Newswise — BIRMINGHAM, Ala., (Nov. 19, 2015) – The presence of prostate cancer can be signaled by an elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, a test result which can be alarming to any patient and confirmed by a prostate biopsy. Vituro Health, a comprehensive prostate care provider that empowers men during all stages of life, has launched operations to offer complete prostate management services, including minimally-invasive high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy. Until now, HIFU has only been available to patients internationally.
“Vituro Health is a comprehensive resource that provides precision healthcare for men, specializing in leading edge diagnostics and treatments related to prostate care,” said Clete Walker, CEO of Vituro Health. “We offer our patients education, concierge care from dedicated medical professionals and access to advanced HIFU therapy. Vituro Health wants to ensure men have a precise and complete diagnosis and they are given all treatment options.”
One in 7 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. Research published in the journal European Urology shows 1 in 5 men who undergo one of the standard forms of treatment — a prostatectomy — regret their treatment choice.
Stephen Scionti, M.D., the leading U.S. HIFU expert and Vituro Health’s first partner physician, has been involved in the treatment of approximately 1,000 patients over the last decade at the International HIFU Prostate Cancer Centers in the Caribbean and Mexico. Scionti has collaborated with leading medical treatment centers around the world to help perfect HIFU technology and served as director of Clinical Education and Training for USHIFU and SonaCare Medical, the manufacturer of the Sonablate, the first HIFU device to receive U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulatory authorization for prostate tissue ablation in October 2015.
“Vituro Health is creating a center for HIFU excellence in the U.S., and a vehicle to train other urologists to ensure quality outcomes,” said Scionti, who also serves as medical director for Vituro Health. “HIFU offers an opportunity, in properly selected patients, to treat cancer with a much reduced side-effect profile that preserves quality of life. We can treat the disease effectively with less chance of urinary leakage and sexual issues, which are common results after a radical prostatectomy.”
With the new FDA clearance, Scionti’s patients, who already travel from across the U.S. to see him at the Scionti Prostate Center in Sarasota, Fla., no longer will have to travel further to the Cayman Islands to receive HIFU therapy. Scionti will begin treating patients with HIFU therapy at his Sarasota clinic in early December 2015.
Vituro Health will partner with physicians across the U.S., and will guide them through the extensive training protocol that is required to master highly complex HIFU procedures.
About Vituro HealthVituro Health empowers men with comprehensive prostate care during all stages of their lives. We arm partner physicians with HIFU (high intensity focused ultrasound) technology and other patient-centric, concierge services to elevate the standard of care and patient experiences. Vituro Health is headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., and serves patients and physicians nationwide. For more information visit www.viturohealth.com.
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