Prostate Cancer Treatment in Orange County, CA

At Southland Urology, we understand the physical and emotional challenges that come with a prostate cancer diagnosis. That’s why our compassionate and experienced professionals are here to offer support, answer your questions, and address any concerns you may have. Our multidisciplinary approach ensures that you receive a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. Call our urology clinic in Orange County at (714) 870-5970 to schedule an appointment today!

What is Prostate Cancer?

As one of the most often diagnosed cancers in all of the United States, prostate cancer undeniably affects millions of men even though they may not be diagnosed with the condition until the cancer has progressed.

Because the symptoms of prostate cancer are non-specific, in most cases this form of cancer is first diagnosed during a routine prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. Most patients with cancer of the prostate are treated with either surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy or a combination of one or more of those treatments.

What Are The Warning Signs of Prostate Cancer?

Due to the location of the prostate and its proximity to the urinary system, many signs of prostate cancer will relate to urinary function or the general pelvic region. Such symptoms often include:

• Difficulty urinating
• Weakened urine stream
• Pain within the pelvis or low back
• Blood in urine and/or semen
• Difficulty in getting or maintaining an erection (erectile dysfunction)
• Loss of control of the bladder or bowels
• Increased frequency of urination

The list of symptoms above may describe a variety of urology conditions, including benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It is important that you seek treatment if you notice any of these warning signs, as it is always best to catch a condition in its earliest stages, especially if that condition does in fact turn out to be cancer.

What Are The Different Types of Prostate Cancer?

There are multiple unique forms of prostate cancer that men are at risk of developing. This risk is influenced by a variety of factors such as older age, family history, race, and obesity.

Depending upon where in the prostate the abnormal cells develop, a man may have one of five different types of prostate cancer. Most often, this particular form of cancer is classified as an adenocarcinomas. Other types consist of:

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

How is Prostate Cancer Diagnosed?

Regardless of what form of prostate cancer has affected an individual, each will require diagnostic imaging and maybe also a biopsy to confirm a definitive diagnosis.

In some cases, it may be advised for the patient to have their tumor removed from the prostate regardless of whether or not it has been identified as cancerous. The primary reason for this being that large growths on or within the prostate can cause a wide range of troublesome symptoms until the tumor is removed.

Prostate Cancer Treatment

The first line of attack against prostate cancer is usually surgery to remove the cancerous prostate gland. At Southland Urology, we offer the latest advancements in prostate cancer surgery, including the da Vinci robotic surgical system.

The minimally-invasive da Vinci system uses precise, miniaturized robotic tools to remove tumors from the prostate. Tiny instruments are introduced through several small incisions and are controlled (not pre-programmed) by your surgeon from a nearby console. These high-tech instruments can perfectly mimic the hand motions of the doctor.

The robotic system also provides a 3D, high-definition visualization of the prostate and adjacent tissues, giving our urologists a view of the surgical site that is far superior to that of the human eye.

Robotic surgery is a breakthrough in modern medicine and allows for more precision and control than surgeons have ever had when compared to “open” or traditional laparoscopic surgery. For prostate cancer patients, that means a greater assurance of the best outcome possible. It also means a better chance of avoiding side effects of more traditional approaches to surgery, such as impotence or urinary incontinence.

Radiation for Prostate Cancer

Southland Urology also offers radiation therapy, including brachytherapy (internal radiation therapy) for the treatment of prostate cancer. During brachytherapy, tiny radioactive “seeds” the size of a grain of rice are implanted into the prostate. The implants deliver a low dose of radiation over a period of several months.

What Is Brachytherapy?

One type of internal radiotherapy treating prostate cancer is called brachytherapy. A radioactive source, also known as radioactive seeds, is inserted within the prostate during this surgery in order to release radiation and target cancer cells.

Two varieties of brachytherapy exist:

Low Dose Rate Brachytherapy:

In this method, the radioactive seeds may remain inside the prostate for an extended period. Over several months, the radiation is progressively delivered to kill cancer cells.

High Dose Rate Brachytherapy: This technique uses a larger radiation dosage. For a short period, the radioactive source is still inside the prostate. The radiographer then removes the source to make sure your body is completely free of radiation.

Chemotherapy for Prostate Cancer

Chemotherapy is not a standard treatment for most cases of prostate cancer, but can be useful in cases of advanced prostate cancer where the disease has metastasized to the bones, or when the cancer has not been responsive to more conventional hormonal therapy methods.