Genitourinary Cancer Program

Prostate Cancer Is the Second Leading Cause of Cancer Deaths in Men

The Genitourinary Cancer Program at the Lankenau Hospital Cancer Center, located in the Philadelphia suburbs, provides expert evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of urologic and male reproductive cancers. Our areas of specialty include prostate, kidney, bladder, testicular and ureter cancers. Of these, prostate cancer is most prevalent in our region of the country. In fact, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men, second to lung cancer.

Common Symptoms

As with some other types of cancer, prostate cancer forms silently in the body, often producing no noticeable symptoms until the disease has spread beyond the original tumor site. However, with current screening techniques, we commonly diagnose prostate cancer before symptoms occur. According to the American Urologic Association, some of the most common warning signs for prostate cancer include:

• Dull pain in the lower pelvic area
• Urgency of urination
• Difficulty starting urination and/or pain while urinating
• Weak urine flow and dribbling
• Frequent sensation that your bladder is full
• Frequent nighttime urination
• Blood in the urine
• Painful ejaculation
• General pain in your lower back, hips or upper thighs
• Loss of appetite and weight
• Persistent bone pain

Screening and Diagnosis

Most doctors recommend that men get a physical examination every year and start being screened for prostate cancer at age 50, younger if they have a family history of the disease or other risk factors. The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test and digital rectal examination are the two methods doctors use to screen for prostate cancer. The PSA is a simple blood test that measures the level of a protein secreted by the prostate into the bloodstream. The digital rectal exam enables the doctor to feel for lumps or abnormalities on the prostate.

For men with an elevated PSA level or an abnormal prostate exam, additional urologic evaluation is needed. The PSA level could be elevated due to other conditions, such as benign prostate enlargement or urinary tract infection. Doctors may perform a biopsy to check for the presence of cancerous cells in the prostate or pelvic region.

Advanced Treatment Options

If a biopsy confirms the presence of prostate cancer, doctors next develop a comprehensive plan of care based on the stage of the cancer plus the patient's age, overall health, life expectancy and personal preferences. The goal of treatment is to destroy cancerous cells at the primary tumor site and wherever they have spread throughout the body. The Lankenau Hospital Cancer Center offers some of the latest advances in radiation, hormonal and surgical therapy to men with prostate cancer. Our comprehensive capabilities include:

Minimally Invasive Surgery with the da Vinci® System

The urologists at the Lankenau Hospital Cancer Center have mastered the use of the da Vinci® Surgical System, a computer-enhanced surgical robot. This innovative, FDA-approved device allows surgeons to perform minimally invasive prostate surgery with greater precision and dexterity, using the da Vinci’s highly detailed 3-D visualization capabilities.

IMRT

Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is one of the most significant breakthroughs in external beam radiation therapy. A computer-based, 3-D radiation planning and delivery system, IMRT precisely targets cancerous tumors, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

Low-Dose-Rate Brachytherapy

In this procedure, the urologist and radiation oncologist deliver a radioactive element, or “seed,” directly into the prostate through special needles. Doctors use the tiny radioactive seeds to target the tumor and limit the area exposed to radiation.

Expert Treatment Team

The Genitourinary Cancer Program at the Lankenau Hospital Cancer Center brings together some of the Philadelphia region’s most renowned specialists in medical and radiation oncology, radiology and pathology, as well as specially trained oncology nurses, pharmacists, registered dieticians, rehabilitation specialists and social workers.

Each month, Lankenau hosts a multidisciplinary urologic oncology clinic, where the specialists on our treatment team discuss and develop individualized treatment plans for people receiving care in our Genitourinary Cancer Program. We carefully explain our recommendations to patients and their loved ones, providing supportive care each step of the way. We also share our team’s recommendations with primary care and referring physicians as part of our collaborative approach.

Lankenau Hospital's century-old dedication to medical education includes sharing our expertise and knowledge of prostate cancer with residents and fellows. Monthly urology-radiology-pathology conferences are held to review cases and share information on diagnoses and recommended avenues of treatment, including the most recent treatment approaches and access to high-tech treatment, as needed.

Encouragement and Support for Patients

Patients with prostate cancer are encouraged to participate in the American Cancer Society’s Man-to-Man support group, held monthly at Lankenau Hospital. The meeting is open to all men with prostate cancer and their families. It serves as a forum for continual learning about prostate cancer for patients, including presentations from guest speakers and medical professionals, as well as supporting networking and casual information sharing among participants. See the Main Line Health Support Groups page for more information.

Prostate Cancer Risk Assessment and Genetics Program

Lankenau Hospital’s Prostate Cancer Risk Assessment and Genetics Program provides confidential evaluation of an individual’s lifetime risk for prostate cancer using personal, medical, familial, and/or genetic factors. People with a family or personal history of cancer are offered genetic counseling and genetic testing when appropriate. more 

Clinical Research: Testing Treatment Advances

As part of our commitment to provide the Main Line community with the latest medical advances, the Lankenau Hospital Cancer Center participates in clinical research trials of new cancer treatments through the Main Line Health Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP) and the Lankenau Institute for Medical Research.

We currently are conducting basic science studies of prostate cancer association with genetic markers, and we continue to enroll men in clinical research trials for treatment of prostate cancer. If diagnosed with cancer, patients may want to consider participating in a clinical research trial. We will help you understand the risks and benefits of participating in a particular clinical research trial.

Our Physician Specialists

• Michael J. Hagg, M.D., Urologist, Executive Committee

Other Team Members:

• Albert S. DeNittis, M.D., Chief, Radiation Oncology
• Zonera A. Ali, M.D., Medical Oncologist

For more information or to schedule an appointment with the Genitourinary Cancer Program, please call 1-866-CALL-MLH.