CRYOSURGERY

Prostate Cancer Facts

• Prostate Cancer is the most common cancer, excluding non-melanoma skin cancers, in men. It accounts for 11% of male cancer-related deaths.
• Approximately 198,100 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year. An estimated 31,500 men will die of prostate cancer this year.
• 60% of all prostate cancers are detected while they are still localized.
• 82% of patients treated with Targeted Cryosurgery showed no signs of cancer at 5 years.
  

What is Prostate Cancer?

The Prostate

The prostate gland is part of the male reproductive system. It is about the size of a walnut and is located in front of the rectum, just below the bladder. The urethra, a tube that carries urine and semen out of the penis passes through the prostate gland.

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancerous) cells form in the prostate. These cells form a lump or mass called a tumor that can grow directly through the prostate gland and spread cancer cells to surrounding tissue, including the rectum and bladder.

Early Detection

The American Cancer Society recommends men age 50 and over undergo an annual PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) blood test and a DRE (Digital Rectal Exam). Men at high risk, particularly African American men and those with a family history of prostate cancer, should be screened annually beginning at age 45.

Signs and Symptoms

Most cases of early prostate cancer cause no symptoms and are found by PSA or DRE testing. Some prostate cancers may be found because of symptoms such as slowing or weakening of the urinary stream or the need to urinate often. Symptoms of advanced prostate cancer can include blood in the urine, impotence, and pain in the pelvis, spine, hips, or ribs. These symptoms may also be present with other diseases.

Grading the Prostate Cancer

If cancer is found in a prostate biopsy specimen, it will be graded in order to estimate it aggressiveness (how fast it is likely to grow and spread). The most commonly used prostate cancer grading system is called the Gleason system.

Cancers with high Gleason score may have already spread beyond the prostate gland. Therefore, the Gleason score (along with PSA results and DRE findings) is useful in considering treatment options.

Staging the Prostate Cancer

Staging is the process of determining how widespread the cancer is. The stage of a cancer is the most important factor in choosing treatment options and predicting a patient's outlook for survival. Information most often relied upon for staging prostate cancer is gathered from PSA results, DRE findings, and the Gleason score.

What is Cryosurgery?

Endocare's Targeted Cryoablation of The Prostate™ (TCAP™)

TCAP™ is a minimally invasive procedure in which 6 to 8 cryoprobes are inserted through small incisions and guided by ultrasound into the prostate. A warming catheter is used to protect the urethra while the probes simultaneously freeze the cancerous tissue at temperatures of -40° C. Endocare's Cryocare system uses patented temperature monitoring, enabling physicians to carefully observe the freezing process.

Unlike radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy, the targeted cryosurgery procedure can be repeated if any cancer cells are detected after initial treatment. Clinical data indicates that for locally confined prostate cancer 82% of patients receiving targeted cryosurgery remain disease-free after five years.

Unique Benefits of TCAP™

• Lower Morbidity
• Lower Incidence of Incontinence
• Fast Recovery Time
• Minimally Invasive
• Reduced Need for Blood Transfusions
• Only Repeatable Treatment Option
• Local or General Anesthesia

  For More Information Concerning Cryosurgery
  Please Contact Dr. Schoenfeld's Office.