Prostate Cancer

TUCC is well known in the Rocky Mountain region as a prostate cancer treatment center of excellence. From diagnosis, to treatment, to survivorship resources, we are committed to providing patients with technologically advanced, compassionate patient care. To speak with someone about prostate cancer treatment options at TUCC or to make an appointment, call 303.825.TUCC (8822) or Contact Us today.

According to the American Cancer Society, one in six American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. More than 3,000 men in Colorado will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year. Because of early detection and advanced treatment options, cure rates for prostate cancer are very high when the cancer is diagnosed at an early stage.

Common risk factors for prostate cancer include:

• Age. Men over the age of 50 and African-American men over the age of 40 have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer.
• Race/ Ethnicity. The mortality rate of African-American men diagnosed with prostate cancer is twice that of other men.
• Genetics. Men who have family members diagnosed with prostate cancer have a greater risk of developing the disease.
• Diet. A diet rich in red meat and high-fat dairy products and low in fruits and vegetables may increase a patient's risk of developing prostate cancer.

There are often no symptoms of early stage prostate cancer, so early detection and screening are critical. The best way to detect prostate cancer involves undergoing annual PSA (prostate specific antigen) tests and digital rectal exams (DRE) beginning at age 40.

Diagnosis:

Digital Rectal Exam (DRE)
This exam involves a physician assessing a patient's prostate gland through the rectal wall to determine its size, shape and consistency. Cancerous tissue may be firm, hard, asymmetrical or stony.

PSA Blood Test
PSA (prostate specific antigen) is a protein produced by prostate cells, which can be detected in the blood. A simple blood test can indicate if further evaluation for prostate cancer is necessary depending on the patient's PSA level.

Click here to download a statement from TUCC and the Large Urology Group Practice Association about prostate cancer screening. PSA screening is the best tool available today to diagnose prostate cancer. In fact, since the advent of PSA screening in the 1980's, the mortality rate for prostate cancer has declined 40 percent.

Transrectal Ultrasound and Prostate Biopsy
If a patient's PSA is abnormal or if a firm area is noted on a DRE, an ultrasound and biopsy are performed to determine if cancer is present. A transrectal ultrasound is performed by inserting a probe into the rectum. The probe emits sound waves which allow the prostate to be visualized. Then, a biopsy needle is inserted along the ultrasound probe and small pieces of prostate tissue are removed for diagnosis. This procedure is done under local anesthesia in the office and takes approximately 15 minutes.

Treatments:

Brachytherapy
Brachytherapy is a form of radiation therapy administered over a short distance. In select prostate cancer patients, radioactive seeds may be implanted into the prostate. As they decay, radiation is released. The radiation dose is determined by the seed characteristics, the number of seeds implanted and the distribution of the seeds. The seeds remain in the prostate after the radiation dose is released. A combination of brachytherapy and external beam radiation therapy may be used in select patients.

External Beam Radiation Therapy
External beam radiation therapy utilizes a linear accelerator to generate a beam of radiation that is directed toward the desired treatment area. Delivery techniques such as 3-D conformal planning and intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), can be utilized to conform (mold) the dose of radiation to the planned treatment area. This allows higher doses to be administered to desired treatment areas and reduces the risk of exposure to surrounding normal tissues. Both techniques allow for better control of the radiation beam to the tumor with reduced side effects.

Studies have shown that the prostate can change position depending on the volumes of the bladder and rectum. With image guided radiation therapy (IGRT), metallic markers are inserted into the prostate so that their position can be visualized on a daily basis. Daily assessment of the markers and subsequent adjustments enable therapists to deliver more accurate radiation treatments. This reduces the risk of radiation exposure to normal tissues and side effects.

TUCC is one of the only centers in the U.S. to offer on site, comprehensive radiation therapy for urologic cancers. Our radiation oncologists, Reginald Westmacott, M.D. and Eric Gross, M.D., are board certified in radiation oncology. Dr. Westmacott is also board certified in urology - a rare skill set. Click here to learn more about radiation therapy at TUCC.

Radical Prostatectomy
Radical prostatectomy is a surgical procedure where the entire prostate gland is removed. The procedure is usually performed in the early stages of the disease to prevent the cancer from spreading throughout the body. Patients undergoing this procedure will be admitted to the hospital and typically have a one to three day hospital stay.

A radical prostatectomy may be performed as an open procedure or robotically. There are many benefits to a da Vinci robotic prostatectomy including shorter hospital stays, quicker recovery times, faster return to normal activity and work, less pain and decreased blood loss. Numerous medical studies have shown that a patient’s surgical outcomes with the da Vinci robot are equal or superior to traditional open surgical procedures for the same urologic conditions.

TUCC surgeons are leaders in the urologic field in performing da Vinci robotic prostatectomies, having performed more than 2,000 over the past 10 years. For more information about TUCC's robotic surgery expertise, please click here.

Immunotherapy - Provenge
Provenge is a treatment therapy for men with advanced stage prostate cancer (cancer that has progressed or metastasized following surgery or hormone therapy). It is the first FDA-approved immunotherapy to mix cells from a patient’s own immune system with a protein that produces an immune response to prostate cancer. The Provenge treatment schedule includes three doses given two weeks apart. TUCC is one of the few urologic centers in the Rocky Mountain region to offer Provenge as a treatment option for men diagnosed with advanced stage prostate cancer.

Androgen Deprivation Therapy
Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT), a treatment therapy for prostate cancer that causes a man’s body to stop producing testosterone, is a very effective treatment for advanced or metastatic prostate cancer or to improve outcomes for men undergoing radiation therapy. There are multiple risks of this therapy that TUCC tries to minimize by adopting a teamwork approach to treatment. Under the leadership of a TUCC physician, a nurse practitioner, physical therapist, nutritionist and nurse specializing in male sexual medicine lead prostate cancer patients through this treatment.

To learn more about prostate cancer treatment options at TUCC or to make an appointment, please call 303.825.TUCC (8822) or Contact Us today.