Prostate Cancer

Active Surveillance

Active Surveillance is a patient-centered approach for managing low-risk prostate cancer.

Instead of opting for immediate treatment, it involves close monitoring through regular check-ups, blood tests, and occasional biopsies. This strategy allows you to avoid the potential side effects of aggressive treatments, preserving your quality of life.

It’s a thoughtful choice for those with less aggressive cancer or underlying health issues, giving you time to make informed decisions about your care.

Robotic Prostatectomy

Robotic prostatectomy is an advanced surgical option for prostate cancer treatment.

During this minimally invasive procedure, a surgeon uses a robotic system to remove the cancerous prostate gland with precision and minimal damage to surrounding tissue. This approach often results in shorter hospital stays, quicker recovery times, and reduced pain compared to traditional surgery.

Robotic prostatectomy can be an excellent choice for patients seeking a highly effective and less invasive treatment option for their prostate cancer.

Brachytherapy – Seed Therapy

Brachytherapy, also known as seed therapy, is a targeted treatment for prostate cancer.

During this procedure, tiny radioactive seeds are implanted directly into the prostate, delivering radiation to the cancer cells while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. It’s a convenient outpatient treatment option with minimal discomfort.

Brachytherapy can be an excellent choice, particularly for patients with localized prostate cancer, offering effective cancer control while preserving quality of life.

Radiation Oncology

Radiation oncology is a non-invasive, highly effective treatment for prostate cancer.

During this therapy, focused radiation beams target and destroy cancer cells in the prostate while minimizing harm to nearby healthy tissue. It’s a preferred choice for many patients due to its minimal side effects and ability to preserve normal prostate function. Radiation therapy can be delivered externally or through implantation of radioactive sources (brachytherapy).

Your healthcare team will help determine the best radiation approach for your specific case, offering a promising option for prostate cancer treatment.

Laser Focal Therapy

Laser Focal Therapy (focal laser ablation) is an effective treatment for low-to-intermediate prostate cancer. LFT can also be used to help improve the symptoms associated with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH).

This procedure involves placing the patient inside the MRI scanner and displaying MRI images and thermal maps on a computer screen. A thin laser fiber is guided to the tumor, and laser energy is applied to ablate or kill cancer cells.

The temperature and the extent of the ablation zone are constantly monitored with MRI imaging, allowing Urologic Institute clinicians to determine if all visible tumors have been destroyed.

Laser Focal Therapy has demonstrated proven success²:

• < 1% erectile dysfunctioncompared to about 50% with whole gland prostatectomy
• < 1% incontinence comparedto over 25% risk with whole gland prostatectomy

Advantages of Laser Focal Therapy

• Minimally Invasive: A minimally invasive outpatient procedure
• Relatively Rapid Recovery: Tends to have fewer disruptions to daily life compared with traditional treatment
• No General Anesthesia: Uses local anesthesia and moderate, conscious sedation
• Decreased Risk of Side Effects: LFT has a lower reported incidence of erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence than radical prostatectomy and radiation therapy
• Repeatable: If necessary, LFT is a repeatable procedure
• No Limitations: If necessary, surgery and radiation are options. Radical prostatectomy was not complicated by the LFT procedure.

TULSA Pro

TULSA Pro is a customizable, predictable, and incision-free procedure that allows the doctor to tailor the ablation to each patient.

Transurethral ultrasound ablation (TULSA Pro) can more easily cover a wider area than laser focal therapy (LFT) / focal laser ablation (FLA). For patients who have a relatively larger cancer or somewhat diffuse cancer within the prostate, TULSA-PRO can cover almost the entire prostate gland in many patients.

Advantages of TULSA Pro

• Decreased Risk of Side Effects: TULSA Pro has a decreased risk of erectile and urinary side effects compared to whole-gland therapy.²
• Same-Day Outpatient Procedure: TULSA Pro is performed in a single session that takes a few hours.
• Lets You Keep Your Options Open: If you are in need of future prostate care, you may either have a repeat TULSA Procedure or choose any other type of prostate therapy to address your prostate needs.³
• Advanced Image Guidance: Directional thermal ultrasound and MR imaging with active heat monitoring.
• Customizable Treatment Plans: TULSA Pro is customizable and personalized based on your situation and goals.
• Shared Decision-Making: Before your TULSA procedure, you will decide with your physician on a treatment plan.

² Hatiboglu G, Popeneciu V, Bonekamp D, Burtnyk M, Staruch R, Distler F, Radtke JP, Motsch J, Schlemmer HP, Pahernik S and Nyarangi-Dix J (2021) Single-Center Evaluation of Treatment Success Using Two Different Protocols for MRI–Guided Transurethral Ultrasound Ablation of Localized Prostate Cancer. Front. Oncol. 11:782546. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2021.782546
³ Nair, S.M., Stern, N., Dewar, M. et al. (2020). Salvage open radical prostatectomy for recurrent prostate cancer following MRI-guided transurethral ultrasound ablation (TULSA) of the prostate: Feasibility and efficacy. Scandinavian Journal of Urology, 54(3), 215-219. doi: 10.1080/21681805.2020.1752795