Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is cancer that starts in the prostate gland. The prostate is a small, walnut-sized structure that makes up part of a man's reproductive system. It wraps around the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body.

The PSA blood test is often done to screen men for prostate cancer. Because of PSA testing, most prostate cancers are now found before they cause any symptoms.

To learn more about the causes and symptoms of prostate cancer, visit the Owensboro Health Encylcopedia.

Treatments for Prostate Cancer

Intenstity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
The Mitchell Memorial Cancer Center offers one of the most advanced treatments available for fighting prostate cancer, a procedure called Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT). With this treatment, our specialists target cancer cells with small but powerful beams of radiation. Advanced technology is the key to IMRT; it allows us to bend the radiation beam to the shape of the tumor, minimizing radiation exposure to healthy cells and reducing side effects. 

Radiation Seed Implants
Brachytherapy is a procedure to implant radioactive "seeds" into the prostate gland to kill prostate cancer cells. Implants may be short-term or permanent. At Owensboro Health, we offer low-dose procedures featuring Iodine-125 as the radioactive source.

Surgery
Owensboro Health offers a number of surgeries to treat prostate cancer, including robotic-assisted prostatectomies (removal of all or part of the prostate gland). Robotic surgeries may reduce pain, bleeding and complications.

Learn more about prostate cancer at our Health Encyclopedia.

Visit our Cancer Education section for a comprehensive guide to heart disease, surgeries, and preventative measures you can take for a healthier heart.