Some Americans are going to Mexico for a prostate cancer treatment that is unobtainable in the United States, even though it was developed in the U.S. and is legal nearly everywhere else in the world.
The treatment is called HIFU, or high intensity focused ultrasound. It literally burns away cancerous cells using focused ultrasound waves. Europe, Canada, Japan, Mexico and many other countries have accepted the science behind HIFU, but the U.S. FDA has demanded lengthy scientific trials before approving the technology.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer found in U.S. men, and it is usually treated with surgery, radiation or hormone injections. All of these options have devastating potential side-effects on urinary and erectile function.
Sources:
* ABC News May 7, 2008
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