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Prostate Cancer

New technology provides better treatment options for men's health issues

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer affecting men - by age 80, three out of four men will have it. But there's good news.

"With improved screening, 80 to 90 percent of men today are diagnosed in the early stages, when the disease is potentially curable," says Jeffrey Goldstein, MD, director of radiation oncology at the Cancer Center at Lowell General Hospital. "Just 20 years ago it was the opposite - most men were diagnosed with late-stage, incurable prostate cancer. This underscores the importance of early detection," he adds.

The screening methods Dr. Goldstein refers to include a simple blood test called the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, combined with a rectal examination.

"I recommend that men have these tests annually starting at age 50, or earlier if they're at higher risk," he says. Risk factors include a first-degree relative (father, brother) with prostate cancer, and being of African-American descent.

"The cure rate is essentially the same with surgery or radiation, which includes several options," he continues. "But each treatment has pros and cons in terms of side-effects and quality of life, so we spend a lot of time educating men and their partners to help them make an informed decision." 

Men have a range of effective treatment options for prostate cancer available right here at Lowell General:

  • Surgery, including laparoscopic, robotic-assisted prostatectomy, a minimally invasive procedure with quicker recovery and significantly less pain than open surgery
  • Radiation therapy, including intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), in which the intensity of the radiation beam can be adjusted to "conform" to the shape of the targeted tumor, sparing nearby normal tissue; and
  • Brachytherapy, the placement of tiny radioactive seed implants in the prostate gland.

A new technique in treating prostate cancer

The odds of surviving cancer keep getting better as innovations and techniques improve.

Today, treating prostate cancer with radiation has fewer side-effects as a result of effective delivery and special internal positioning. The latest innovation used at the Cancer Center at Lowell General Hospital is a small tube inserted into the rectum with a balloon at the end that acts like a pillow to support the prostate in the same position for every treatment. A new tube is put in place for each radiation visit and is well tolerated.

Being able to precisely target the prostate and move the surrounding healthy tissue away from the treatment space is a tremendous benefit. Keeping the prostate from moving means the exact dose of radiation is delivered to the same spot each time. This increases the effectiveness of therapy. By keeping healthy tissue, like the rectum wall, away from the treatment area, irritation and discomfort is nearly eliminated.

To see if this is an option for you or someone you love, call the Radiation Oncology Department at the Cancer Center at 978-937-6274.

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