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THE CUTTING EDGE

THE LATEST DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR PROSTATE CANCER AVAILABLE AT EISENHOWER

Eisenhower Medical Center
By: Roxanne Jones
Sept 15, 2015

About one man in seven will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime, making it the most common cancer in American men, after skin cancer. The average age at the time of diagnosis is 66.

While prostate cancer can be serious, most men diagnosed with the disease don’t die from it. In fact, more than 2.5 million U.S. men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer are still alive today, according to the American Cancer Society®.

This encouraging fact is due largely to the advanced diagnostic and treatment resources available today, including the resources available at Eisenhower Medical Center.

The UroNav Fusion Biopsy System is one example. This diagnostic technology fuses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound images to create a detailed, three-dimensional view of the prostate, which doctors can use to guide exceptionally precise biopsies.

“Traditionally, we do biopsies by taking six tissue samples from each side of the prostate, for a total of 12 samples,” explains Board Certified Urologist William Page, MD, referring to what’s called a pattern biopsy. “But this can miss hard-to-find and sometimes aggressive prostate cancer.

“With UroNav, we’re able to more precisely pinpoint what are called regions of interest (ROIs) or targets in the prostate that look suspicious,” he continues. “This way, you can do the standard pattern biopsy plus test these highly suspicious ROIs. We’re hopeful that this will help us find the really bad stuff sooner.”

Dr. Page notes that the UroNav system isn’t appropriate for every patient.

“Right now, it’s typically being used with patients who already have a diagnosis of prostate cancer and we want to rebiopsy any highly suspicious areas,” he says, “or someone who had a biopsy a year ago and it was negative, but his PSA is going up and we need to take another look.” PSA (prostate-specific antigen) is a protein that circulates in the blood that may indicate the presence of prostate cancer.

Eisenhower acquired the UroNav system in June and is the first and, to date, only hospital in the desert to offer it. “We’re very much at the forefront, even compared to other hospitals around the country,” Dr. Page says. “There’s really no need to leave the desert for advanced diagnostic imaging.”

Eisenhower also is on the cutting edge when it comes to lab tests for detecting prostate cancer. Two new blood tests, the Prostate Health Index (PHI) and the 4Kscore™ test, bring a new level of diagnostic sophistication to PSA testing.

“These tests help us sort out if an abnormal PSA number requires a biopsy, or if watchful waiting is appropriate,” Dr. Page explains. “The 4Kscore test can help us predict if someone has an aggressive form of prostate cancer that requires treatment.”

When treatment is necessary, Eisenhower offers a range of options, including the latest advance in radiation therapy called volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT).

“VMAT delivers very precise radiation to the prostate gland with a minimal dose to surrounding normal tissues,” says Robert Johnson, MD, a Board Certified Radiation Oncologist at Eisenhower. “But what really makes it unique is that patients can be treated in a couple of minutes, compared to traditional radiation therapy that takes 15 to 20 minutes per treatment.”

Dr. Johnson notes that a variety of prostate cancer treatment options are available today, which can feel overwhelming for someone who’s newly diagnosed.

“We spend up to an hour with each patient, explaining his treatment options,” he says. “All treatment paths have similar outcomes, but there are different risks relative to side effects, and we make sure patients understand these before they make a decision.

“The upshot is, just about everyone diagnosed with prostate cancer today can expect a positive outcome,” Dr. Johnson adds. “It just comes down to how you get there.”

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