Key takeaways

  • Ablation treatment for prostate cancer uses energy — such as heat, cold, or lasers — to kill cancer cells. This can help prevent the cancer from growing or spreading. The main types of prostate ablation include high-frequency ultrasound energy (HIFU) and needle ablation.
  • A person’s medical team can provide them with details about how to prepare for the procedure, which will include instructions on when to stop eating and drinking and when to start taking tamsulosin.
  • Recovery from prostate ablation may take a number of weeks. During this time, a person will continue to wear a catheter.

Prostate cancer develops in the prostate gland. Treatment may not always be necessary, depending on factors such as the severity of the condition.

When doctors do recommend treating prostate cancer, ablation may be a suitable option for some people.

Read on to learn more about what ablation for prostate cancer involves, how to prepare, what to expect during recovery, and more.

The purpose of prostate ablation is to kill prostate cancer cells.

It is a minimally invasive treatment that can destroy the cancer cells to prevent them from growing or spreading.

The main approaches to prostate ablation are needle ablation and high-frequency ultrasound energy (HIFU).

Needle ablation

Needle ablation uses small needles to deliver the treatment to the prostate. Each session takes around 20 to 30 minutes, and will usually occur as follows:

  1. The individual will receive an anesthetic so that they are asleep during the procedure. They will also use a breathing tube.
  2. The medical professional will insert an ultrasound probe into the individual’s rectum. The sound waves allow them to view the prostate on a screen.
  3. They will then guide small needles into the prostate and deliver the treatment.
  4. Afterward, they will remove the needles and probe. The individual will spend time in the recovery room with a catheter to drain their bladder.

There are different types of needle ablation for prostate cancer. Examples include:

High-frequency ultrasound energy (HIFU)

HIFU involves placing a probe into the rectum to deliver ultrasound energy to the prostate. This ultrasound energy aims to kill the cancer cells.

Beforehand, the individual will receive an anesthetic. They will use a breathing tube during the procedure.

After the treatment, the medical professional will remove the probe. The individual will then spend time in a recovery room with a catheter to drain their bladder.

There are various things a person should do to prepare for prostate ablation. Their doctor or medical team can provide them with full instructions.

On the day

The individual will usually need to not eat anything the day of their appointment. They should only drink water, black coffee, black tea, or some clear juices. They will need to stop drinking 2 hours before their appointment.

A person may also need to administer a saline enema on the morning of their appointment.

For their appointment, a person should:

  • wear comfortable, loose-fitting trousers with an elastic waist
  • avoid wearing metal objects
  • avoid wearing any lotions, deodorants, or cologne
  • wear glasses instead of contact lenses, where applicable

Other tips for preparing

Other steps a person can take to help prepare for prostate ablation include:

  • letting their medical team know about:
    • any medications they are currently taking
    • any known allergies
    • whether they drink alcohol
    • whether they smoke
    • whether they have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), as it can cause serious issues during the treatment
  • attending all presurgical testing appointments, which may include blood tests, chest X-rays, and electrocardiograms (EKG)
  • avoiding taking supplements and medications such as aspirin around 1 week before the treatment
  • avoiding taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) 2 days before the treatment
  • beginning taking tamsulosin 2 days before the treatment to make urinating easier, at a medical professional’s advice
  • ensuring they have somebody to take them home after the procedure
  • packing an overnight bag in case they need to stay in the hospital overnight

After prostate ablation, many individuals can return home the same day. However, some people may need to stay in the hospital overnight.

They will need to keep the urinary catheter in place for several weeks to help with emptying the bladder.

A medical professional can advise on how frequently they may need to take antibiotics and tamsulosin.

After the procedure, a person should avoid showering for 24 hours. They should avoid bathing or submerging their lower body in water for around 2 weeks.

Avoid lifting anything heavier than 20 pounds (9 kilograms) for at least 2 days after the treatment.

Side effects

Some side effects can occur after prostate ablation. These can include:

  • urinary urgency and increased frequency, which usually lasts for around 2 weeks after removing the catheter
  • pink-tinted urine or blood in the urine for a number of weeks after the treatment
  • a burning sensation when urinating for around 1 to 2 weeks after the treatment
  • swelling and bruising of the scrotum, which can last around 2 to 3 weeks
  • small amounts of blood in semen for a number of weeks or months
  • changes in erectile function and ejaculations

Seek medical help if any of the following occur:

  • fever of 101ºF (38.3º) or higher
  • chills
  • new or worsening shortness of breath
  • tenderness or pain in the testicles
  • heavy bleeding or blood clots in the catheter

Prostate ablation for prostate cancer involves using energy to kill cancer cells to stop them from growing or spreading. Types of prostate ablation include needle ablation and high-frequency ultrasound energy (HIFU).

The procedure involves either using a probe to deliver ultrasound energy to the prostate or guiding the treatment through needles into the prostate. During treatment, a person will be asleep and will use a breathing tube.

Most people can go home the same day. They will need to wear a urinary catheter for around 2 weeks after.

Their medical team can provide more information about what to expect during the recovery period, as well as steps they can take to prepare for the treatment.