Thriving and surviving: The first patient to undergo the HIFU procedure at Nazareth Hospital

“Take me out to the ball game”—an American pastime song loved by all baseball enthusiasts alike, brought excitement to 71-year-old Barry Squires of Philadelphia while recently attending a baseball championship in Asheville, N.C. But, in early 2023, Squires was in a different state of mind as he underwent treatment for prostate cancer. Squires was the first patient at Nazareth Hospital to receive the high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment from urologist Francis Schanne, MD, who brought this advance technology to Nazareth Hospital’s urology department in 2022.

While some men fear getting treatment for prostate cancer because of the potential side effects, Squires wants to be a voice who supports the HIFU procedure. “Any man who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and is a candidate for the HIFU treatment should definitely take advantage of the procedure,” said Squires.

Dr. Schanne says the HIFU procedure has much fewer risks than other prostate cancer treatment options. “While surgery and radiation have a more proven history of treating prostate cancer, HIFU has a much lower risk of sexual dysfunction and virtually no risk of incontinence,” he says.

After a routine checkup in 2022, Squires underwent a biopsy and discovered he had a low-risk form prostate cancer. “I started to prepare to go for other treatment options when HIFU became available,” said Squires, “Dr. Schanne took the time to understand my lifestyle and what was important to me—and when he recommended this treatment, I had complete trust in him.”

“Dr. Schanne took the time to understand my lifestyle and what was important to me—and when he recommended this treatment, I had complete trust in him.” – Barry Squires

The HIFU procedure uses sound-wave energy to destroy cancer cells. This may allow some men to avoid a major operation (radical prostatectomy) or radiation treatments. HIFU is performed under general anesthesia. The doctor inserts an ultrasound probe into the rectum to map out the treatment area on a display screen. Next, much stronger ultrasound energy is focused on small areas of prostate tissue. This precise energy destroys the cancer cells using heat.

For a few days after the procedure, patients require a catheter to urinate. Squires was able to resume his usual activities within a week with no post-operation surprises, which led to his recent travel to Ashville and participation at the baseball championship, with his cancer eliminated.

“I explored different options prior to learning that the HIFU treatment was available to me,” said Squires. “The relationship I built with Dr. Schanne was just as important as the procedure itself. His recommendation for the HIFU procedure was clear and easy to understand, and it comforted me to feel that this procedure would allow me to live my life the way I did prior to the diagnosis.”

Prostate cancer can often go undetected as many patients experience no symptoms, while others may experience a difficult time urinating. Typically, men between the ages of 55 and 69 should get annual prostate screenings—prevention is key. Schedule a prostate cancer screening now.

Learn more about the HIFU procedure and who may qualify.