CVMC now treats prostate cancer with patient outcomes similar to those
of world-renowned cancer centers such as Memorial Sloan Kettering, in
New York and MD Anderson Cancer Center, in Texas. Prostate cancer, which
affects only men, forms in the prostate gland tissue found below the bladder
and in front of the rectum. According to the American Cancer Society,
prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death of men in the US.
Besides skin cancer, it is the most common cancer with an estimated 233,000
new prostate cancer patients diagnosed this year. Of those cases, 29,480
will result in death.
John delCharco, MD, CVMC Radiation Oncologist says, “Prostate cancer
is usually a slow-growing cancer that often doesn’t show signs or
symptoms in its early stages. Screening can help detect it before symptoms
develop. When discovered early, and treated correctly, survival rates
can be very high, well over 90%. If the cancer is caught in the more advanced
stage, many treatment options are still available. Even cancers that have
spread to other parts of the body can be controlled. That is why it’s
so important to find the disease at any stage, so appropriate care can
be given and the best quality of life maintained.”
Prostate cancer screenings and recommendations:
Starting at age 50, the American Cancer Society recommends that men discuss
the pros and cons of getting tested for prostate cancer with their primary
care physician so they can decide if testing is the right choice for them.
African American men, or men whose father or brother has had prostate
cancer before age 65, should have this talk with a doctor at age 45.
While prostate cancer is asymptomatic in its early stages, common symptoms
in the advanced stages include:
- Difficulty passing urine; a slow or weak urinary stream; or increased frequency,
particularly at night
- Blood in the urine
- Trouble getting an erection
- Weakness or numbness in the legs or feet
CVMC has aggressively invested in advanced cancer treatment upgrades to
improve access to . Among the arsenal of advanced technology targeting
specific cancers, the Comprehensive Cancer Center at CVMC includes
Varian TrueBeam™ image-guided radiation therapy for non-invasive treatment of prostate
cancer that involves virtually no pain, no incisions and minimal recovery time.
“Our survival rates for prostate cancer have improved dramatically
with TrueBeam, said Dr. delCharco. “The advanced technology allows
us to aggressively treat prostate cancer with speed and accuracy while
protecting healthy tissue near the prostate, minimizing urinary, bowel
and sexual side effects.”
Another treatment that contributes to CVMC’s successful patient outcomes
in treating prostate cancer is High Dose Radiation (HDR). Using HDR, a
tiny, radioactive seed is administered through a catheter implanted directly
in a patient’s tumor. The seed radiates the tumor from the inside
out in a smaller number of visits. Better than conventional radiation
therapy, HDR results in fewer side effects and equal-to-better cure rates.
CVMC has treated hundreds of men with reduced side effects and improved
patient outcomes using evidence-based treatments administered by extensively
trained radiation and oncology medical professionals. For more information
about any of the services available visit our
Comprehensive Cancer Center site.