{"content":[{"text":"PCFA and Commonwealth Bank RoadShow: \n Jeff Roberts and Trev Hunt spoke about the upcoming Roadshow. More details were in our April newsletter page 8. \n General Discussion: \n There was some discussion about the advantages of having a benchmark bone density test done before going on hormone \n replacement treatment. The “Zone Diet” was also questioned. Again there is a lot of information about that on the web.","bbox":{"left":0.038095,"top":0.019655,"width":0.923755,"height":0.10367100000000001}},{"text":"Dr Kim Moretti’s HIFU presentation. \n Barry Oakley introduced Dr. Kim Moretti. Dr Kim had done a prostatectomy on Barry \n twelve years ago! \n With the help of a Power Point presentation the doctor told of how just about everything \n has been done to try and treat Prostate Cancer: cut, burn, microwave, fry, heat, freeze, laser \n it radiate it etc.","bbox":{"left":0.038095,"top":0.137539,"width":0.668509,"height":0.11611600000000002}},{"text":"HIFU (High Intensity Focused Ultrasound) is one of the latest procedures, although it is not \n cutting edge technology, it is not main stream yet. Beams are focused on a point to destroy \n prostate tissue.","bbox":{"left":0.038095,"top":0.261947,"width":0.668491,"height":0.047872000000000026}},{"text":"There are a number components including The Probe uses low intensity ultrasound so that \n the operator can see the prostate and high intensity ultrasound to destroy the prostate (by \n heating up the prostate to over 100 degrees). Another component is the cooling system \n which keeps the tissue away from the focus point cool.","bbox":{"left":0.038095,"top":0.318111,"width":0.668527,"height":0.06425000000000003}},{"text":"The whole procedure can take up to two to three hours to do.","bbox":{"left":0.038095,"top":0.390653,"width":0.450071,"height":0.01511499999999999}},{"text":"There are currently at least two machines available to perform HIFU. \n of the two were shown and explained.","bbox":{"left":0.038095,"top":0.41406,"width":0.5176109999999999,"height":0.03149400000000002}},{"text":"The relative merits","bbox":{"left":0.565832,"top":0.41406,"width":0.14077499999999998,"height":0.01511499999999999}},{"text":"Only relatively small prostates can be treated by HIFU (say about 40grams) due to the limited focal range that the beam can \n reach. Zones of about 12 – 14 mm in length are treated in each burst. The focus point is moved about under the control “plan” \n to try and destroy all of the prostate, keeping clear of the urethra and rectum. The initial planning process can take up to an \n hour.","bbox":{"left":0.038095,"top":0.453846,"width":0.923828,"height":0.06424999999999997}},{"text":"Usually the patient has at least one night in hospital, and has to use a catheter from 4 to 10 days until the swelling has gone \n down. The prostate must be “rested” for at least 3 month ie no Bike riding, jumping on tractors etc.","bbox":{"left":0.038095,"top":0.526388,"width":0.923662,"height":0.03149400000000002}},{"text":"Only 5 or 6 thousand HIFU have been performed in the world so far. People who are suitable for treatment include those \n whose prostate cancer is confined to the prostate, Gleason Score less than 7 PSA less than 20. (he thought 15 might be more \n appropriate), there should not be any pre-existing retention problems, nor any previous rectum problems as it is cooked just a \n bit during the procedure.","bbox":{"left":0.038095,"top":0.566174,"width":0.9238460000000001,"height":0.06425000000000003}},{"text":"In Australia he said it is used mostly for radiotherapy and brachytherapy failures. \n Complications: An early complication can the making of a hole in the rectum wall (rectal fistula), the results are much better \n now (with better control of the HIFU energy). Another complication can be restriction of the urethra at the tip of the prostate \n (stricture) which could cause retention problems. Figures were given on the percentage incidences of all complications. \n Incontinence can be up to 3%, infection can be around 6%, impotence can be around 24%, but of a form that can be easily \n treated with Viagra type drugs.","bbox":{"left":0.038095,"top":0.638716,"width":0.923868,"height":0.10403600000000002}},{"text":"There are around 4 machines in Australia, mainly Sydney and Melbourne. They can be carted around in the back of a standard \n vehicle.","bbox":{"left":0.038095,"top":0.751044,"width":0.9238489999999999,"height":0.03149299999999999}},{"text":"At two years the results report about a 90% success rate. Long term? It is still early days, too soon to be able to determine the \n true cure efficiency of the procedure, 5 year data is required before that can be better evaluated.","bbox":{"left":0.038095,"top":0.79083,"width":0.923772,"height":0.03149299999999999}},{"text":"He felt HIFU’s place was to be used after other treatments failed or as an alternative to brachytherapy.","bbox":{"left":0.038095,"top":0.830615,"width":0.7540840000000001,"height":0.01511499999999999}},{"text":"The machines can cost around $100,000 and the treatment can cost around 15 to 18 thousand dollars. \n No treatments have yet been done in Adelaide. \n Many questions were asked, and answered. David Parkin who travelled to the Caribbean over two years ago to have the HIFU \n procedure said he is still pleased with his results. He said he has had no side effects at all. \n Barry presented our speaker with a bottle of “preventative” in thanks for his presentation. \n June 2007","bbox":{"left":0.038095,"top":0.854022,"width":0.923741,"height":0.11950400000000005}}],"images_bbox":[{"left":0.725644,"top":0.169697,"width":0.23626,"height":0.252575}],"images_bbox_not_text_overlap":[{"left":0.725644,"top":0.169697,"width":0.23626,"height":0.252575}]}