Mays Cancer Center, home to UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center, introduces the newest technology in treating prostate cancer. This innovative method is called stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), a minimally invasive therapy using high amounts of radiation with millimeter precision to destroy tumors in the prostate.
Stereotactic body radiation therapy is a treatment for patients with low- to intermediate-risk prostate cancer. SBRT has been around for several years, using beams of energy to precisely target tumors while minimizing damage to healthy tissue. However, the latest method in treating prostate cancer has been available at Mays Cancer Center since May this year. The therapy is known to deliver faster and more efficient forms of radiation compared to conventional radiation treatment.
Past methods required 40 to 45 daily sessions, while the newer method reduces treatment sessions to five days. SBRT is outpatient, allowing the patient to drop in for appointments and avoid overnight stays.
“Having stereotactic body radiation therapy available for patients with prostate cancer means more access to care,” said Christien Kluwe, MD, PhD, radiation oncologist and assistant professor at Mays Cancer Center. “The treatment is less intrusive, and the recovery time is minimal. This technology is a game-changer for patients who need to travel to San Antonio. For loved ones, it means more time spent with family and less time worrying about treatment.”
Kluwe assesses a patient’s eligibility based on biopsy results, imaging scans and discussions with the patient. He develops a treatment plan and oversees sessions as they are performed. Before treatments begin, Kluwe injects a gel spacer between the prostate and rectum under local anesthesia. This gel further protects the rectum throughout treatment and dissolves within months.
According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), prostate cancer is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among men in the United States. About one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. Age is generally a risk factor in prostate cancer, and it is more likely to develop in men aged 65 and older.
September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, a reminder to know the warning signs, the risks, and the importance of prostate cancer screenings. When recognizing the signs, experts say men may experience pain or a burning sensation during urination, problems controlling urination, blood in urine or lingering pain near lower back, hips or thighs that don’t go away.
Men with a strong family history of prostate cancer are recommended to speak to their primary care physician about screening for prostate cancer. Early screenings allow providers to find cancers early before they spread.
For more information on prostate cancer and stereotactic body radiation therapy, or to make an appointment, visit cancer.uthscsa.edu or call 210-450-1000.