Thanks to screenings and regular physicals, most prostate cancer is caught early. But there’s a catch 22 – early prostate cancer often has vague symptoms. That’s why routine screening is key.
However, if you experience any of the following 10 warning signs mentioned by the American Cancer Society, see your doctor right away:
■ Problems urinating
■ A slow or weak urinary stream
■ The urge to urinate more frequently, especially at night
■ Blood in the urine
■ Blood in the semen
■ Erectile dysfunction
■ Pain in the hips, back or chest. (this can be an indication cancer has spread.)
■ Weakness in the legs or feet
■ Numbness in the legs or feet
■ Loss of bladder or bowel control
While these symptoms may be the result of another medical condition, have your doctor rule out prostate cancer.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention traditional screenings include:
■ Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test: A blood test measuring the levels of PSA, a substance made by the prostate. Generally, the higher the PSA level the more likely a prostate issue may be present.
■ The Digital Rectal Exam or DRE: this is a physical test where the doctor feel the prostate for abnormalities.
■ When a potential problem is found, further testing with an MRI or a biopsy could be required.
If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, you do have treatment options depending on the type and stage of cancer, your age, and your overall health.
Doctors often offer surgery, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, and/or radiation therapy to treat prostate cancer.
Sometimes they use a combo of treatments.
More than 60,000 American men choose radiation therapy to treat prostate cancer each year, according to the prostate cancer foundation.
The cure rate for prostate cancer using radiation is well-documented, and there is a proven safety track record.
Florida Center for Prostate Care
While there are different types of radiation for prostate cancer, the experts at the CyberKnife Center of Miami believe Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy or SBRT – the type of radiation used by CyberKnife, has some distinct advantages.
■ It’s noninvasive.
■ There is no anesthesia or cutting.
■ It doesn’t come with the risks of surgery like infection and long periods of downtime
■ CyberKnife’s treatments can be done in five therapy sessions over 10 days Instead of 42 over three months with other types of radiation treatments.
■ No catheter or daily rectal balloon is needed.
■ The CyberKnife radiation beams, which target and destroy the tumor, are exceedingly precise.
■ There is less risk of side effects including impotence and incontinence.
■ That’s a relief to most men who are looking for alternative treatment options for prostate cancer.
“CyberKnife is an amazingly precise way to deliver radiation to the prostate,” says Dr. Mark Pomper, board-certified radiation oncologist and medical director of CyberKnife Miami on CyberKnife Miami’s youtube channel. “It’s not readily available in all places, but Miami is blessed to have the CyberKnife Center of Miami, which has an amazing amount of experience.”
The CyberKnife Center of Miami has treated hundreds of prostate cancer patients with good success since opening its doors in 2003. We were the first CyberKnife Center in South Florida and have the most experienced medical team in Miami using this alternative prostate cancer treatment. That is also why we most often can take on the most difficult and complicated cases.
Best Prostate Cancer Treatment in Florida
Dr. Pomper says the cure rate with CyberKnife for prostate cancer is 97-percent when caught early.
If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, call CyberKnife Miami for a consultation. If you would like to find out more about prostate cancer treatment with CyberKnife, call us at 305-279-2900 or go to our prostate cancer website now for more information.