NanoKnife side effects
As a minimally-invasive treatment, the side effects of NanoKnife are much less than surgery.
NanoKnife uses needles to deliver electrical energy to target and destroy cancerous prostate tissue with precision, leaving healthy tissues unharmed. It can also destroy tumours that can’t be reached with HIFU. The treatment is comparable to prostatectomy in terms of success in cancer control.
Will I be in pain after focal therapy?
Cancer control
74% needed no further treatment after NanoKnife
Sexual potency
90%+ had normal sexual function after NanoKnife
Urinary continence
98% had no problems with urinary continence after NanoKnife
What to expect
NanoKnife targets only your tumour, rather than your whole prostate and surrounding nerves or tissue. This means that the likelihood of you experiencing long-lasting impotence or incontinence is much lower than surgery.
NanoKnife is minimally invasive. This means that very sharp needles will go through your skin to reach your tumour, but these holes are much smaller than those left by laparoscopic tools used in prostatectomy. There are some side effects to be aware of after NanoKnife treatment, but these are usually mild and infrequent. They can include:
- Dysuria (you feel pain or a burning sensation when you urinate)
- Increased risk of contracting a urinary tract infection (due to the needles used during the treatment and the catheter afterwards)
- Some blood and seminal fluid in your urine in the days or weeks following NanoKnife, caused by the cells in the tumour breaking down
- Small risk of decreased/absent ejaculatory fluid which could affect fertility
- Erectile dysfunction
- Temporary urinary retention
“If you’re deemed suitable for [NanoKnife], it really is a no brainer. I think to go down this line first is the only way if you want to minimise your possible after effects.”
Brian Bishop
The Focal Therapy Clinic patient
Hear from some of our previous patients about their experience with NanoKnife.
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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.
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