Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer requires highly specialized care. The specialists at Adventist Health Sonora have extensive experience diagnosing and treating all stages of prostate cancer. We use advanced methods for the best possible outcome.
Turn to us when you need a caring, trustworthy team of experts to fight cancer and support your healing process.
Expert care for prostate cancer
Adventist Health Sonora’s oncology specialists focus on prostate cancer with highly specialized diagnosis and treatment options. We have extensive experience in diagnosing and treating all stages of prostate cancer.
Our prostate cancer services include:
Prostate cancer, especially at early stages, may not result in symptoms. For this reason, it is important to talk to your healthcare provider about the appropriate screening options that are right for you.
Prostate cancer risks include:
- Family history: Having close relatives (father, brother, son) who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer
- Age: Most prostate cancer is diagnosed in men over age 50 and even more so over age 65.
- Lifestyle: Diets high in fat may increase risk while plant-based diets may decrease risk
With more advanced disease, symptoms may include:
- Trouble urinating, frequent urination, weak stream, blood in urine
- Erectile dysfunction
- Pain in the hips, spine, ribs or other areas if the cancer has spread to bones
- Numbness or weakness in the lower extremities from cancer pressing on the spinal cord
Screening and diagnostic tests
Screening for prostate cancer includes digital rectal exams and/or prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests. For suspicious findings, your provider may recommend a biopsy or other diagnostic tests. If a biopsy identifies cancer, the stage and grade of the cancer will be determined.
Treatments
At Adventist Health Sonora, a dedicated team of care providers works together to develop personalized treatment plans that may include:
Active surveillance: Watchful waiting may be appropriate for men with a nonaggressive cancer that is small and contained within the prostate.
Hormone therapy: Prostate cancer relies on testosterone. Hormone therapy suppresses testosterone and may kill the cancer cells or suppress growth.
Chemotherapy: For prostate cancer that hasn’t responded to other treatment or that has spread to other parts of the body, chemotherapy may be an option.
Radiation therapy: Commonly used to cure stage 1 and 2 cancers or in conjunction with other treatments for cancers that have spread beyond the prostate. Most patients undergo radiation therapy five days per week over the course of several weeks.
More about radiation therapy at the Diana J. White Cancer Institute: We offer a highly advanced from of 3D therapy called intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), in which very small beams with varying intensities are aimed at the tumor from many angles. The radiation dose can bend around normal tissues, delivering the highest dose possible to the tumor while avoiding damage to surrounding tissues. Our linear accelerator provides the same technology as large urban or academic cancer treatment centers but with the convenience of being close to home. This saves the added expense and stress of traveling out of the area for treatment.
Multidisciplinary approach
Our team brings you a wide range of expertise, with medical, surgical and radiation oncologists collaborating on your care plan.
At Adventist Health, you’ll find:
- Coordinated care: We work cohesively during each stage of care, from diagnosis and treatment to postoperative care. Your oncology nurse navigator guides you every step of the way, to help you get the best possible care.
- Advanced techniques: You deserve effective treatment and a safe, smooth recovery. If you need surgery, we use minimally invasive surgical methods and robotic surgery whenever appropriate, to speed your healing and recovery.
- Commitment to safety: We uphold stringent quality standards through our involvement in many state and federal measurement programs.
For more information, call the Diana J. White Cancer Institute at (209) 536-6940.