For patients scheduled for CoreTherm® treatment
Before the treatment day
- If you take medications, ask your doctor whether you should take these before the procedure.
- Your doctor will determine any additional medications to take before and after treatment. If you receive prescriptions, ensure you collect them from the pharmacy before the procedure and take them as directed.
- Write down and bring any questions you may have.
The treatment day
- Eat and drink as usual before going to the clinic.
- It is good if you have emptied your bowels before the treatment.
- A tip is to wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. It will be more comfortable since you will have a urinary catheter when leaving the clinic
- The genital area and penis are cleaned with antibacterial soap.
- A numbing gel is applied to the urethra to minimize discomfort.
- A specially designed urinary catheter is inserted to drain the bladder.
- Using this catheter, injections of anesthetic are then administered into the prostate gland. It is the same type of anesthetic that dentists use. If you are allergic to “dental anesthesia,” it is important to inform the medical staff. After the anesthesia is administered, the anesthesia catheter is removed.
- A temperature sensor is placed in the rectum, and a band is attached around the base of the penis. During the treatment, these will signal if the temperatures in the rectum or urethra become too high.
- A treatment catheter is then inserted into the urethra. This contains a microwave antenna and the ability to measure the temperature in the prostate gland.
- The treatment begins and takes less than 15 minutes.
- In the CoreTherm® machine, the temperature is monitored in the prostate gland, the rectum, the treatment catheter, and under the urethra at the base of the penis.
- The treatment effect is continuously calculated, and with the help of temperature monitoring, the responsible healthcare staff can control and adjust the treatment to ensure an effective and safe procedure.
What to expect during the treatment
- The experience of the treatment is individual. Some feel nothing or very little, while others experience intense heat sensations and strong urges to urinate during the treatment.
- Urgency to urinate normally occurs toward the end of the treatment. These urges can be intense but are a “false alarm” since the bladder has been emptied just before the treatment.
- Any discomfort from heat sensations and urgency to urinate usually subsides as soon as the treatment is completed.
After the Treatment
- Once the treatment is completed, the therapy catheter and temperature sensors are removed.
- After a CoreTherm® treatment, the urethra needs temporary relief with a urinary catheter for approximately 3-6 weeks. The duration depends on the size of the prostate, bladder function, and any prior need for a catheter before treatment. Your doctor or nurse will determine what is best for you and provide instructions on how to manage your urinary catheter.
- It may take a few days for the urethra to adjust to the urinary catheter. Irritation, burning sensations, and urgency may occur but usually subside within a few weeks.
- Visible blood in the urine may appear intermittently for several weeks after treatment. Tissue fragments may also pass, even after the catheter is removed. Some discharge and blood may be seen around the urethral opening. This is completely normal and harmless and will resolve over time.
- Your doctor will prescribe medication to take after the treatment and provide important information on what to consider during your recovery.
- Symptom improvement occurs gradually over the first few months after treatment. After 4-6 months, the vast majority of patients experience significant symptom relief.