Non-Invasive HIFU Treatment Shows Hope for Early-Age Prostate Cancer Cases

New Delhi: Prostate cancer is no longer an illness of only the elderly. Global experts warn it’s on the rise, and India is not immune. According to the Lancet Commission, cases worldwide could double by 2040, with deaths climbing by nearly 85%. Behind these numbers lies a simple truth: early detection and smarter, less invasive treatments are now more urgent than ever.

And in this moment of urgency, a new therapy, High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU), is rewriting what life after prostate cancer can look like.

What UK Research Taught the World:

Back in 2012, Professor Mark Emberton and his team at University College London asked a bold question: What if we could treat only the cancer, and not damage the whole prostate?

Their trial with focal HIFU showed results that patients had only dreamed of before:

• No incontinence at one year

• 90% preserved sexual function

• 95% cancer-free survival at 12 months

Instead of trading cancer control for lifelong side effects, men could now hope for both health and quality of life.

Seven years later, UK multicenter data confirmed the promise: 97% survival, virtually no deaths from prostate cancer, and minimal complications. For many, HIFU felt less like treatment and more like getting their life back.

Bridging the Innovation to India:

That same hope has now reached Delhi. At the Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute & Research Centre (RGCIRC), under the leadership of Prof. Sudhir Kumar Rawal, HIFU was introduced in 2024. The institute combines the therapy with advanced tools like MRI fusion biopsy and genetic profiling, giving patients highly tailored, precision care.

Then came a landmark case: a 43-year-old man, one of the youngest prostate cancer patients ever treated in India.

Early MRI screening picked up a localised tumour. Instead of facing the fear of surgery or lifelong side effects, he was offered focal HIFU. The outcome?

• A quick recovery

• No loss of urinary control

• Sexual function preserved

• Early cancer control indicators are positive

For him and for India’s medical community, it was proof that advanced therapy can be both gentle and effective.

Why This Story Matters for India:

• Global burden is rising: Cases could double in 15 years.

• Innovation is real: HIFU is backed by world-class evidence and nearly a decade of UK data.

• Local adoption is growing: India is not behind; world-standard therapies are here.

• Hope for younger men: Even a 43-year-old patient can live a normal, healthy life after cancer.

The Road Ahead:

For India, the way forward is clear:

• Expand access: More hospitals need HIFU and advanced diagnostics.

• Raise awareness: Men must know the importance of early screening even at a younger age.

• Build research networks: Indian data can add to global knowledge and guide treatment worldwide.

In Summary:

The story of a young man in Delhi cured with HIFU is more than just one patient’s journey—it’s a signal of what’s possible when global innovation meets local commitment.

From London to Delhi, prostate cancer care is entering a new era: one where men can fight cancer without losing themselves in the process.

HIFU has been used in Rajiv Gandhi research & cancer institute, Tata memorial Centre, Bombay, Kokilaben hospital, Bombay in collaboration with NovoMed incorporation Pvt Ltd to resolve the fear of surgery for prostate cancer. As AI is increasingly proving new, effective ways of innovation to science and the health care industry.