Prostate Cancer

At the Saint Vincent Cancer Care Center, a variety of treatment options, are available to prostate cancer patients. From conventional
prostatectomy to minimally invasive, cutting edge technologies such as brachytherapy and cryotherapy, patients and prostate cancer
specialists work together to choose the most appropriate treatment option.

Brachytherapy

The Procedure
Saint Vincent physicians pioneered the use of brachytherapy to irradicate prostate cancer. Brachytherapy, implantation with iodine-125
“seeds,” is an extremely effective treatment for prostate cancer. As the iodine decays, radiation is emitted. These radioactive seeds are placed near or in the tumor giving a high dose of radiation to the tumor while reducing the radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. Once implanted, the seeds remain permanently in the body. Fully decayed seeds emit no radiation and are harmless to the body.

This procedure, available at Saint Vincent, is minimally invasive. Brachytherapy is performed in an outpatient setting, and most patients go home the same day they receive their treatment. The seed implantation process takes about 45 minutes to one hour. By comparison, other treatment options, such as external beam radiation may require up to five treatment visits per week for seven to eight weeks.

Brachytherapy Patient Benefits

• No surgical incision
• Shorter recovery time
• Reduced risk of side effects such as impotence or incontinence

Cryotherapy

"Along with my family and friends, Saint Vincent physicians and staff provided a great support system for me when I was dealing with cancer." - John, Prostate Cancer Survivor

The Procedure
Long time Saint Vincent urologist David Dulabon, MD, introduced cryosurgery for prostate cancer patients in our region in 2005.The procedure is performed in an outpatient setting under general or regional anesthesia. It is a minimally invasive procedure that involves no incision. Small needles are inserted into the prostate and argon and helium gases are used to freeze the prostate and destroy it entirely. Ultrasound imaging is used to pinpoint placement and application. The patient generally goes home the same or following day, as opposed to patients who receive radical prostatectomies, which require a brief hospital stay and a three- to five-week recovery.

Outcomes
When compared to radical prostatectomy, cryosurgery patients claim a greater quality of life. Chart 1 illustrates this comparison. Research
shows that patients undergoing cryosurgery have a low rate of recurrent cancer; 87% of patients treated with cryotherapy for prostate cancer had negative biopsies after seven years. Chart 2 depicts some of the outcomes of cryosurgery and the percentage of patients that experienced these outcomes 10 years after cryotherapy treatment.

Cryosurgical ablation of the prostate should not be considered as the primary treatment choice for all men, specifically not for men
wanting to continue normal sexual function. Cryosurgery can be used as first-line treatment in highly selected patients who otherwise would not be good candidates for surgery or radiation. Additionally, cryosurgery can be used in men who have failed traditional radiation therapy.

For More Information
Physicians:
To refer a patient, contact Dr. Dulabon directly at 814/452-4214.
Patients:
To learn more, talk to your family physician or call Saint Vincent Ask-A-Nurse at 814/452-5500 or 800/326-8080.

Cryotherapy Patient Benefits

• Minimally invasive
• Reduced risk of complications
  
• Shorter recovery time
• Choice of general or regional anesthesia
• Used when other treatments have been unsuccessful or are not feasible