Prostate cancer is found in the male sex gland called the prostate. After lung cancer, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer in men. Unfortunately, most men do not experience prostate cancer symptoms, which can make it hard to detect without a proactive cancer screening.
Early detection of prostate cancer is one of the most important ways to ensure better long-term outcomes. At Parkview Cancer Institute, we’re committed to educating our communities about the importance of prostate cancer screenings.
If cancer is suspected, a biopsy may be performed to remove tissue, blood and/or fluid from the prostate to test for the presence of cancer cells. If this biopsy is positive for cancer, our oncology team would schedule diagnostic tests to determine the stage of the cancer. These tests may include ultrasounds, MRI, PET-CT scans or bone scans.
What are symptoms of prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer usually doesn't cause symptoms in its early stages. Most people don't know they have it until it is found during a regular medical exam.
When there are symptoms of prostate cancer, they often include urinary problems, such as:
- Not being able to urinate at all.
- Having a hard time starting or stopping the flow of urine.
- Having to urinate often, especially at night.
- Feeling pain or burning during urination.
Less common symptoms may include:
- Difficulty having an erection.
- Blood in your urine or semen.
- Deep and frequent pain in your lower back, belly, hip, or pelvis.
What treatment options are available for prostate cancer?
In some cases of prostate cancer, physicians recommend that a patient receive no immediate treatment. Instead, they opt to closely monitor patients with periodic PSA (blood) testing and rectal exams. Some men, especially those who are older or who have other health problems, may never need prostate cancer treatments.
If treatment is required, there are many new therapies available today, including minimally invasive options. Parkview Health has invested in the latest technologies for prostate cancer treatment, including the region’s only CyberKnife® Robotic Radiosurgery System.
The prostate is difficult to target during treatment because its position within the body changes when other organs move. CyberKnife® is able to continuously identify the exact location of the prostate tumor throughout the course of the treatment. This highly precise technology is painless, and it helps the physician spare the healthy tissue surrounding the prostate.
Additional treatment options include:
- Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: A minimally invasive procedure where the surgeon removes the prostate through five small incisions in the abdomen.
- Robotic radical prostatectomy: A state-of-the-art minimally invasive procedure that uses robotic arms to guide surgical instruments through small incisions to remove the prostate and affected tissue.
- Open radical prostatectomy: Removes the entire prostate with an incision in the lower abdomen, or less commonly between the anus and scrotum.
- External beam radiation therapy: A noninvasive, outpatient therapy that uses high-energy X-rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.
- Low dose radiation (LDR) brachytherapy: Uses a form of radiation therapy in which 40 to 100 permanent, radioactive seeds are placed inside the prostate using a small needle. The seeds emit low-energy radiation to destroy the cancer while leaving other organs undamaged.
- High dose radiation (HDR) brachytherapy: Involves the administration of high doses of radiation to the prostate over a short time. The radioactive source remains in the prostate for five to 15 minutes and is then removed.
- Radiosurgery: Radiosurgery is among the latest technologies that deliver radiation treatment using the CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System.
- Hormone therapy: Alters the body’s hormone balance to prevent certain cancers from growing. Hormone therapy may be accomplished using drugs that change the way hormones work or with surgery that removes hormone-producing organs such as the testes.
- Chemotherapy: Involves the use of powerful drugs to eliminate cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be taken orally or intravenously.
Our prostate cancer team takes a personalized approach to care that ensures you receive the expert care you need. Whether that’s close monitoring or more aggressive treatment, our experts will guide you along the path of your cancer journey.