Changing Prostate Landscape

Today's prostate treatment landscape is changing in terms of both detection and available treatment options.

Through the help of the prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test and digital rectal exam (DRE) there is a dramatic increase in early identification of prostate cancer, often at a lower risk and earlier stage. In fact, 75% of prostate cancer is currently diagnosed when the disease is still contained inside the prostate gland¹. Likewise, 35% of prostate cancer is diagnosed in men before age 65, and over 72% is found before a man turns age 75.

In response to this trend there are a growing number of new options to treat and/or manage prostate tumors.  In fact, less invasive treatment paradigms are emerging that are better able to reduce or eliminate side effects.

There are even new concepts designed to delay or avoid treatment through Active Surveillance or Watchful Waiting management programs that involve changes in health habits and lifestyle. Prostate tumor progression can be monitored using the Sperling Institute methods, so patients who are candidates for such programs can be confident of reliable tracking if they and their physicians elect such programs.

Not every patient is comfortable with the idea of delaying treatment while monitoring for possible disease progression. Thus, after thorough diagnosis, appropriate patients may turn to tailored targeted treatment options focused on ablating (or destroying) just the known tumor(s) while sparing the remaining healthy prostate tissue². Finally, for those whose best option is whole-gland treatment, options include radical prostatectomy using robotics for a less invasive approach (called Robotic Prostatectomy) and a range of new High Definition Radiation Therapies.

As a result of the changing prostate landscape, patients want and need clear, reliable information that will help them and their doctors make an accurate diagnosis and if treatment is determined to be the best course of action, the choice of treatment will depend on many factors, especially the nature of the tumor itself.

The Sperling Prostate Center uses a comprehensive detection protocol to create a detailed prostate map that provides precise information about the size, location and shape of any potential prostate tumors - all critical information for guiding a biopsy and/or choosing a treatment. Using next generation MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) technology, the Sperling team can detect potential tiny tumors within the prostate, offering vital information that can help patients and doctors defer, alter or more accurately direct their diagnosis, treatment and follow up.