The Prostate Cancer Center at CAMC was established to provide a National Comprehensive Cancer Network driven multi-specialty approach for the diagnosis, treatment and research of prostate cancer in Charleston.

Brachytherapy
Permanent implantation of radioactive seeds, both iodine and palladium, into the prostate gland is available. Brachytherapy delivers a prescribed dose of radiation directly to the cancer cell while decreasing the risk of radiating surrounding tissue or organs. The seeds remain in the gland forever where the radiation dissipates over a short period of time. Generally, this is an outpatient procedure and can be used in combination with external beam radiation therapy and/or hormonal therapy.

Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy
The latest advance in radiation oncology, this is a type of radiation treatment that uses high energy focused X-ray beams directed at the prostate gland. The Center is the first facility in the region to utilize magnetic resonance imaging in combination with conventional CT imaging to improve accuracy of radiation treatment. These treatments usually are prescribed for five days at a time for a period of five to as many as nine weeks.

Surgery
For those men that are surgical candidates, the prostate can be removed commonly with nerve sparing technique. A three to four day hospital stay is usual and maintenance of undetectable PSA level forever is the goal.

Hormonal Therapy

The role of hormone treatments in prostate cancer is varied and used to decrease the size of the prostate gland to allow for brachytherapy, to assist the effects of radiation in eliminating the cancerous cells from the prostate, or to control the growth and symptoms of late stage prostate cancer. Hormonal therapy is generally offered with an injection varying from once every three to four months to once a year.

Chemotherapy
Many new advances are under investigation and already available for the treatment of prostate cancer. These may be reserved for patients failing to respond to surgery, radiation or other hormonal therapy.

Clinical Trials

Trials for new drugs and radiation treatments allow our patients to participate in national programs that can bring cutting edge technology to our community. This allows eligible patients access to treatment protocols that have limited availability.

Nutrition

Dietary factors which can effect cancer would include food type, method of preparation, size of portion, food variety and overall caloric balance. Current recommendations suggest that a diet which is high in fruits, vegetables, grains, beans and limited in meat, dairy products, and other high fat foods is most likely to reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Regular physical activity is important as well.

Are you at risk?

• Men age 50 to 70 with no other serious illness

• Men not presently being treated or evaluated by a urologist

• Men who have not been screened within the past year with PSA and prostate examination

• Men with family history of prostate cancer, father, grandfather, uncle and/or brother should begin screening at age 45

• African-American males should begin screening at age 45

Screening is recommended as a once-a-year prostate examination, in addition to a PSA blood sampling.

Charleston Area Medical Center
Prostate Cancer Center
3100 MacCorkle Ave. S.E., Suite B-1
Charleston, WV 25304 

Phone: (304) 342-9900