Tennova Healthcare - Cancer Center at Turkey Creek Medical Center First in East Tennesse Recognized for Prostate Cancer Treatment Excellence
3/26/2024
Striving to Reduce Risks of Side Effects During Prostate Cancer Treatment
Tennova Healthcare - Turkey Creek Medical Center and Dr. Nilesh Patel are the first in East Tennessee to be recognized as a SpaceOAR Center of Excellence. This innovative technology has been shown in clinical studies to help prostate cancer patients to avoid some of the negative effects of radiation therapy.
According to the American Cancer Society, estimates for prostate cancer in the United States for 2024 are:
- About 299,010 new cases of prostate cancer
- About 35,250 deaths from prostate cancer
Additionally, about 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. But each man’s risk of prostate cancer can vary, based on his age, race/ethnicity, and other factors.For example, prostate cancer is more likely to develop in older men. About 6 in 10 prostate cancers are diagnosed in men who are 65 or older, and it is rare in men under 40. The average age of men when they are first diagnosed is about 67. Prostate cancer risk is also higher in African American men and in Caribbean men of African ancestry than in men of other races.
“The introduction of this new pree-treatment option at Tennova Cancer Centers demonstrates our commitment to providing the best possible care to our patients by offering the latest innovation in treatments,” said Nilesh Patel, M.D., Tennova Cancer Center, Turkey Creek Medical Center. “Men diagnosed with prostate cancer have some difficult decisions to make, but knowing that there is an option that can potentially limit the risk of damage to other organs during radiation treatment will hopefully make a few of those decisions easier.”
Because of the proximity of the rectum and prostate, prostate radiation therapy can cause unintended damage to the rectum, which can lead to fecal incontinence issues or other long-lasting side effects. Placed through a needle, a hydrogel is administered as a liquid between the prostate and the rectum, but quickly solidifies into a soft gel that expands the space and pushes the rectal wall away from the high-dose radiation area. The hydrogel stays in place for about three months. After about six months, the hydrogel is naturally absorbed into the body and removed through urine.
If you are interested in learning more about Tennova Healthcare Cancer Centers, please go to tennovaturkeycreek.com/cancer-care-services. For more information about SpaceOAR Hydrogel, visit spaceoar.com.
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