Prostate Cancer
Prostate Cancer
If you are facing a prostate cancer diagnosis, the Ackerman Cancer Center team can help.
Prostate Cancer Treatment
At Ackerman Cancer Center, we provide a wide range of effective treatment options for prostate cancer, including proton therapy, and offer same-day appointments whenever possible. We have a team of doctors to work with you to craft the treatment plan that maximizes your ability to manage side effects and preserve prostate function.
Our team of board-certified radiation oncologists will always take the time to help you determine the best treatment plan for you and answer any questions you may have about the impact on your health and lifestyle. We are committed to providing you with information about all treatment options so that you can make the best choice for you.
Innovative Proton Therapy Treatment Option at Ackerman Cancer Center
Proton therapy is a new form of treatment that fights prostate cancer while minimizing side effects. With the comparatively low occurrence of side effects like incontinence, impotence, and fatigue, men with prostate cancer who receive proton therapy are often able to continue living normal lives during and after treatment.
Innovative Radiation Therapy Treatment Option at Ackerman Cancer Center
During radiation therapy for prostate cancer, there is a risk of rectal exposure owing to the rectum’s proximity to the prostate. At Ackerman Cancer Center, we offer the SpaceOAR hydrogel system to ensure maximum safety and minimum excess radiation exposure for patients undergoing prostate cancer treatment.
SpaceOAR significantly reduces the incidence of rectal bleeding and the severity of other side effects during and after prostate cancer treatment, making the decision to start radiation therapy an easier one. This is an option available in addition to the rectal balloon.
Treatments
Your oncology team will help you determine which treatment method will produce the best results for your type of prostate cancer. At Ackerman, you will have access to some of the most advanced prostate cancer-fighting technology currently available.
Ackerman Cancer Center’s state-of-the-art prostate treatment options include:
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Proton Therapy
Proton therapy is one of the most precise, advanced radiation treatment modalities available today. In traditional photon radiation, the X-ray beams travel through the tumor, destroying both cancerous and healthy tissue along the way. Proton therapy provides a more efficient solution by utilizing charged particles (protons) to penetrate the tissue and deposit nearly all of their energy directly at the tumor site, thereby reducing damage to surrounding areas.
Ackerman Cancer Center is proud to be the world’s first private practice offering its own proton beam technology. Though proton therapy is not right for every patient, the radiation oncologists at Ackerman Cancer Center will consider all options when developing your personalized treatment plan.
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Brachytherapy
Brachytherapy is a type of internal radiation therapy that delivers a higher dose of radiation directly to the tumor, the area near it, or the site following tumor removal. This approach helps protect surrounding healthy tissue. Ackerman Cancer Center performs brachytherapy treatments such as prostate seed implants, APBI, and Valencia® for skin cancer.
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Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) and Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)
IMRT uses beams of radiation from multiple angles, and of varying intensities, to conform to the shape of the tumor. IGRT utilizes 3-D images to monitor the tumor’s exact location during treatment. These technologies work together to reduce exposure to healthy tissues and minimize side effects of treatment.
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Prostate Seed Implants
Prostate seed implants are a type of internal radiation therapy, also known as brachytherapy. A doctor or clinician implants radioactive seeds (containing either iodine-125 or palladium-103) into specific parts of the prostate gland using ultrasound guidance. The number of seeds and where they are placed is determined by a treatment plan tailored for each patient. Anywhere from 40 to 160 seeds are commonly implanted.
The implants remain in place permanently, and the radioactivity of the seeds slowly decays over several weeks to months. This technique allows a high dose of radiation to be delivered to the prostate with limited exposure to nearby organs.
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Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT)
VMAT is a technique that precisely delivers radiation therapy to tumors. Single or multiple beams sweep in an uninterrupted arc(s) around the patient, while our expert radiation oncologists utilize 3-D imaging to monitor the tumor during treatment. This method reduces exposure to healthy tissues while increasing the radiation dose to the tumor.
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Xofigo®
Xofigo® is a radiation treatment that can help extend the lives of men with advanced forms of prostate cancer. It is an intravenous injection with a typical course of treatment administered over six months. Studies have shown Xofigo® not only increases the length of survival, but may also improve quality of life by reducing side effects like bone pain.
Research on Proton for Prostate Cancer
Proton Therapy Treatment for Prostate in Men 60 and Younger
Cancer, ACS Journals
This article presents the outcomes of a study on men age 60 or younger receiving proton therapy treatment for prostate cancer. The results showed excellent outcomes when reviewing their sexual health and overall quality of life.
Read ArticleProstate Cancer Outcomes with Proton Therapy
International Journal of Radiation Oncology
This article reports the results of a study that provided clinical outcomes over the course of five years. The outcomes presented that, with the treatment of proton therapy, there was high efficacy, minimal toxicity, and ...
Read ArticleGet Started Today
The first step is scheduling a consultation. To set up a consultation, please call us at 904-880-5522. Setting up a consultation allows you to get your questions answered and take the first step in getting a comprehensive cancer care partner to support you on your financial, social, emotional, and physical journey.
Patient Stories
Meet Dennis, Prostate Cancer Survivor
At the heart of every single treatment delivered at Ackerman Cancer Center is a patient whose life has been affected by cancer. Meet Dennis. His story brings hope and encouragement to others battling this difficult disease. Listen as he shares his experience.
Meet R.B., Prostate Cancer Survivor
Listen as R.B., Prostate Cancer survivor, discusses his experiences, from cancer diagnosis to Proton Therapy treatment at Ackerman Cancer Center to survivorship, with Arthur Crofton of WEJZ.
Meet Velious, Prostate Cancer Survivor
“In fall 2014, my PSA level jumped to 14. I had a da Vinci prostatectomy, but my numbers began to climb again, so I was treated for Prostate Cancer with Proton Therapy at Ackerman Cancer Center. When I completed proton treatment, my PSA score was undetectable, below 1.0. The quality of treatment I received at Ackerman Cancer Center helped. It’s like a family here. It reflects in the way everybody treats the patients. Dr. Ackerman is always available. Any time you ask, he stops what he’s doing, and he’ll talk to you.”
Meet Ken, Prostate Cancer Survivor
“Excellent doctors. Excellent equipment. Excellent staff.”
Meet James, Prostate Cancer Survivor
“I finished Proton Radiation Therapy treatments in July 2015. The treatments couldn’t have gone better. The entire staff at Ackerman Cancer Center was very professional and very caring. I interacted with many people at the Center. From the office workers, to the nurses, social workers, dietitians, technicians, and doctors—I was always treated with positive attitudes and the feeling that everyone was working just for me. I am very grateful to the Ackerman Cancer Center for my treatment and excellent care. I do not believe that I could have received any better treatment and care anywhere in the world.”
Meet Angelo, Prostate Cancer Survivor
“I can honestly say that I have never been shown [this level of] compassion and care at any medical facility I have ever been to. The entire staff displayed a true feeling of caring for their patients. They made me feel like family!”