Menu
Home » Focal therapy » Medical suitability

Medical Suitability

At The Focal Therapy Clinic, our world-class clinical team has expertise in conventional treatment options as well as focal therapy, so they can guide you towards the right treatment that will work for you.

Before you can have any focal therapy treatment, our expert team will review your existing medical information, including your diagnosis details, medical history, mpMRI scan and biopsy results. This will help them determine if focal therapy is the best treatment for your prostate cancer.

Even if it’s not, they can talk you through your other treatment options so that you can make an informed decision about the next steps in your care.

Contact us to check if you are suitable

Which therapy is suitable?

We offer two main types of focal therapy:

HIFU is usually recommended for men with early to moderate-stage cancer in the lower part of the prostate gland, which is where most prostate cancers occur.

NanoKnife is recommended for people with cancer in the upper areas of the prostate that are hard to reach with HIFU, and which were previously untreatable with focal therapy.

Watch one of our consultants, Dr Raj Nigam, explain the differences: Is NanoKnife better than HIFU?

Learn more about our focal therapy treatments:

Mr Marc Laniado Who can have focal therapy
00:01:27
Playlist
Who is Suitability for Focal Therapy Treatment
Book your consultation
SUMMARY
Mr. Marc Laniado (Consultant Urologist, The Focal Therapy Clinic): Focal therapy is suitable for men with localized, low- to intermediate-risk prostate cancer (ISUP Grade 13). It preserves bladder, erectile, and bowel function, providing an effective, minimally invasive alternative to surgery or radiotherapy while maintaining quality of life.

This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Read more.
Mr Alan Doherty Who is NanoKnife suitable for
00:00:33
Playlist
Who is Suitability for Focal Therapy Treatment
Book your consultation
SUMMARY
Mr. Alan Doherty (Consultant Urologist, The Focal Therapy Clinic): NanoKnife is ideal for prostate cancers located at the front of the gland, where HIFU may not deliver enough energy. It is particularly effective in targeted focal therapy for these cases, offering a precise and minimally invasive treatment option.

This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Read more.
Mr Marc Laniado MRI US Fusion technology and focal therapy success rates
00:01:00
Playlist
Who is Suitability for Focal Therapy Treatment
Book your consultation
SUMMARY
Mr. Marc Laniado (Consultant Urologist, The Focal Therapy Clinic): MRI fusion improves focal therapy accuracy, ensuring over 90% of men are cancer-free at one year. Globally, 7580% of men avoid radical treatment for 610 years post-focal therapy, making it an effective and minimally invasive option for prostate cancer.

This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Read more.
Mr Tim Dudderidge Can I have focal therapy if I have advanced prostate cancer
00:00:56
Playlist
Who is Suitability for Focal Therapy Treatment
Book your consultation
SUMMARY
Mr. Tim Dudderidge (Consultant Urologist, The Focal Therapy Clinic): Focal therapy is not typically used for metastatic prostate cancer, except in clinical trials like the ATLANTIS study. However, in some locally advanced cases, it may be an option for men who cannot or do not want surgery or radiotherapy, offering a targeted approach to treatment.

This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Read more.
Mr Alan Doherty Am I too old to have focal therapy
00:00:56
Playlist
Who is Suitability for Focal Therapy Treatment
Book your consultation
SUMMARY
Mr. Alan Doherty (Consultant Urologist, The Focal Therapy Clinic): Age alone doesnt determine if focal therapy is appropriateit depends on cancer aggressiveness, overall health, and life expectancy rather than just a number. Personalized treatment decisions ensure the best outcomes for each patient.

This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Read more.
Mr Marc Laniado What Gleason score do I need to have focal therapy
00:00:47
Playlist
Who is Suitability for Focal Therapy Treatment
Book your consultation
SUMMARY
Mr. Marc Laniado (Consultant Urologist, The Focal Therapy Clinic): Gleason scores (67) and ISUP grade groups (13) indicate suitability for focal therapy. Higher grades (45) usually require surgery or radiotherapy, though some overlap exists depending on individual cases and treatment goals.

This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Read more.
Mr Marc Laniado What are the main reasons focal therapy would not be suitable
00:01:01
Playlist
Who is Suitability for Focal Therapy Treatment
Book your consultation
SUMMARY
Mr. Marc Laniado (Consultant Urologist, The Focal Therapy Clinic): Focal therapy is best for localized, intermediate-risk cancers (ISUP 23). Widespread or high-grade cancers usually require whole-gland treatment or other therapeutic options. Selecting the right treatment depends on cancer staging and patient priorities.

This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Read more.
Mr Marc Laniado How do you decide which focal therapy is right for me
00:00:52
Playlist
Who is Suitability for Focal Therapy Treatment
Book your consultation
SUMMARY
Mr. Marc Laniado (Consultant Urologist, The Focal Therapy Clinic): The type of focal therapy depends on tumor location. HIFU is used for tumors at the back of the prostate, while NanoKnife or cryotherapy are preferred for tumors at the front. Outcomes and side effects are similar across techniques, and the choice depends on patient suitability and tumor characteristics.

This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Read more.
Mr Marc Laniado How do you decide which focal therapy is right for me
00:00:52
Playlist
Who is Suitability for Focal Therapy Treatment
Book your consultation
SUMMARY
Mr. Marc Laniado (Consultant Urologist, The Focal Therapy Clinic): The type of focal therapy depends on tumor location. HIFU is used for tumors at the back of the prostate, while NanoKnife or cryotherapy are preferred for tumors at the front. Outcomes and side effects are similar across techniques, and the choice depends on patient suitability and tumor characteristics.

This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Read more.
Mr Marc Laniado Is my prostate cancer too advanced to have focal therapy
00:00:38
Playlist
Who is Suitability for Focal Therapy Treatment
Book your consultation
SUMMARY
Mr. Marc Laniado (Consultant Urologist, The Focal Therapy Clinic): We assess MRI and pathology reports to determine if cancer is confined to the prostate. Most cases are suitable for focal therapy, but higher-risk cancers may require other treatments such as surgery or radiotherapy. A precise diagnosis ensures the best treatment approach for each patient.

This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Read more.
Mr Marc Laniado What Cambridge Prognostic Group are good candidates focal therapy
00:00:52
Playlist
Who is Suitability for Focal Therapy Treatment
Book your consultation
SUMMARY
Mr. Marc Laniado (Consultant Urologist, The Focal Therapy Clinic): The Cambridge Prognostic Group (CPG) system helps guide prostate cancer treatment decisions. Men in groups 2 or 3 are often good candidates for focal therapy, while those in groups 4 or 5 may require surgery or radiotherapy for more aggressive disease.

This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Read more.
Mr Marc Laniado Who is NanoKnife suitable for
00:00:59
Playlist
Who is Suitability for Focal Therapy Treatment
Book your consultation
SUMMARY
Mr. Marc Laniado (Consultant Urologist, The Focal Therapy Clinic): Focal therapy for prostate cancer at the front has even fewer side effects. It avoids nerves affecting erections and reduces rectal risks, making it an excellent minimally invasive treatment option that preserves quality of life while effectively treating cancer.

This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Read more.

Gleason score

The Gleason score, often now called your Grade Group, is used to evaluate how aggressive your cancer is, and how likely it is to spread beyond your prostate. A pathologist will assess your Grade Group when they look at your biopsies. It can be invaluable when it comes to deciding on your treatment.

Learn more about how your Gleason score is calculated and what is means for your treatment options.

Find out more

Tumour location

Because focal therapy targets only the cancerous parts of your prostate gland, the location of your tumour is important. Depending on which side it is, how deep into the gland it is and its proximity to nerve bundles will depend on the type of focal therapy we recommend.

Anterior tumours

These tumours are located at the front of the prostate. These means they are far away from important nerve bundles that control potency and continence. However, they can be easily missed by digital rectal examination (DRE) and biopsies that aren’t guided by image scans, like MRIs. This can lead to people with anterior tumours diagnosed later and with more advanced disease.

Suitability: Anterior tumours can be more difficult to treat with HIFU because the energy can’t make its way all the way through. For anterior tumours, we usually recommend NanoKnife.

Posterior tumours

These tumours are located at the back of the prostate. They can be more aggressive than anterior tumours, but not always. Posterior tumours can be felt more easily during DRE.

Suitability: They can respond well to HIFU treatments because the sound waves can more easily reach the tumour within the gland.

Learn more about the different kinds of focal therapy

 

For HCPs

If you have a patient who you believe may be suitable for focal therapy, find out more about making a referral.

 

 

To speak to one of our expert consultant urologists and learn about what treatment might be right for you
contact us today

Any questions?

If you’ve got any questions about your prostate cancer diagnosis or want to know more about HIFU or NanoKnife, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our friendly, knowledgeable team.

0207 036 8870

info@thefocaltherapyclinic.co.uk

Contact the team






    Learn more about medical suitability for focal therapy