Prostate Cancer

Prostate Measurement  |  Gleason Score  |   Other Services

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among American men, and it is the second leading cause of death from cancer. It occurs when cells in the prostate gland mutate and multiply very rapidly. Prostate cancer often stays confined to the area for several years, but it may metastasize or spread to other areas of the body.

Symptoms of prostate cancer may include pain, difficult or frequent urination, a weakened urinary stream and sexual dysfunction. Diagnosis will often begin with a PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) blood test. Elevated levels of PSA signifies an abnormality in the function of the prostate, which could be the result of an infection, benign hypertrophy (growth of the gland or tissue), or cancer. Depending on the result of the PSA test, a biopsy may be administered to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment options include watchful waiting, surgery, radiation therapies, chemotherapy, cryosurgery, hormonal therapy, or combinations of these treatments. The best treatment option depends on stage of the disease, cellular indicators of cancer aggressiveness, PSA levels, whether the disease has spread, and a man’s age, health, lifestyle and perspective on therapy risks.

Prostate Measurement

Measurement of the Prostate Gland

• Measurement of the prostate gland by a transrectal ultrasound exam may be helpful to determine the extent of the disease. On the other hand, this exam may not give any valuable information to the physician if the patient has a known metastatic disease. Therefore, it is not always performed.
• If a transrectal ultrasound exam is done, it is performed by the physician. The prostate gland is measured for size and shape. This information is recorded on film. The Radiation Oncologist and Medical Radiation Physicist may use this information to decide the area to be irradiated.
• If the prostate gland measured is found to be large and depending on your other clinical findings, the Urologist or Radiation Oncologist may give Lupron, Casodex, Flutamide or Eulexin medication to block testosterone production. This will stop the tumor growth and decrease the size of the prostate gland. The medication is given on a once a month basis.
• A smaller gland will lead to a safer (fewer complications) treatment course and we now feel, that a course of Anti-Androgen (Anti-Testerone) therapy actually enhances the overall cure rate. Unfortunately, there are some side effects to this medication. This can include hot flashes, tiredness and weakness. They are temporary, and resolve after the medication wears off.

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Gleason Score

A Gleason Score is given in reference to the severity or stage of Prostate Cancer, ranging from 2 to 10. The Gleason Score is the sum of two other numbers- the grade of the primary tumor type and the grade of any secondary tumor types. These grades depend on the cancer cells’ deviation from normal healthy prostate cells, with 1 being the mildest change and 5 being the most severe. A score may look something like a Gleason’s grade of (4+3) = 7. This means the primary tumor pattern was a 4, but there were also secondary type 3 cancer cells found in the specimen reviewed.

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Other Services

• Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy: We offer Surgical Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP), Laser Therapy, and Medical Management.

• Infections: A wide variety of antibiotic and surgical interventions are available.

• Erectile Dysfunction: The Cancer Center of Irvine offers Surgical Interventions, Mechanical Alternatives, and Medical Aids, such as Viagra.

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