Skip to main content

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is cancer that occurs in the prostate. The prostate is a small walnut-shaped gland in males that produces the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men (after skin cancer) and can often be treated successfully. Many prostate cancers grow slowly and are confined to the prostate gland, where they may not cause serious harm. However, while some types of prostate cancer grow slowly and may need minimal or even no treatment, other types are aggressive and can spread quickly. Prostate cancer that’s detected early — when it’s still confined to the prostate gland — has the best chance for successful treatment.

Cancer Care of North Florida will take careful steps stage and grade the tumor to assess the best way to create and manage your treatment plan. Our goal is to achieve the very best outcome while preserving your quality of life.

Risk factors for prostate cancer include age, ethnicity, family history, and lifestyle choices such as smoking, poor diet, and lack of exercise.

Types of cancer that can start in the prostate include:

  • Adenocarcinomas (most common)
  • Small cell carcinomas
  • Neuroendocrine tumors (other than small cell carcinomas)
  • Transitional cell carcinomas
  • Sarcomas

Symptoms of Prostate Cancer Include:

  • Difficulty with urination
  • Decreased force in the stream of urine
  • Frequent urination, especially at night
  • Pain and burning during urination
  • Blood in the urine
  • Painful ejaculation
  • Blood in the semen
  • Bone pain – hips, back/spine, and chest
  • Losing weight without trying
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Dull pain in lower pelvic area
  • Loss of bladder/bowel control
  • Weakness or numbness in legs or feet

Most of these symptoms are more likely to be caused by something other than prostate cancer. For example, trouble urinating is much more often caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a non-cancerous growth of the prostate. Prostate cancer may cause no signs or symptoms or may cause symptoms in its early stages.

What is a Prostate Screening?

As with all cancers, an important part of the treatment process is detecting the cancer as early as possible. Cancer Care of North Florida recommends following the American Cancer Society’s guide for prostate cancer screening. The screening process will include the following:

  • A digital rectal exam
  • PSA testing
  • Imaging of the prostate gland

Typically, if an initial digital rectal exam comes back with abnormal results, the next step would be a PSA blood test followed by an imaging test of the prostate gland. Should your PSA levels be high, a prostate biopsy may be recommended as a follow up to the screening. A biopsy is a procedure in which small samples of the prostate are removed and then looked at under a microscope. If prostate cancer is found on a biopsy, this test can also help tell how likely it is that the cancer will grow and spread quickly.If you are interested in getting a prostate screening, please fill out the form, and one of our team members will contact you to set up an appointment.

Halcyon for Cancer Treatment

Varian’s Halcyon Platform utilizes image guided radiation therapy to provide a consistent treatment based on a predetermined customized treatment plan. By collecting 3-Dimensional images of your cancer, our Radiation Oncologist are able to sculpt each dose of radiation to avoid any adjacent healthy tissue. The Halcyon’s 6-point safety system provides confidence and ease to pre-treatment setup process. It’s intuitive design is focused on you the patient. By offering a smoother motor design, quieter linear accelerator, and lower couch height, we can lower your stress and limit the treatment time.

In developing Halcyon, Varian set out to rethink the way we approached radiotherapy so you can redefine the way you fight cancer. Every single component, innovation, and minute detail has been designed, engineered, tested, re-tested, and then seamlessly integrated to work together in perfect harmony. The Halcyon is designed to be intuitive, friendly, and comfortable for both the clinical staff and patients. A faster setup process allows our staff the opportunity to provide the highest level of care for every patient.

How do we treat prostate cancer?

Some prostate cancers grow so slowly that treatment may not be needed at all. Others grow fast and are life-threatening, so treatment is usually necessary. The shape and delivery of your treatment can vary. While working with Cancer Care of North Florida specialists, you will obtain a plan ideally suited to your situation. Every aspect of treatment is carefully considered before being used. Our goal is to provide you the most effective treatment available for you. We have the tools and resources to bring the very best outcomes. Our experienced team of clinical navigators will walk you through every step of the way. Your treatment plan will depend on:

  • The stage and grade of the cancer (Gleason score and TNM stage)
  • Your risk category (whether the cancer is low, intermediate, or high risk)
  • Your age and health
  • Your preferences with respect to side effects, long-term effects, and treatment goals

Results from other diagnostic tests will help your provider understand if the cancer can spread or recur (return) after treatment.
Before you decide what to do, you should consider how immediate and long-term side effects from treatment will affect your life, and what you’re willing to tolerate. Also, you should consider that you may try different things over time.

After complete review of your medical history and symptoms, Cancer Care of North Florida often recommend comprehensive diagnostic procedures to provide a complete picture and begin planning your individualized treatment profile. We use the most advanced therapies available to treat prostate cancer. An individualized plan of care may include multiple types of treatments.

Types of diagnostic testing procedures:

  • Genetic testing
  • PSA blood screening
  • High-definition ultrasound
  • Prostate biopsy
  • Imaging with CT scan, PET scan and bone scan
  • MRI fusion biopsies
  • Multiparametric MRI imaging
  • Targeted and saturation biopsy techniques
  • Pre-biopsy PCR testing
  • Lymph node biopsy

Treatment choices for Prostate Cancer include:

Active Surveillance – Low-grade prostate cancer may not need treatment right away. For some, treatment may never be needed. Instead, sometimes we recommend active surveillance. In active surveillance, regular follow-up blood tests, rectal exams and prostate biopsies may be performed to monitor progression of your cancer. If tests show your cancer is progressing, you may opt for a prostate cancer treatment such as surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation.

Active surveillance may be an option for cancer that isn’t causing symptoms, is expected to grow very slowly, and is confined to a small area of the prostate. Active surveillance may also be considered for someone who has another serious health condition or who is of an advanced age that makes cancer treatment more difficult.
Surgery to remove the prostate – Surgery for prostate cancer involves removing the prostate gland (radical prostatectomy), some surrounding tissue and a few lymph nodes. Surgery is an option for treating cancer that’s confined to the prostate. It’s sometimes used to treat advanced prostate cancer in combination with other treatments.
Radiation therapy – Cancer Care of North Florida offers comprehensive prostate cancer care and partners with Cancer Center of North Florida Radiation Oncology. Radiation therapy uses high-powered energy to kill cancer cells. During external beam radiation therapy, you lie on a table while a machine moves around your body, directing high-powered energy beams, such as X-rays or protons, to your prostate. You typically undergo external beam radiation treatments five days a week for several weeks.

It can also be used after surgery to kill any cancer cells that might remain if there’s a risk that the cancer could spread or come back. For prostate cancer that spreads to other areas of the body, such as the bones, radiation therapy can help slow the cancer’s growth and relieve symptoms, such as pain.
Hormone Therapy – Hormone therapy or also known as androgen suppression therapy is treatment to stop your body from producing the male hormones called androgens. Prostate cancer cells rely on androgens to help them grow. The main androgens in the body are testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Cutting off the supply of androgens may cause cancer cells to die or to grow more slowly.

Hormone therapy is often used to treat advanced prostate cancer to shrink the cancer and slow its growth. Hormone therapy is sometimes used before or during radiation therapy to treat cancer that hasn’t spread beyond the prostate. It helps shrink the cancer and increases the effectiveness of radiation therapy.
Chemotherapy – Chemotherapy (chemo) are anti-cancer drugs that may be given intravenously (injected into your vein) or by mouth. The drugs travel through the bloodstream to reach cancer cells in most parts of the body. Chemotherapy can sometimes be given before, during or after surgery. At Cancer Care of North Florida, our team provide extensive education and supportive care through your therapy.
Immunotherapy – Immunotherapy uses your immune system to fight cancer. Your body’s disease-fighting immune system may not attack your cancer because the cancer cells produce proteins that help them hide from the immune system cells. Immunotherapy works by interfering with that process.
Targeted drug therapy – Targeted drug treatments focus on specific abnormalities present within cancer cells while doing little damage to normal cells. By blocking these abnormalities, targeted drug treatments can cause cancer cells to die. Targeted therapy drugs may be recommended to treat advanced or recurrent prostate cancer if hormone therapy isn’t working. Some targeted therapies only work in people whose cancer cells have certain genetic mutations. Your cancer cells may be tested in a laboratory to see if these drugs might help you.

Why Choose Us?

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, it is crucial to work with a team of prostate cancer experts who not only have extensive experience, but also a strong track record for achieving the best possible outcome for their patients. While this type of cancer is treatable, the dedicated team Cancer Care of North Florida will initially stage and treat this form of cancer and monitor and treat cancer recurrence or complications that may occur later.

At Cancer Care of North Florida, our physicians are highly specialized in treating multiple types of cancer with the most advanced techniques. Using a team approach, we strive for excellence. We work with each patient to specifically tailor their treatment to their own clinical situation. One of the common diseases that we treat is prostate cancer.

  • Highly trained, collaborative oncology specialists all currently taking new patients
  • Consultation appointments scheduled within 3-5 days of referral and in some cases same-day appointments available
  • One-stop campus for comprehensive diagnositics and treatment for many types of cancer including radiation, chemotherapy infusion, lab draws and imaging services
  • Onsite infusion center offers comfortable, home-like setting
  • In-office lab testing
  • In-office medication dispensary
  • Open, immediate access to outpatient symptom management
  • 24-hour physician coverage
  • QOPI-certified clinical trials
  • We accept most insurance plans including Medicare, Medicaid, and VA