Concerns Over Prostate Cancer Treatment Affecting Functions; Taipei VGH's Nanoknife Becomes a New Option
Taipei Veterans General Hospital has introduced 'Nanoknife' treatment for localized prostate cancer. Using nano-level electric currents, it causes less damage to surrounding tissues, offering a new self-pay option that preserves urination and erectile functions.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 22, 2026 at 18:10
- 🔍 Collected: April 22, 2026 at 18:31 (21 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 07:14 (12h 42m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(CNA Reporter Tseng I-ning, Taipei, 22nd) The biggest fear in treating prostate cancer is affecting urination and erectile functions. For low-to-medium risk patients, active surveillance was mostly recommended in the past. Taipei Veterans General Hospital (VGH) has introduced the 'Nanoknife', which focuses nano-level electric currents to attack localized cancer lesions with less impact on surrounding tissues, becoming a new treatment option.
Mr. Chen, 62, had been on long-term medication for benign prostatic hyperplasia. A follow-up examination found his PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) slightly above the normal value of 4 ng/mL. Feeling uneasy about a direct biopsy, he discussed it with his doctor and opted for a self-paid examination, leading to a diagnosis of low-risk prostate cancer. To prevent further deterioration, he underwent Nanoknife surgery. The catheter was removed 3 days post-surgery, and his PSA is now only 1.
Dr. Huang Yi-hsiu, Director of the Department of Urology at Taipei VGH, pointed out at today's press conference on "Taipei VGH Introduces Nanoknife for Precise Treatment of Localized Prostate Cancer" that domestic prostate cancer cases have surged recently, nearing 10,000 new diagnoses annually. Nearly 30% are already metastatic at initial diagnosis, while localized, low-to-medium risk patients account for 15% to 25%.
In the past, prostate cancer treatment relied on radical prostatectomy. Dr. Huang said that because the surgery could affect muscles and nerves related to urination and erection, it might cause urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction post-surgery, severely impacting the quality of life for younger patients.
Dr. Wei Tzu-chun, a physician in Taipei VGH's Department of Urology, explained that due to the significant impact of surgery, for prostate cancer limited to a local area and graded as low-to-medium risk, only active surveillance was previously recommended. Emulating advanced countries in Europe and America, Taipei VGH's Urology Department pioneered the introduction of "irreversible electroporation treatment" two years ago to launch focused attacks on localized prostate cancer.
Dr. Wei stated that because this technology uses high-voltage electricity, the electrical conduction effect is roughly at the nano level, hence the name "Nanoknife." Compared to whole-prostate treatment, the surgical area is smaller, resulting in lower complications. Moreover, compared to heavy particle therapy which takes 3 weeks and chemotherapy taking 8 weeks, it can be completed in just a few days, drastically reducing treatment time.
Dr. Wei pointed out that during the Nanoknife procedure, it barely touches structures like the muscles controlling urination and nerves, making the chance of urine leakage low, and its tissue damage is comparable to a biopsy. Regarding erectile function, while it cannot be guaranteed to have zero impact, the Nanoknife's effect on peripheral neurovasculature is already much smaller than cryotherapy or heat therapy. This method has become a new out-of-pocket option, costing about NT$500,000, falling between surveillance and whole-gland treatment for patients. (Editor: Wu Su-jou) 1150422
(CNA Reporter Tseng I-ning, Taipei, 22nd) The biggest fear in treating prostate cancer is affecting urination and erectile functions. For low-to-medium risk patients, active surveillance was mostly recommended in the past. Taipei Veterans General Hospital (VGH) has introduced the 'Nanoknife', which focuses nano-level electric currents to attack localized cancer lesions with less impact on surrounding tissues, becoming a new treatment option.
Mr. Chen, 62, had been on long-term medication for benign prostatic hyperplasia. A follow-up examination found his PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) slightly above the normal value of 4 ng/mL. Feeling uneasy about a direct biopsy, he discussed it with his doctor and opted for a self-paid examination, leading to a diagnosis of low-risk prostate cancer. To prevent further deterioration, he underwent Nanoknife surgery. The catheter was removed 3 days post-surgery, and his PSA is now only 1.
Dr. Huang Yi-hsiu, Director of the Department of Urology at Taipei VGH, pointed out at today's press conference on "Taipei VGH Introduces Nanoknife for Precise Treatment of Localized Prostate Cancer" that domestic prostate cancer cases have surged recently, nearing 10,000 new diagnoses annually. Nearly 30% are already metastatic at initial diagnosis, while localized, low-to-medium risk patients account for 15% to 25%.
In the past, prostate cancer treatment relied on radical prostatectomy. Dr. Huang said that because the surgery could affect muscles and nerves related to urination and erection, it might cause urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction post-surgery, severely impacting the quality of life for younger patients.
Dr. Wei Tzu-chun, a physician in Taipei VGH's Department of Urology, explained that due to the significant impact of surgery, for prostate cancer limited to a local area and graded as low-to-medium risk, only active surveillance was previously recommended. Emulating advanced countries in Europe and America, Taipei VGH's Urology Department pioneered the introduction of "irreversible electroporation treatment" two years ago to launch focused attacks on localized prostate cancer.
Dr. Wei stated that because this technology uses high-voltage electricity, the electrical conduction effect is roughly at the nano level, hence the name "Nanoknife." Compared to whole-prostate treatment, the surgical area is smaller, resulting in lower complications. Moreover, compared to heavy particle therapy which takes 3 weeks and chemotherapy taking 8 weeks, it can be completed in just a few days, drastically reducing treatment time.
Dr. Wei pointed out that during the Nanoknife procedure, it barely touches structures like the muscles controlling urination and nerves, making the chance of urine leakage low, and its tissue damage is comparable to a biopsy. Regarding erectile function, while it cannot be guaranteed to have zero impact, the Nanoknife's effect on peripheral neurovasculature is already much smaller than cryotherapy or heat therapy. This method has become a new out-of-pocket option, costing about NT$500,000, falling between surveillance and whole-gland treatment for patients. (Editor: Wu Su-jou) 1150422