Prosate Cancer

Cancers We Treat

What to Expect with Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is usually found early and may not cause any symptoms at first. Early prostate cancer symptoms can include blood in urine or seminal fluids and issues with or increased frequency in urinating. Once prostate cancer has spread to other organs, symptoms can also include back or bone pain, fatigue, or weakness in the arms or legs. 

Types of Prostate Cancer

Adenocarcinomas are the most common form of prostate cancer. This cancer forms in the cells of glands that secrete fluid. Most prostate cancers are of these types.

Rarer forms of prostate cancer include the following:

• Sarcomas
• Small cell carcinomas
• Transitional cell carcinomas
• Neuroendocrine tumors

If you or your healthcare provider suspects that you have prostate cancer, doctors will typically utilize a series of diagnostic screening tests and scans. These can include a digital rectal exam, a prostate-specific antigen test (often called a PSA test), an MRI or ultrasound imaging, or a biopsy. After a diagnosis of prostate cancer, a Gleason score is used to help determine the stage of the cancer and the possible treatment options.

Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer has several known risk factors, even if the exact cause of prostate cancer isn’t always known. Some of these risk factors can be controlled, and others cannot. While it’s helpful to understand these factors, it’s important to remember that having risk factors does not mean you will definitely develop prostate cancer—and not having them doesn’t guarantee you won’t.

Risk Factors You Can Change:

• Physical activity: Individuals who are not physically active appear to have a higher risk of prostate cancer. Patients with obesity are also more likely to have prostate cancers that develop more quickly or return after treatment.
• Tobacco use: Some studies show a link in smoking tobacco and prostate cancer, as well as a higher risk of cancers that spread beyond the prostate.

Risk Factors You Cannot Change:

• Age: The risk of prostate cancer goes up as you age, with most patients developing it after the age of 50.
• Genetics: Risk increases with a family history of prostate cancer. If a direct blood relative (such as a parent or sibling) has prostate cancer, it is more likely that you will develop it as well. In addition, in the U.S., prostate cancer risk seems to be higher for those in the Black community.
• Exposure to Agent Orange: Agent Orange was an herbicide that the U.S. military used to clear foliage during the Vietnam conflict. Exposure to this herbicide increases the risk of developing prostate cancer.

Radiation Treatment for Prostate Cancer

Radiation therapy is often used as a standalone treatment for prostate cancer, although it may also be used in combination with other treatments, like a radical prostatectomy or hormone therapy. Some of the two most common radiation treatments for prostate cancer include:

Brachytherapy – Brachytherapy involves the placement of radioactive seeds inside of your prostate in order to directly apply radiation to cancer cells while preserving the healthy tissue surrounding it.

IMRT – A type of external beam radiation therapy, IMRT uses imaging in order to precisely target cancerous tissues while delivering strong X-rays directly to the tumor.

These radiation treatments are highly targeted in order to avoid damaging healthy tissue as much as possible, but some side effects of prostate cancer treatment can include incontinence, dysfunction, or infertility. Please discuss any side effects with your healthcare team so that they can recommend treatments to help.

Tumor Board

All of the diagnosis areas at Evansville Cancer Center work with a tumor board through Deaconess Cancer Services. A tumor board is part of a treatment planning process that results in a comprehensive, interdisciplinary treatment plan. A group of healthcare specialists will review your case to determine the best treatment options. This team may include:

• Pathologists
• Medical oncologists
• Radiation oncologists
• Surgical oncologists
• Genetic experts
• Nurses
• Social workers

At Evansville Cancer Center, our radiation oncologists are dedicated to working closely with you to create a personalized radiation treatment plan that considers the size, location, and stage of your prostate cancer. We offer the latest in advanced prostate cancer treatment near Evansville. Our team is committed to providing compassionate care, ensuring that your treatment is tailored specifically to your needs. We’re here to support you every step of the way.

Our Cancer Care Technologies

We treat patients using proven technologies in radiation oncology, including TrueBeam®, Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT), RapidArc®, Brachytherapy, and Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT). Click below to learn about each of our cancer care technologies.