The History of Cryosurgery in Canada: A Tale of Two Cities

Although not commonly available in Canada, cryosurgery (cryoablation) for prostate cancer has been practiced in many countries. The field of cryoablation has evolved significantly over the past 30 years. Two prostate cryoablation programs were started in Canada in the early 1990's, in London ON and Calgary AB, focusing respectively on salvage therapy following radiation failure and primary local treatment. This article chronicles the development of the two programs and outlines the scientific and clinical contributions by investigators at the two centers.