Information support on the role of high intensity focused ultrasound and cryotherapy for the treatment of localised prostate cancer

Aim: Patients diagnosed with localised prostate cancer have a choice between comparable standard treatments, and developing focal therapy, high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and cryotherapy. Growing numbers of men are attracted to focal therapy due to the minimal invasive, and lesser side-effect, profile. Our knowledge about information support for standard treatments is well established, but there is a lack of evidence on information support for focal therapy. The aim of this study is to examine the information support received by men who select focal therapy with HIFU and cryotherapy, for the treatment of localised prostate cancer, to help identify the source of information support, and the conditions that influence choice of treatment. Method: Convenient sampling was used to recruit eight participants who received treatment with either HIFU or cryotherapy. Data were collected through semi-structured telephone interviews, and analysed by thematic approach. Findings: There is a lack of information support on focal therapy during clinical consultations with urologists and oncologists, choice of treatment is influenced by information on minimal-invasive, and lesser side-effect, profiles, and there is a desire for quality information support at treatment centres, to enable informed decision-making. Conclusion: It is vital to provide greater public access to quality information to support patients to make an informed choice between standard and developing prostate cancer treatments. Support from urology clinical nurse specialists, and access to reputable websites, and other information material, will contribute to quality information.