Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among men in the United States. It is one of the most common problems I work with on a daily basis. Approximately 300,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in the United States this calendar year.

The incidence of prostate cancer increases with age. Older men are much more likely to have prostate cancer, with an average age at diagnosis at 65. African American men and men with a family history of prostate cancer are also at increased risk of getting prostate cancer. 

Although prostate cancer usually grows very slowly some cancers grow quickly. Differentiating between the types, stage and grade of cancer is a critical step in determining what is the most appropriate treatment path for each man. The stage of a cancer is a way of describing how much cancer there is. Is it a small or large amount? Is it still contained within the prostate or has it gone beyond? The grade of a cancer is a way of describing how fast the cancer cells are growing. The grade of a cancer is determined by its Gleason Score or its Grade Group.

Your grade and stage determine the appropriate path for you. Treating prostate cancer for men with faster growing or larger volume cancer is critical to improve men's health or help them live longer. Monitoring or "surveillance" is often employed for small, slow growing cancers. 

Surveillance of prostate cancer is typically done with repeat PSA testing, prostate exams, MRI or other radiology testing, and prostate biopsies. The frequency with which those tests are performed may vary depending on your individual case.

There are a wide variety of options for treating prostate cancer. The goal is to get rid of the cancer. For cancer contained within the prostate options include complete removal (radical prostatectomy), radiation with various forms of delivery, and focal therapy options to kill a small, very localized cancer also with a number of options on the market. For cancers that have spread beyond the prostate cure is usually not possible but control and slowing the growth of the cancer is very successful using hormone therapy (androgen deprivation or ADT), chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation therapy.

Navigating a diagnosis of prostate cancer and determining the next best steps can be difficult. Knowledge is power. I hope this webpage helps you get the information you need.

Good luck on your Journey,

Dr Brandt