What is prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer occurs in your prostate gland, a walnut-shaped gland in men that produces fluid for transporting and nourishing sperm. Early detection and treatment is the best way to eliminate prostate cancer and prevent it from spreading to other parts of your body.

 

What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?

You might not experience any symptoms with prostate cancer, especially in its early stages. More advanced prostate cancer might cause:

• Erectile dysfunction
• Bone pain
• Pelvic discomfort
• Blood in your semen
• Difficulty urinating 
• Decreased urine stream force 

Getting screened for prostate cancer when you’re at risk helps your urologist detect the disease before symptoms occur.

What are the risk factors for prostate cancer?

While anyone can develop prostate cancer, certain factors increase your risk of experiencing it, including older age, being African American, obesity, and family history of prostate cancer. Erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence are sometimes complications of prostate cancer or its treatments. 

How does my urologist diagnose prostate cancer?

To find out if you have prostate cancer, your urologist completes a physical exam and reviews your medical history and symptoms. They offer the following diagnostic testing procedures:

• Digital rectal exams
• Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood tests
• Genetic testing
• Biomarker screening
• High definition ultrasound
• MRI fusion biopsies
• Multiparametric MRIs
• Targeted and saturation biopsy techniques
• Pre-biopsy PCR testing

Highly experienced and respected prostate cancer experts at AS Urology offer advanced diagnostic capabilities and prostate mapping to help you achieve the best outcome. They provide sedation during prostate biopsies to ensure your procedure is comfortable and virtually pain-free.

What are my prostate cancer treatment options?

High-intensity focused ultrasonography (HIFU)

HIFU uses high-intensity ultrasound waves to neutralize cancerous prostate tissue in place of surgery or radiation therapy. The treatment precisely targets cancer within your prostate instead of removing the gland.

Robotic surgery

Robotic da Vinci prostatectomy and other robotic surgical procedures help your provider remove cancerous tissue using advanced technology for optimal precision and accuracy.

Advanced radiation therapy

Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that uses X-rays or other types of energy to kill cancer cells within or near your prostate gland. 

Other treatments

Additional solutions for prostate cancer or complications from cancer treatments include active surveillance, hormone therapy, cryotherapy, PulseWave therapy, and pelvic floor therapy for erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence.

If you’re at risk of prostate cancer or experience new or unusual urinary symptoms, schedule an appointment with the experts at AS Urology experts by phone or online today.