Prostate Cancer – What You Need To Know

Screening Methods and Diagnostic Testing

• Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Blood Test: The prostate gland makes a protein called prostate-specific antigen (PSA). This test measures the levels of PSA in the blood. Higher PSA levels may indicate cancer. Levels can also rise from benign conditions such as benign prostate hyperplasia or prostatitis.
• Digital Rectal Exam (DRE): A physical exam performed by a physician to help them feel for changes in the prostate. The physician feels for an abnormal shape, consistency, thickness or nodules on the prostate gland.
• Imaging Tests: An MRI or Transrectal ultrasound can show images of the prostate gland, including suspicious areas that may be cancerous.
• Biopsy: A tissue sample is taken from the prostate or other organs to look for cancer cells. If screening tests indicate issues with the prostate – a biopsy may be performed to make an accurate diagnosis.

Treatment

If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, depending on the stage and grade of the cancer, treatments may vary.

Early-stage prostate cancer is a cancer that has grown in the prostate, but has not spread to other parts of the body, including lymph nodes or bones. The cancer is often slow-growing. Men with early-stage prostate cancer have a very good chance of survival. There are several options for treatment, including:

Active Surveillance

Active surveillance is often used to monitor the cancer closely, with a plan to treat it if tests show it is starting to grow more quickly. Patients receive regular screenings to track cancer growth. This is often the treatment that is best for early, low-risk cancer with no symptoms.

Watchful Waiting or Observation

This method is commonly used for people who are older or have other health issues. Testing is less frequent. Care focuses on easing symptoms rather than removing the cancer. If there are changes in symptoms, treatment may be pursued.

Surgery

In some cases, surgery may be recommended for cases of early-stage prostate cancer that has not spread to other areas of the body. Surgery may also be performed as part of a combination approach to treating aggressive or metastatic prostate cancer.

The goal of surgery is to remove all the cancer. The most common type of surgery for prostate cancer removes the entire prostate gland using a procedure called radical prostatectomy.

At Catholic Health, the following minimally invasive procedure may be performed to remove the prostate:

Robotic Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy (RALP). With this surgery, very small incisions are made in the lower abdomen and tiny instruments and a small camera are used to guide the surgeon to remove the prostate using a robotic system via a console. This is one of the most common types of prostate cancer surgery.

Other Prostate Cancer Treatments

Radiation Therapy:

Radiation therapy may be performed as a standalone treatment or in combination with other treatments for prostate cancer.

Brachytherapy. Radioactive seeds are placed inside the prostate. This method kills the cancer cells while preserving surrounding healthy tissue.

External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT). Strong X-rays are directed at the tumor. Advanced types of therapy including IMRT (intensity-modulated radiation therapy) can target the cancer while sparing healthy tissue.

Systemic Therapy

If cancer spreads outside the prostate, systemic treatments may be recommended. These therapies travel through the body to destroy cancer cells or stop them from growing.

Hormone Therapy. With hormone therapy, medication blocks or lowers testosterone. Some men may have their testicles removed (orchiectomy) to stop its production.

Chemotherapy. This treatment uses drugs to kill cancer cells. It may be used alone or with hormone therapy for advanced cancer.

Immunotherapy. This treatment boosts the immune system so it can better find and fight cancer cells. It may be used for advanced or recurring cancer.

Targeted Therapy. This type of therapy focused on the genetic mutations that cause cancer. It works best for tumors with BRCA mutations.

High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU). High-intensity sound waves generate powerful heat to kill cancer cells within the prostate.

Cryotherapy. This method uses cold gases to freeze cancer cells in the prostate, eliminating the tumor.

Laser Ablation. Intense heat is directed at the tumor to kill cancer cells within the prostate and destroy or ablate the tumor.

Photodynamic Therapy. Medications are used to make cancer cells more sensitive to certain wavelengths of light. The cancer cells are then exposed to these light wavelengths, killing the cancer cells.

Recovery

Recovery will vary for each individual depending on the type of treatment they received. There may be some temporary limitations for physical activities and routine follow-up appointments with your physician will be necessary. Additional prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood tests may also be performed to check for cancer recurrence every few months for the first year.

If you are concerned about prostate symptoms or seeking treatment for prostate cancer, Catholic Health offers advanced care for prostate cancer.  Our compassionate cancer experts can support you every step of the way, including screenings, diagnosis, treatments, follow-up and survivorship care.