Diagnosing prostate cancer
If your prostate-specific antigen test (PSA) or digital rectal exam (DRE) is abnormal, you may need to undergo additional diagnostic testing, which may include:
- Transrectal ultrasound – a small probe that bounces sound waves off the prostate to create an image
- MRI imaging
- Biopsy – a small tissue sample taken from the prostate and analyzed for cancer cells. Roper St Francis Healthcare affiliated urologists offer precise targeted biopsies using UroNav technology to fuse MRI and ultrasound images for improved guidance
Prostate cancer treatment
Roper St. Francis Healthcare’s multidisciplinary prostate cancer experts come together to create treatment plans customized to your unique needs. Some prostate cancers may not warrant active treatment because they are slow growing and may be managed by active surveillance and regular monitoring. Other more aggressive prostate cancer treatment options include:
- Prostatectomy – a procedure to remove entire prostate. Prostatectomy may be accomplished robotically or by an open procedure. Roper St. Francis was first in the Lowcountry to offer robotic technology that has transformed the traditional prostatectomy into a minimally invasive procedure
- Radiation therapy – uses high-energy X-rays aimed at the prostate to kill cancer cells or prevent them from growing
- Brachytherapy-uses radioactive seeds implanted in the prostate to kill cancer cells
- Chemotherapy – shrinks or kills cancer with powerful medications that may be given in pill form or through an IV tube
- Hormone therapy – lowers or stops the production of testosterone and may be used by itself or in conjunction with other types of treatments such as surgery or radiation therapy
- Cellular immune therapy (Sipuleucel-t)
- Radionuclide therapy (Radium-223)
- Clinical trials may also be an option. View our current clinical trials.