Genitourinary Multidisciplinary Clinic
Lifespan Cancer Institute

Prostate Cancer Symptoms and Treatment

Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in America. One out of nine men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. Luckily, it is one of the most treatable forms of cancer.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) reports that more than 90 percent of all prostate cancers are discovered while they are either localized (confined to the prostate) or regional (nearby). During the last 25 years, the five-year survival rate for all stages of the cancer has increased from 68 to nearly 100 percent.

Target Prostate Cancer Precisely

Our physicians use a precision treatment that is tough on prostate cancer, not the patient.

What Is Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer is cancer that occurs in the prostate, a small walnut-shaped gland in men that produces the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm. Generally, the sooner prostate cancer is caught, the greater the likelihood for successful treatment. When detected early and confined to the prostate gland, the prognosis is among the best of all cancers.

What Are the Symptoms of Prostate Cancer?

Often there are no signs or symptoms when prostate cancer is in its early stages. Unfortunately, because the growing tumor does not push against anything, there may be no physical pain for several years. That’s why speaking to your physician about screening for prostate cancer is essential to early detection. However, as the disease progresses there are signs to be aware of.

Symptoms and Signs of Prostate Cancer

  • Trouble urinating
  • Decreased force in urine stream
  • Painful or burning urination
  • Blood in semen
  • Discomfort in pelvic area
  • Bone pain
  • Erectile dysfunction

Diagnostics

Transperineal biopsy - This is the gold standard for diagnosing prostate cancer. A transperineal biopsy is a newer approach for detecting prostate cancer that has benefits for both patient and surgeon, the transperineal prostate biopsy targets the perineum, the area between the testicles and anus. It has decreased risk for infection compared to the more traditional prostate biopsy, is a more comfortable procedure for the patient, and is appropriate for men who have an elevated PSA or are at increased risk for prostate cancer.

Fusion MRI - one of the newest and most advanced technologies available to diagnose and monitor prostate cancer is the MRI/Ultrasound Fusion-Guided Prostate Biopsy. MRI images of the prostate are fused or blended with real-time ultrasound images using special computer software known as computer-aided detection (CAD). This allows the provider to target the biopsy of the suspicious areas much more accurately than the standard TRUS (transrectal ultrasound) biopsy. This is performed as an outpatient service.

Treatment for Prostate Cancer

The Genitourinary Multidisciplinary Clinic at the Lifespan Cancer Institute provides a variety of treatment options for all its patients, including advanced radiation oncology services, robotic surgery, and access to clinical trials.

Treatment Services

Prostate Cancer Surgery

The surgeons at the Minimally Invasive Urology Institute work in close collaboration with the oncologists at the Lifespan Cancer Institute to offer precise diagnosis and treatment options for prostate cancer patients.

By utilizing a variety of imaging technologies the teams are able to locate, analyze, and determine the best course of treatment.

Surgical Treatment Options for Prostate Cancer

  • Robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, using minimally invasive, robot-assisted surgery
  • Robot-assisted laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissection, in which the pelvic lymph node is removed and sent for pathology analysis
  • Brachytherapy, an internal radiation therapy delivered by the implant of small radioactive seeds at the tumor site. 

 

 

 

radiopharmaceuticals

Radiopharmaceutical Therapy

 

Lifespan is the first and only center in the region to offer radiopharmaceutical therapy, an advanced treatment that targets specific cancer cells within the body. Radiopharmaceuticals are a compound that is administered by a multidisciplinary team consisting of a medical oncologist, a nuclear medicine physician, and advanced practice providers. This treatment is recommended for prostate cancer that is metastatic, resistant to hormone therapy, or resistant to chemotherapy. 

Radiopharmaceutical therapy delivers radiation directly to cancer cells, limiting damage to healthy tissue. The drug is a bi-specific antibody consisting of radioactive atoms combined with a cancer cell-targeting molecule. When infused into the bloodstream, the radiopharmaceutical travels to and binds to targeted cancer cells, bringing the radiation directly to the tumor while limiting exposure to healthy tissue. 

It is important to note that radiopharmaceuticals are not the first line of treatment for prostate cancer.

To learn more or schedule an appointment, please call 1-844-222-2881.