It seems that FLA is talked a lot about, but when I looked in to it, my doctors told me that there was not evidence to show that it works for BPH and that some people are just using it to try. This could work, but we don't know and taking that in to account was important for me
No radiation from MRI.
I am not sure I know what you're talking about in terms of dosing, but radiation is part of any procedure like PAE. I would check on what you think the dose is and what the effects are. I am not an expert on this, but it seems that the numbers you are quoting don't make much sense for these types of procedures when we get radiation if we have ct scans, etc...would ask your doctor or a radiologist
I was quoted $16,000 for the focal laser ablation procedure.
This is just silly. I would suggest you google radiation exposure and PAE, as I just did and found doses around 400 mGy.
I think you are off by a factor over 1000
Sam I would love to be off by 1,000. Please let me know where on the internet you found 400mGy. I think we would all like to know.
As I understand it FLA was developed to treat prostate cancer and would be treating areas within the prostate not creating a path through it. Dr K and others have refined it for BPH but from recent posts it can leave pockets that fill up with something. IS it approved by the FDA ?
I had a foot X-Ray in Switzerland after breaking a metatarsil the radiologist placed a lead apron over my pelvic area saying 'I don't want to damage your manhood' PAE must leave it completely exposed.
Yes, FLA has been approved for treating several forms of cancer in different organs and has been used for many years in the US and other countries. I think some of the confusion around this treatment is because there isn't (yet) and insurance procedure code for it, which means most insurance will not cover it. As a result, that reduces the number of men who have had the treatment and the results which insurance companies (and Medicare) use to validate the efficacy of the procedure. All new procedures go through this process (PAE, Rezum, HIFU, etc).
FYI: I had FLA performed in Dec 2017 and researched it (and every other treatment available) for the 5 years prior. I chose it because it could treat both prostate cancer and my urinary symptoms, which makes it unique in that regard among the different procedures.
In America is a doctors recommendation for types of treatment accepted or do insurance company doctors have the final say?
At the moment cost will be ruling out FLA and possibly PAE for many.
Very complex question:
As far as payment for FLA goes, Insurance companies dictate how much (if anything) they will pay/reimburse for that treatment. Simply because the FDA says it's 'legal', does not mean it is 'medically necessary'. It tends to be a long arduous path for new treatments (and drugs) to get approved and in the system.
There have been a few (very few) men in the US that have received some payment/reimbursement for FLA, but the majority receive nothing. I received nothing - but I went into it knowing that would be the case. Most (all?) new procedures face similar hurdles - though drug companies and equipment manufacturers will conduct studies that may pay all/part of the treatment. Other than a few small studies on FLA for prostate cancer that have been funded by the NIH (national institute of health), the majority have (best of my knowledge) been paid out of pocket by the patients.
Hopefully, in the not too distant future - FLA will be approved by Medicare for PCa and BPH - at which time that will open it up for most.
Was during Dr K trials? I'm pretty sure he charges north of $20k for FLA
My bad angelic field with MRI.
I though PAE used MRI also
Prostate artery embolization uses a flouroscope
Meant to say magnetic field
Angelic field
You feel like you are in a tomb after being in there for a while.
Hi Derek, the one I was in was not so enclosed which did not leave one feeling trapped which was where I had my FLA with Dr K in Houston it was much easier to deal with and no pain at all during or after my FLA and very successful
How open was it?
I need a standing MRI scan on my lower back when it has pressure on it. There are not many here and only two in London. I need my MRI compatible pacemaker reset for the procedure and they cannot arrange that.