Surgeons at University College London have developed a new method to treat prostate cancer that takes only one hour. This technique, which researchers believe could change the way prostate cancer is treated, involves using electrical currents to destroy hard-to-reach tumors. Traditional treatment methods for this type of cancer included radiation therapy or prostate removal, which often caused many side effects such as urination problems, incontinence, and loss of sexual ability.
The surgeons have named the new treatment NanoKnife, which sends rapid electrical pulses to the tumor, allowing it to sever cancerous cells without the need for any incisions in the skin. According to the New Zealand Herald, surgeons have performed this procedure six times so far on prostate cancer patients.
Urologist Professor Mark Emberton from the University of California stated, "It is a new way to destroy cancer cells, and it is simple enough for surgeons to be trained quickly." Emberton added, "The treatment is remarkable and enables us to access tumors in areas that may be unreachable by a surgeon's scalpel." He explained that "because the treatment can be performed in less than an hour, surgeons can conduct at least double the number of procedures in the time it usually takes for a traditional surgery, and without a hospital stay."
