted prostate tissue. The UA rotates within the urethra, allowing the ultrasound to cover more prostate tissue and create a continuous, sweeping heating pattern, which helps minimize the risk of missing any areas.
Your doctor can customize treatment to your specific anatomy. They can adjust your treatment based on the size and shape of your prostate and target only the areas that need removal, protecting surrounding healthy tissues.
Throughout the procedure, active cooling systems protect your urethra and rectum, helping to minimize the risk of side effects.
When is TULSA Used to Treat Prostate Cancer?
TULSA is designed to treat localized prostate cancer.
Its versatility and precision treats only specific areas of the prostate while carefully avoiding nerve bundles and structures that are vital for preserving urinary and sexual function.
What Can I Expect During TULSA?
Before the procedure, you’ll be moved into an MRI suite. The ultrasound applicator is gently inserted into your urethra, and an endorectal cooling device is placed in your rectum to protect surrounding tissues.
The TULSA system is connected to the MRI machine, and a detailed treatment plan will be developed. High-precision imaging helps your doctor draw boundary lines around only the areas of your prostate that need to be treated.
Once the plan is set, the robotically driven ultrasound applicator rotates within your urethra, delivering ultrasound heat energy that destroys the targeted prostate tissue from the inside out. This process is carefully monitored in real time using MRI images, allowing your doctor to make any necessary adjustments.
After the procedure, you’ll be catheterized and monitored for a couple of hours.
Most patients can go home the same day and return to their daily activities after a short period of recovery.
What Are the Benefits of TULSA?
TULSA offers several advantages that make it a compelling option for treating prostate cancer.
- Minimally invasive. No surgical incisions and no radiation mean a quicker recovery with fewer complications.
- Outpatient procedure. Treatment is completed in one session, typically allowing you to go home the same day.
- Highly customizable. TULSA is tailored to your specific prostate anatomy and disease, which helps preserve important sexual and urological functions.
- Lowered risk of side effects. Precise targeting minimizes the risk of affecting surrounding tissues, reducing the likelihood of urinary or sexual side effects.
If you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer and you’re exploring treatment options, TULSA may be the right choice for you.
Offering precision, minimal invasiveness, and quicker recovery times, treatment with TULSA could help you regain your health while preserving urinary and sexual function.
Call 843.347.2450 today to see if TULSA is the best option for your prostate cancer treatment.
TULSA Procedure FAQs
How long does TULSA take?
It typically takes a few hours from start to finish. Since it’s done on an outpatient basis, most patients can go home the same day and return to normal activities soon after.
Is TULSA painful?
TULSA is designed to be minimally invasive, and discomfort is usually minor. You’ll be under anesthesia during the procedure, and most patients report only mild discomfort during recovery.
What can I expect in terms of recovery?
Recovery is generally quick. Most patients return to their usual activities within a few days, and urinary and sexual functions typically return to baseline within a few months. Your doctor will provide specific post-procedure care instructions to help ensure a smooth recovery.
