Two Paths To Prostate Cancer Treatment
Experts tell us that treating cancer is about treating the person, not the disease. When it comes to the prostate, men have a wide range of treatment options to choose from, based on both their cancer and their personal needs.
Cary Robertson, MD, a surgeon at Duke Urology Clinic, helps people with prostate cancer weigh the pros and cons of every treatment option. Two of his patients, Charles Voigt of Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, and Jim Morgan* of Orange County, North Carolina, chose two very different paths. Here are their stories.
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Surgical procedures to remove the diseased prostate are usually necessary. Surgical procedures are not always necessary. If the disease is caused by bacterial infections, a doctor can treat the symptoms using alpha-blockers or surgery. Physical therapy, relaxation exercises, and warm baths are all recommended. A physician may also prescribe antibiotics to cure the infection. A bacterial infection can also cause a recurrence of the condition.
An enlarged prostate can be uncomfortable for both men and women. Some of the symptoms of an enlarged male reproductive organ include a weakened urine stream, urgent need to urinate, and urinary tract infections. BPH can also cause damage to the kidneys. A sudden inability to urinate can be life-threatening, as it can lead to bladder and kidney damage. Unfortunately, most men with enlarged prostrates put up with the symptoms for years before they seek treatment. However, many of the men with symptoms finally decide to go to a doctor for proper gynecological evaluation and to begin enlarged prostatic therapy.
Just Diagnosed With Prostate Cancer
We understand that a new diagnosis of prostate cancer can be distressing. The Virginia Oncology Associates team will be with you every step of the way, from creating a treatment plan, getting a second opinion, and explaining what to expect after prostate cancer treatment. We will arrange your consultation quickly so you can get the information you need.
Also, our team of cancer specialists will help you, and your family, make individualized treatment decisions. During this process, you will gain the knowledge and confidence to help manage your prostate cancer and continue with routine activities of daily life.
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Clinical Trials For Prostate Cancer
The UCLA Prostate Cancer Program and The UCLA Institute of Urologic Oncology offers patients access to ground-breaking experimental drugs through its Clinical Trials Program that allows patients to receive tomorrows approved drugs today. Clinical Trials for Prostate Cancer Currently Open for Enrollment
Why Choose Us For Prostate Cancer Care
- Prostate cancer specialists: Because our team is subspecialized in prostate cancer, you get the most comprehensive, most personalized care plan available.
- Unparalleled in proton therapy: We’ve treated over 10,000 prostate cancer patients using proton therapy more than any other center in the world.
- Leaders in robotic surgery: Our surgeons perform more minimally-invasive robotic surgeries each year than those at any other teaching hospital in the West.
- State-of-the-art tech: As the largest urology group in the region, we offer you access to the most advanced technology available.
- Clinical trials: You have access to many clinical trials for prostate cancer, which may offer potential new treatments.
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Arrangement Of Treatment In Germany
Not every patient can correctly plan and organize treatment in Germany. To do this, you need to choose a clinic, get in touch with its administration, overcome the language barrier, and get an invitation from the head physician. Then, you need to issue a visa, get to Germany, and travel from the airport to the clinic. Before this, you need to translate the medical documentation into German. In Germany, you need to find an interpreter so you can communicate with the administration and medical staff of the clinic.
To avoid unnecessary hassle and temporary and economic costs, use the services of Booking Health for the organization of treatment abroad. We will select the best clinic for you, where you can go for treatment very shortly.
In addition, we will help you to:
- Issue a visa and translate the documentation into German
- Save up to 70% of the cost of the medical services
- If necessary, arrange an urgent doctors appointment in any medical institution in Germany
You will receive health insurance that will protect you from unforeseen expenses associated with the possible development of complications. It means that the originally agreed price of treatment, in any case, will remain unchanged even if additional diagnostic and therapeutic procedures should be required.
Make an application on our website. The specialist at Booking Health will contact you telephonically within the next few hours.
What About People Visiting
If you are sick or have been exposed to COVID-19, we ask that you not come to Beverly Hills Cancer Center. We ask that you find someone who isnt sick to join your loved one at their appointments.
To protect all patients, we may limit the number of people who can visit someone staying in the hospital. Please check with your care team.
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How We Approach Prostate Cancer Treatment At Ctca
When you come to CTCA for a diagnostic consultation or second opinion, your case is reviewed by a multidisciplinary team of genitourinary cancer experts before you arrive for your first appointment. This care team may include a medical oncologist, a urologist or urologic oncologist and a radiation oncologist.
If we determine you need additional diagnostic evaluations, such as imaging or genomic testing, we schedule those procedures for you before your arrival.
Well also schedule appointments for you with our integrative care providers, who work to prevent and manage side effects of cancer and its treatment.
Together, we develop a treatment plan thats based on your unique needsusually within two to three days. Our goal is to give you and your caregivers a clear understanding of your options to empower you to make an informed decision about your care.
At CTCA, we strive to treat our patients as we would want our own loved ones to be treated: with compassion, dignity and respect. Its the basis of our foundation, and we call it the Mother Standard® of care.
Radiation Therapy For Prostate Cancer
If your care team is considering radiation therapy as part of your treatment regimen, youll work directly with a radiation oncologist. He or she will explain the specific type of radiation therapy recommended for your cancer and answer any questions you have.
Some prostate cancer patients wonder about the safety of this treatment. Thanks to scientific advances, radiation therapy techniques have improved over the years. More precise radiation delivery techniques are designed to help spare normal tissue from exposure and reduce the severity of side effects. In addition to the external delivery of radiation, we now also have internal delivery options. In some cases, courses of radiation treatment may be more intense and shorter in duration.
The development and use of hydrogel spacersgel thats inserted between the prostate and the rectummay also reduce damage to tissue surrounding the prostate during radiation, which in turn helps to reduce treatment-associated side effects.
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Prostate Cancer Screening And Symptoms
There are usually no specific signs or symptoms of early prostate cancer. A prostate-specific antigen blood test and digital rectal exam provide the best chance of identifying prostate cancer in its earliest stages, but these tests can have drawbacks. Patients should speak with their physicians about whether prostate cancer screening is right for them.
If symptoms of prostate cancer do occur, they can include:
- Difficulty urinating or holding back urine
- Inability to urinate
- Nagging pain in the back, hips, or pelvis
- Pain or burning when urinating
- Urinating often
- Weak or interrupted flow of urine
Prostate Cancer Center Of Excellence
The idea of having prostate cancer can be frightening. According to the American Cancer Society, doctors diagnose more than 164,500 new cases of prostate cancer per year. Roughly 1 out of 9 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. Because there are no symptoms, you could have it right now and not even realize it.
CHI Memorials Prostate Center of Excellence is a state-of-the-art treatment center dedicated entirely to treating prostate cancer. Our physicians, surgeons and radiologists work together to offer you the most effective multidisciplinary prostate cancer treatments available, improving your quality of life while minimizing debilitating side effects.
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Mayo Clinic Phoenix Az
Employing more than 3,500 physicians and scientists, the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center is also one of the NCIs designated comprehensive cancer centers. The Mayo Clinic Cancer Center also holds six SPORE grants including Breast Cancer, Hepatobiliary Cancer, Lymphoma, Multiple Myeloma, Ovarian Cancer, and Pancreatic Cancer.
We understand battling cancer is no easy feat, so we at Mission Search are proud to do our part to support cancer patients in need by connecting the countys top cancer centers with the highly-qualified radiation oncology professionals best suited to serve them. Learn more about cancer centers near you at: .
What The Research Shows About Radiation Vs Surgery
The ProtecT trial was a 10-year, randomized clinical study designed to compare radical prostatectomy, external-beam radiotherapy and active surveillance for the treatment of localized prostate cancer.
The results, published in 2016, showed that the rate of disease progression among men assigned to radiotherapy or radical prostatectomy was less than half the rate among men assigned to active monitoring. However, there was no significant difference in survival at the median 10-year follow-up for radiation therapy, surgery or active surveillance.
If youre interested in directly comparing treatment outcomes by treatment method and risk group , the Prostate Cancer Free Foundation provides an interactive graph on its website with information from data obtained from over 129,000 prostate cancer patients over a 15-year period.
As discussed earlier in the sections on the side effects of radiation therapy and surgery, the researchers conducting the ProtecT trial also looked at side effects and quality-of-life issues and found that the three major side effects of these two treatment options that affect quality of life after prostate cancer treatment are urinary incontinence, sexual dysfunction and bowel health.
The trial found that urinary leakage and erectile dysfunction were more common after surgery than after radiation therapy. Gastrointestinal bowel problems were more common after radiation therapy.
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Mayo Clinic Rochester Ny
A non-profit organization that values education, research, and whole-person care to their patients from five different states and almost 140 countries. Mayo Clinics International patient offices supply the opportunity for patients around the globe to experience the top-tier Mayo Clinic care.
Doubling as an education and biomedical research center, the Johns Hopkins Hospital has over 40 locations and treats almost 4 million patients each year. Their Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center treats 25 types of cancers with carefully tailored treatment.
Health Services Research In Prostate Cancer
Our UCLA Prostate Cancer Program also prioritizes health services research focusing on quality, outcomes, cost-efficiency, and access for patients with prostate cancer, as well as conducting research into ways to improve medical decision making for men with prostate cancer. Dr. Litwin, Chair of UCLA Urology, is director of IMPACT, a statewide prostate cancer treatment program serving low-income, uninsured men in California, which is funded by the California Department of Public Health.
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Watchful Waiting Or Active Surveillance
Watchful waiting means your doctor will rely on new or changing symptoms as well as test results for signs the tumor is growing. You need to contact your doctor if you starting experiencing symptoms, such as problems with urination. Your doctor may use the prostate-specific antigen test to help monitor the tumor. A higher PSA level is one sign of tumor growth, but it can also be due to a benign condition not caused by the tumor. Still, your doctor may use it to determine if you need more testing.
Active surveillance, on the other hand, is a more involved type of monitoring. It includes a PSA test and digital rectal exam within six months of your initial diagnosis, ultrasounds, and biopsies.
The goal of either approach is to delay or avoid unnecessary treatment and allow men to maintain their quality of life. They are suitable for men who dont have symptoms or who have slowly growing, early stage tumors. Many men with this type of prostate cancer will die from other causes later in life and may never need treatment. If youre uncomfortable waiting, talk with your doctor about beginning treatment.
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If Treatment Does Not Work
Recovery from cancer is not always possible. If the cancer cannot be cured or controlled, the disease may be called advanced or terminal.
This diagnosis is stressful, and for some people, advanced cancer may be difficult to discuss. However, it is important to have open and honest conversations with your health care team to express your feelings, preferences, and concerns. The health care team has special skills, experience, and knowledge to support patients and their families and is there to help. Making sure a person is physically comfortable, free from pain, and emotionally supported is extremely important.
People who have advanced cancer and who are expected to live less than 6 months may want to consider hospice care. Hospice care is designed to provide the best possible quality of life for people who are near the end of life. You and your family are encouraged to talk with the health care team about hospice care options, which include hospice care at home, a special hospice center, or other health care locations. Nursing care and special equipment, including a hospital bed, can make staying at home a workable option for many families. Learn more about advanced cancer care planning.
After the death of a loved one, many people need support to help them cope with the loss. Learn more about grief and loss.
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How Prostate Cancer Is Treated
In cancer care, different types of doctorsincluding medical oncologists, surgeons, and radiation oncologistsoften work together to create an overall treatment plan that may combine different types of treatments to treat the cancer. This is called a multidisciplinary team. Cancer care teams include a variety of other health care professionals, such as palliative care experts, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, oncology nurses, social workers, pharmacists, counselors, dietitians, physical therapists, and others.
The common types of treatments used for prostate cancer are described below. Your care plan may also include treatment for symptoms and side effects, an important part of cancer care.
Treatment options and recommendations depend on several factors, including the type and stage of cancer, possible side effects, and the patients preferences and overall health.
Cancer treatment can affect older adults in different ways. More information on the specific effects of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy on older patients can be found another section of this website.
Because most prostate cancers are found in the early stages when they are growing slowly, you usually do not have to rush to make treatment decisions. During this time, it is important to talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of all your treatment options and when treatment should begin. This discussion should also address the current state of the cancer:
What Percentage Of Your Patients Can Continue To Have Sexual Intercourse After Surgery
Memorial Sloan Kettering warns patients that many if not most will not recover full erectile function after surgery. But the Martini-Klinik in Germany says 92 percent of men under the age of 60 report they do have intercourse after surgery, as do 84 percent of men over the age of 70. In fact, they parse the clinics results even more finely:
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Ed Near Richmond Hill Ontario
If youre in need of an ED clinic in Toronto Ontario or the rest of the local area to help you get your sex life to where youd like to be, UroGenED Canada is here. The basis of our therapy is the use of sound waves at a low intensity. These stimulate the production of new blood vessels. Blood vessels that exist already are additionally going to be healed. This means that those who are suffering from vascular ED are going to find it a treatment thats highly effective. You dont need to just take our word for it, however. There is a significant body of research and extensive documentation pointing to its success. Help for those with ED without resorting to medication, needles, or surgery is possible thanks to acoustic wave therapy. This method is backed by research and has been used in Europe previously. Are you looking for treatment for ED and enlarged prostate in Richmond Hill Ontario or the rest of the local area? Get in touch with us at UroGenED Canada and make an appointment.
Help Getting Through Cancer Treatment
People with cancer need support and information, no matter what stage of illness they may be in. Knowing all of your options and finding the resources you need will help you make informed decisions about your care.
Whether you are thinking about treatment, getting treatment, or not being treated at all, you can still get supportive care to help with pain or other symptoms. Communicating with your cancer care team is important so you understand your diagnosis, what treatment is recommended, and ways to maintain or improve your quality of life.
Different types of programs and support services may be helpful, and can be an important part of your care. These might include nursing or social work services, financial aid, nutritional advice, rehab, or spiritual help.
The American Cancer Society also has programs and services including rides to treatment, lodging, and more to help you get through treatment. Call our National Cancer Information Center at 1-800-227-2345 and speak with one of our trained specialists.
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