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Prostate Cancer Treatment Evolution: Focus on Patient Quality of Life
As part of its Speaking Out video series, CURE talked to Dr. Brian Keith McNeil, on behalf of ZERO-End Prostate Cancer, about navigating treatment option in prostate cancer.
Advancements in prostate cancer treatment are helping patients achieve a better quality of life after surgery or radiation, according to Dr. Brian Keith McNeil. In a recent discussion, he explained that the goal of treatment is not only to address the cancer but also to return patients to their normal activities as much as possible.
As part of its Speaking Out video series, on behalf of ZERO-End Prostate Cancer, CURE spoke with McNeil, vice chair of the Department of Urology at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, about navigating treatment option in prostate cancer.
Surgery remains a key treatment, but techniques have improved. McNeil noted that surgeons can now better spare the nerves around the prostate, which has led to improved sexual function and less incontinence after the procedure. He also mentioned that when he thinks about cancer treatment, he considers both treating the disease and maintaining quality of life, which includes concerns like bathroom habits and sexual function.
For patients who choose radiation, treatments have also become more effective and convenient. McNeil said that instead of attending daily treatments for six to eight weeks, some patients can now complete their treatment in as few as five sessions over a few weeks. This change is due to doctors learning how to better target the cancer cells and minimize side effects.
For low-risk or some intermediate-risk cases, McNeil explained that active surveillance is an option. This involves a doctor actively watching the cancer through a series of tests, including prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels, biopsies, and MRIs. If the cancer changes over time, patients can then choose to have surgery or radiation.
Beyond localized treatments, McNeil discussed systemic therapies, which are medications that work throughout the body. Since prostate cancer cells often "feed on" testosterone, these therapies can decrease testosterone levels or target the testosterone receptors on the cancer cells. Chemotherapy is also used for some patients. He noted that genetics can play a role in a person's risk for prostate cancer, and genetic testing may be recommended for some, like young men with high-risk cancer.
McNeil urged patients not to rush into a decision after a cancer diagnosis. He advised them to take time to understand their disease, do research, and get a second opinion. He said he is most excited about focal therapy, a future treatment that would target only the cancer within the prostate to minimize side effects.
