OLBH Offers Wide Range of Prostate Cancer Treatments
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Dr. Aaron Williams, radiation oncologist, and Dr. E.W. Unnikrishnan are shown using brachytherapy to treat prostate cancer.
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Prostate cancer affects approximately one out of six American men, with African American men being one-third more likely to develop prostate cancer than other men. According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the number one cancer affecting men and the second leading cause of male cancer death in the United States. It will claim more than 40,000 lives this year.
A diagnosis of prostate cancer can be a devastating experience, but there are many treatment options available to fight this disease. Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital offers a wide range of options for prostate cancer. One option - prostate seeding - also referred to as brachytherapy - is less disruptive to your life than traditional surgery or external radiation therapy.
When performing the procedure, a form of internal radiation treatment, physicians place radioactive seeds directly into the prostate gland with the intent of destroying the cancer.
"Radioactive implants offer men a valuable option for the treatment of early prostate cancer," Aaron Williams, Pharm. D., M.D., OLBH radiation oncologist, said. "Unlike conventional radiation therapy using beams delivered from outside the body, the radiation sources in prostate seeding are small, rice-sized pellets, which are inserted into the prostate. Patients leave the hospital the day of the implantation, but the radiation continues to act on tumor cells for several months. As the seeds radiate, cancerous cells are destroyed, with minimal effect on surrounding healthy tissues."
Prostate seeding is not appropriate for every man, and should be considered carefully with other treatment options including cryosurgery, external beam radiation therapy, hormone therapy and surgery to remove the prostate gland. Each treatment approach has its potential advantages and disadvantages. "Candidates for prostate seeding are typically those with early-stage prostate cancer that has not spread outside the prostate," Dr. Williams explained. "The procedure also may be considered for men whose age or medical conditions make other treatment options a risk."
According to OLBH urologist and chief of surgery, E.W. Unnikrishnan, M.D., compared to alternative treatment options, the benefits of prostate seeding include a shorter hospital stay, dramatically reduced frequency of side effects such as impotence or incontinence, a shorter recovery period and reduced expenses.
"Prostate seeding works best on previously untreated, early-stage tumors confined to the prostate - the stage at which an increasing percentage of prostate tumors are being discovered," Dr. Unnikrishnan said. "Due to regular examination and screening tests like the PSA (prostate specific antigen) and ultrasound, many more men are being diagnosed with prostate cancer while it is still localized."
Men should consult their physician about prostate screening exams and the proper treatment methods for their body and individual condition. For more information, please call the CareLine at (606) 833-CARE (2273).
Communication is Key
As you cope with cancer and cancer treatment, Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital's healthcare professionals encourage you to communicate with your doctor. Feel free to ask even the smallest of questions. Below are some suggestions of questions you may ask your doctor to be certain you understand your disease and its treatment.
- What is the exact type of cancer that I have?
- What additional tests do you recommend for me?
- Has my cancer spread beyond the primary tumor site?
- What stage is my cancer in and what does that mean for me personally?
- What are my treatment options? Are there associated side effects with these treatments?
- What is my expected survival rate?
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