Prostate cancer

While some men experience signs and symptoms of prostate cancer, many men don’t have any symptoms at all. That’s why annual exams and regular PSA screenings are highly recommended. 

Common diagnostic tests for prostate cancer include imaging scans and pathology tests such as:

• Digital rectal examination (DRE)
• Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test
• Imaging studies such as an MRI
• Ultrasound or MRI guided prostate biopsy

Find your nearest GenesisCare center  to find out what diagnostic tests and scans are available in your local area. Whatever the disease stage or treatment chosen, our expert multispecialty team will support you throughout your entire treatment journey.

Depending on your prostate cancer prognosis, you and your physician may choose not to treat your tumor at all. If you’re diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer that is considered unaggressive, your doctor may monitor your condition and PSA (prostate-specific antigen) levels every three to six months. This concept of “active surveillance” has been widely adopted by national and international cancer guidelines.

Our expert team of prostate surgeons are specially trained in radical prostatectomy – the surgical removal of the prostate gland and some of the tissue surrounding it. There are different procedures used for prostate cancer surgery and your surgeon will recommend the most appropriate one for you depending on the outcome of a thorough evaluation.

At GenesisCare we specialize in advanced radiation therapy techniques that are designed to be effective and minimize the side effects you’ll experience. As a global leader in cancer care, we use the latest-generation machines to deliver highly targeted radiation. The accuracy of these treatments, together with the expertise of our teams, helps our patients achieve the best possible outcomes. 

The type of prostate cancer treatment your radiation oncologist recommends will depend on your diagnosis, if the cancer has spread to other parts of your body, your general health and personal preferences.

Systemic therapies (treatment that may affect cancer cells beyond the prostate) may be recommended before or after surgery. At GenesisCare, we offer a wide range of systemic drug therapies and the latest anti-cancer drugs for the treatment of prostate cancer. In some instances, your urologist, medical oncologist and radiation oncologist may order genetic or genomic testing to understand the makeup of your individual cancer, your family risk of cancer, and will then discuss which treatment options are most appropriate for you.

Hormone therapy

Many prostate tumors need a hormone called testosterone to continue to grow. Hormone therapy for prostate cancer works by blocking testosterone from binding to the cancer cells, or preventing your body from producing testosterone, which slows down their growth. Common types of hormone therapy for prostate cancer are:

• Testosterone lowering agents, which may be taken with pills or injections (and rarely surgical removal of the testes), and are designed to stop your body from producing testosterone, which can stimulate prostate cancer cells
• Anti-androgens – oral medications which block a specific prostate cancer cell receptor

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy refers to drugs that destroy cancer cells and it’s most often used to treat prostate cancers that have spread outside of the prostate – this is called advanced or metastatic prostate cancer. The type of chemotherapy you’ll receive will also depend on your prostate cancer stage and after a thorough multispecialty team discussion with your GenesisCare care team. 

Find your nearest GenesisCare center  to find out what medical oncology options are available in your local area.

If prostate cancer has spread to other parts of the body, it’s called advanced or metastatic prostate cancer. There are various treatment options for advanced prostate cancer at GenesisCare and our goal is to deliver exceptional treatment and care in a way that enhances every aspect of your cancer journey.

Palliative radiation therapy

Palliative radiation therapy does not aim to cure advanced prostate cancer, but is used to help shrink, slow down the growth, or control your symptoms to give you a better quality of life. Most people don’t need long courses of palliative care, it might be anything between one and ten treatments. However, it’s not suitable for everyone. Your primary care physician is the best person talk with about the best way forward for you.

GenesisCare offers access to cutting-edge technologies and advanced treatments with an emphasis on individualized care that’s specifically tailored to your cancer stage and personal preferences, without delay.

Cancer treatment and care is constantly evolving, and we offer the world’s latest evidence-based treatments that have been shown to enhance patient outcomes. By working together closely, our multidisciplinary teams of oncologists, prostate surgeons, radiation therapists and other healthcare specialists provide care that’s focused on you, not just your cancer, so that you receive the best possible outcome. 

Our goal is to help you navigate through your cancer journey in the most positive way possible. Importantly, we also provide you with support and resources for your cancer journey—including advice about nutrition and exercise, expert help for managing side effects, insurance authorization and information on local support groups.