Treatment for prostate cancer
HIFU is a treatment that uses high frequency sound waves to destroy prostate cancer cells. The waves create heat that destroys the cancer cells.
You might have HIFU for prostate cancer that hasn’t spread outside the prostate gland. Or for prostate cancer that has come back in the prostate after treatment. It is only available in specific centres in the UK or as part of a clinical trial.
Find out about research looking into treatment for prostate cancer
HIFU stands for high intensity focused ultrasound. It is a treatment that uses high frequency sound waves.
You have HIFU from a machine. The machine gives off sound waves. These deliver a strong beam to the cancer. This heats up and destroys the prostate cancer cells.
You might have HIFU treatment to either:
the whole prostate gland - this is whole prostate HIFU
specific areas of the prostate gland - this is focal HIFU
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is an independent organisation. It provides guidance to the NHS and develops recommendations about treatment. NICE recommends HIFU for prostate cancer only in specific centres or as part of clinical trials.
Your doctor might recommend HIFU if your cancer:
is contained inside the prostate gland - this is localised prostate cancer
is just breaking through the covering of the prostate - this is locally advanced prostate cancer
has come back after earlier treatment - this is salvage treatment
You can’t have HIFU if your cancer has spread to other parts of your body. This is metastatic or advanced prostate cancer.
Check your appointment letter for any specific ways to prepare for HIFU.
You have HIFU treatment at the hospital as a day patient. This means you can usually leave on the same day that you have HIFU. Your doctor asks you to sign a consent form to say that you agree to have the treatment. This is a good time to ask all the questions that you have.
You might have an or before the treatment. This is to find the exact position of the cancer so doctors can plan your treatment.
You have an to empty your bowels.
You have this treatment under . You usually need to stop eating for 6 hours before the procedure but can still drink fluids. Your healthcare team will tell you when to stop drinking.
You change into a hospital gown before the procedure.
You have HIFU in the operating theatre under general anaesthetic. This means that you are asleep and won’t feel anything. You have a small tube (cannula) in a vein in the back of your hand.
Your surgeon puts a thin tube into your bladder through your . The tube drains your urine. It is called a urinary catheter.
Your surgeon puts a HIFU probe into your . This probe gives out high intensity ultrasound waves that can destroy the cancer cells in your prostate. The high intensity ultrasound waves travel through the rectum to the prostate. The waves do not destroy tissue on their way. They only damage the cells in the tissue they are targeting.
The probe also works as an ultrasound and makes a picture on a screen. This shows your surgeon where they need to target. They move the HIFU probe around to treat all of the cancer cells.
Whole prostate HIFU treatment takes about 3 hours. HIFU to a smaller area (focal HIFU) takes 1 to 2 hours.
When you are fully awake you go back to the ward to rest. The nurses check on whether you have any pain and will give you painkillers if you need them.
When you have recovered from the anaesthetic you can go home, usually on the same day. You won’t be able to drive home after the general anaesthetic. This is because it takes some time for the anaesthetic to wear off.
You might have a catheter for up to a week to drain urine. If you go home with a catheter your nurse will teach you how to care for it. They will arrange for someone to remove it.
Your doctor explains all the potential side effects to you before you sign the consent form.
All treatments have side effects and it’s important that you know about them before HIFU. You might have some of these side effects.
You might have pain in the area between your testicles and back passage (rectum). You can take painkillers to help.
You might have some blood or small pieces of prostate tissue in your urine. This can last for a few weeks.
At first you might have difficulty having or keeping an erection. For many men this goes back to normal. Treatments can help with erection problems.
Find out about treatments for erection problems
Signs of a urine infection include pain passing urine or feeling cold or shivery.
Contact your treatment centre straight away if you have any of these signs or if your temperature goes above 38°C. Severe infections can be life threatening.
You might have problems passing urine if the prostate swells after HIFU. The swelling can block the urethra. This might happen straight after removing your catheter. It is called urinary retention.
You might need to have a catheter for a short time to drain the urine.
You doctor may suggest that you learn how to put in a catheter to drain your urine at home. This is called self catheterisation. You take the catheter out when the bladder is empty. Your nurse will teach you how to do this.
Read more about problems passing urine after prostate cancer treatment
Infection can start in the small tubes that carry sperm from the testicles. You might have:
swelling in one or both of your testicles
pain or tenderness in one or both of your testicles
Tell your doctor or nurse if you have swelling or pain. You might need antibiotic tablets.
Possible long term side effects include:
erection problems
loss of control of urine (urinary incontinence)
problems passing urine due to blockage of the urethra
a hole between the bladder and the back passage – this is rare
HIFU is not available in every hospital. Your doctor might offer you HIFU treatment as part of a clinical trial. Or you might need to travel to specialist centre for treatment.
Last reviewed: 11 Jul 2025
Next review due: 11 Jul 2028
You may have a choice of treatments such as surgery or radiotherapy. Or your doctor might suggest that they monitor your cancer instead of treatment straight away.
Research is looking into diagnosing and treating prostate cancer. You need to talk to your specialist if there are any trials that you think you might be able to take part in.
Your specialist doctor discusses whether you need treatment, and what your treatment options are. Treatment options might include surgery or radiotherapy.
Metastatic prostate cancer has spread to other parts of your body. Treatment options include chemotherapy and hormone therapy.
Get practical and emotional support to help you cope with a diagnosis of prostate cancer, and life during and after treatment.
Prostate cancer is cancer that starts in the prostate gland. The prostate gland is found at the base of the bladder and is about the size of a walnut.
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