Prostate Cancer

What is prostate cancer?

Your prostate is a small, walnut-shaped gland that produces seminal fluid — a liquid that provides nourishment to sperm and helps move it out of the body. Prostate cancer occurs when cells in your prostate begin to multiply at an abnormal rate.

Most prostate cancers develop very slowly. When confined to your prostate, cancer does not usually cause harm, but if and when it spreads to other tissues, it requires prompt treatment. Other forms of prostate cancer are more aggressive and should be treated right away.

How is prostate cancer diagnosed?

There are a number of screening tools that can detect signs of prostate cancer. One option is a blood test that looks for elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA). There are several types of PSA tests, and your specialist helps you find the right option for you.

A digital rectal exam is one of the most common forms of screening for prostate issues. This quick exam allows your doctor to check for tissue abnormalities by inserting a gloved finger into your rectum and palpating the tissue near the back portion of your prostate gland.

If either of these tools detect signs of cancer, the next step may be a biopsy. Spokane Urology offers transperineal biopsy, a screening option that collects a small sample of prostate cells through a needle inserted through the skin behind your testicles. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) ultrasound fusion guided biopsy guides your specialist to the exact site of the cellular abnormalities.

What are some treatments for prostate cancer?

Active surveillance

Not all prostate cancers require immediate treatment. If your cancer is small and is not interfering with your health, your specialist might recommend a period of watchful waiting to evaluate how the abnormal cells progress.

High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU)

This approach uses sound waves to create targeted heat that destroys cancer cells in just seconds. Anesthesia keeps you comfortable from start to finish as a rectal probe is inserted. Ultrasound technology or an MRI creates real-time imaging to direct the treatment.

Focal therapy for prostate cancer (male lumpectomy)

If your cancer is limited to the tissues surrounding your prostate, this treatment can help by removing the largest tumor in your prostate. The tumor can be removed using cryotherapy, photodynamic therapy, HIFU, or laser ablation.

Robotic radical prostatectomy (nerve sparing)

This is a minimally invasive surgical technique that incorporates robotic guidance to perform incredibly minute surgical maneuvers. The process requires only a few small incisions to remove diseased prostate tissue while reducing the risk of nerve damage or facilitating nerve repair.

SpaceOAR™

This is a hydrogel that acts to create space between your rectum and prostate. For men who choose radiation as part of their treatment path, SpaceOAR can reduce the risk of rectum exposure to radiation directed at your prostate cancer.

In addition to these advanced treatment options, the team at Spokane Urology can also help you find clinical research trials that suit your needs. This gives you access to the very latest in prostate cancer care.

Explore these options in greater detail by calling the Spokane Urology office or booking a consultation online today.