Treatment options for prostate cancer

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Treatment options for prostate cancer

Radical robotic prostatectomy (aka Da Vinci Robotic Prostatectomy/Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy): Minimally-invasive surgical procedure to remove the prostate gland. This surgery is performed by a trained and skilled surgeon who uses a computer-enhanced robotic surgical system that is located next the operating table. The surgical system is composed of three main parts: a vision system with high magnification and resolution, robotic arms and instruments, and a console that the surgeon uses to view the operative field and control the instruments.

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Analyzing the Velocity of the PSA

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Analyzing the Velocity of the PSA

A PSA test is a blood test used to measure the level of PSA in the blood.  Many have heard the 3 letter abbreviation, especially if you are a man over 50, but what exactly is a PSA?  PSA is the abbreviation for Prostate-Specific Antigen, which is a protein produced by the cells of the prostate gland.  The PSA is often called a biological or tumor marker because it can be used to detect disease.  The disease in this case is prostate cancer.  Therefore the PSA test measures the level of PSA in the blood, like we mentioned above, in order to screen for prostate cancer. 

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Grading Prostate Cancer

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Grading Prostate Cancer

The grading system for prostate cancer is used to help assess the prognosis of prostate cancer. It also provides the doctor with the necessary information needed to select the most optimal treatment plan for the patient. Similar to staging prostate cancer, grade are given to each prostate cancer case to determine the severity of the disease. A urologist will assign a grade to the prostate cancer after the patient has undergone a prostate biopsy. The tissue samples are sent to a laboratory to be analyzed by a pathologist.

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An Elevated PSA is Not a Diagnosis for Cancer

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An Elevated PSA is Not a Diagnosis for Cancer

The PSA blood test is often the first step in screening for prostate cancer.   It is included in a two-part screening process that also includes the digital rectal exam (DRE). Since the PSA is not prostate-cancer specific, abnormal results are further, or an elevated PSA is not a diagnosis for cancer.  Things like evaluating a patient, knowing their medical and family history, following a PSA trend, as well as the velocity at which PSA changes can help a physician make an informed decision about what an elevated PSA might mean.   Because PSA tests are not necessarily straightforward, simple or easy diagnostic tools, knowing the risk factors and tracking the changes in PSA can help you and your physician interpret a PSA properly.   

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Robotic prostate surgery better for erectile function

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Robotic prostate surgery better for erectile function

A new study from Australia suggests that robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy is more effective at preserving erectile function and urinary continence than a laparoscopic radical prostatectomy for treating localized prostate cancer. The study was recently published as a meta-analysis in Urologia Internationalis. The study was conducted by researchers at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. It involved two randomized controlled trials and included a total of 232 patients in which each of their surgical approaches were compared. 

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Finding and Diagnosing Prostate Cancer

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Finding and Diagnosing Prostate Cancer

PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test. A normal PSA is less than 4.0 ng/mL. If the PSA level is greater, it is more likely that prostate cancer is present. However, there are other conditions that can raise the PSA. Men with a PSA level between 4.0 and 10.0 ng/mL have about a 25 percent chance of having prostate cancer. If the PSA level is greater than 10.0ng/mL, the chance of having prostate cancer is over 50 percent. If you have a high PSA, a doctor will look at other factors such as age, race, and family history, and also rule out any other possible conditions causing the elevated PSA. If other conditions have been ruled out, the doctor will recommend a prostate biopsy.

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Oncotype DX: New Genetic Test For Prostate Cancer

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Oncotype DX: New Genetic Test For Prostate Cancer

A new genetic test has recently become available called Oncotype DX. The test is made by Genomic Health and will now be available at Dr. Samadi's Prostate Cancer Center in New York City. What is Oncotype DX? The Oncotype DX prostate cancer test is a biopsy-based genetic test that can be combined with other measures to predict the aggressiveness of prostate cancer. The test applies advanced genomic science to reveal the unique biology of a tumor in order to optimize cancer treatment decisions for each individual patient.

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MRI Fusion Guided Prostate Biopsy

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MRI Fusion Guided Prostate Biopsy

The MRI fusion guided prostate biopsy “fuses” MRI scans with real-time ultrasound images of the prostate. This cutting-edge biopsy system allows us here at the Dr. David Samadi Prostate Cancer Center to pinpoint specific tumors within the prostate gland. This information provides the patient with the most optimal treatment plan and best possible outcome in detecting and diagnosing prostate cancer.

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5 different types of prostate cancer

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5 different types of prostate cancer

Researchers at Cancer Research UK have discovered that there are actually five different types of prostate cancer. The researchers say that these five different types of prostate cancer can be distinguished from one another and may even mean different treatments for each type that could be targeted to patients. The study was published in the journal EBioMedicine.

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Most nutritious foods for prostate health

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Most nutritious foods for prostate health

Tomatoes. Tomatoes contain lycopene - a powerful antioxidant that also gives tomatoes its rich red color. Lycopene may help lower prostate cancer risk, prevent prostate cancer or slow tumor growth in men who have prostate cancer. Tomatoes release most of its lycopene when cooked or pureed.

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What are the risk factors for prostate cancer?

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What are the risk factors for prostate cancer?

Race/ethnicity: African-American men and Caribbean men are more likely to develop prostate cancer compared to men of other races. African-American men are more than twice as likely to die of prostate cancer compared to Caucasian men. Prostate cancer occurs less often in Asian-American and Hispanic/Latino men than in non-Hispanic whites.

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PCA3 test for prostate cancer

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PCA3 test for prostate cancer

What is the PCA3 test?

A PCA3 (prostate cancer gene 3) test is a simple urine test used to predict the likelihood of prostate cancer. Specifically, it is an additional tool used to determine whether a prostate biopsy is necessary. The PCA3 is specific for prostate cancer as the prostate cancer gene is only produced by prostate cancer cells.

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