A Prostate cancer diagnosis usually causes a great deal of anxiety and concern. Making the right decision about the best option for treatment can be difficult.
When making a decision about cancer treatment, you should consider the benefits of any treatment and balance this against the side-effects. You do have plenty of time to consider the best option for you. We can help you and your family with the decision, in consultation with the Radiotherapists and other healthcare professionals as needed.
There are several issues to consider:
1. Do I need treatment?
It depends on the type of cancer that you have, and how long you plan to be around!
About one third (30%) of prostate cancers grow very slowly and may not cause problems for 10-15 years! If you don’t have any symptoms and the cancer can be watched safely, you could go onto an Active Surveillance program. You will need regular checks with PSA, MRI and repeat biopsy.
Many Prostate are more aggressive and will need active treatment as they could be life threatening.
2. What treatment options are available to me?
3. What side-effects might treatment have, and how will this affect my quality of life?
Treatment Options
Early prostate cancer can be treated in several ways. We will provide information and advice to help you make the right decision for you and your cancer. The treatment options are quite different, and all have advantages and disadvantages.
Active Surveillance
Slow growing cancers can be safely watched, with regular PSA blood tests, prostate MRI and repeat Prostate biopsy as needed. Surveillance does not close the door on active treatment for cure in the future. About 30% of men with new prostate cancer diagnoses are managed by surveillance.
Radical Prostatectomy
Radical Prostatectomy is done for more aggressive cancers that are localised to the prostate. It can be done as an open operation or as a Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy.
Mr Stephen Lindsay performs open Radical Prostatectomy surgery at St John of God Bendigo. His research on Radical Prostatectomy in Bendigo has been presented at the World Congress of the Société Internationale d’Urologie in Hawaii in 2004 and published in the ANZ Journal of Surgery.
Radical Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy treatment is done at the Peter MacCallum Bendigo Radiotherapy Centre at Bendigo Hospital. Radiotherapy treatment is usually given 5 days a week over 4-8 weeks. Hormone treatment is usually given before Radiotherapy to reduce the size of the Prostate and help treat the cancer.
Brachytherapy
Low dose rate Brachytherapy involves the placement of permanent radioactive seeds into the Prostate. Mr Stephen Lindsay and Dr Andrew See, Radiation Oncologist introduced this treatment at St John of God Hospital Bendigo in 2005. We now perform these treatments as a day case procedure at Epworth Freemasons Hospital in Melbourne.
For more information, download our Brachytherapy pdf
