Cryosurgery is the controlled application of extreme cold to kill cancerous tissue. The procedure freezes the cancer cells and directly kills them. It also freezes the blood supply surrounding the tumor, thereby starving the tumor even if some cells survive.

Cryosurgery is being utilized in the treatment of both prostate cancer and cancer that affects the kidney. The use of minimally invasive cryosurgery often results in less pain, minimal bleeding and a shorter recover period then traditional open surgery for removal of cancerous tumors.