Treatments vary, including chemotherapy, hormone therapy, ablative therapy, immunotherapy, targeted drug therapy, radiation and prostate robotic surgery.

Dr. Matthew Tollefson, a urologist at Mayo Clinic, explains how advancement in robotic prostate surgery is making it easier for patients to get back on their feet.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (0:58) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

About 1 in 8 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. Many of those patients undergo surgery to get rid of the cancerous tumor.

"Most of the time, prostate cancer is a slower-growing type of tumor," says Dr. Tollefson. "Physically removing it could then cure one from cancer."

Advancements in robotic prostate surgery

He says surgery is a common option for many men, especially if the cancer is contained in the prostate. Medical innovation has improved cancer removal surgeries. Now, there's an upgrade to the robotic prostatectomy procedure.

"Instead of all of the instruments coming in through separate incisions, they come in through a single incision, and the robot is able to then branch out within the abdomen and remove the prostate," explains Dr. Tollefson.

Patients have a faster recovery and reduced pain with the single-port robotic procedure.

Other prostate cancer treatment options can include:

• Radiation therapy.
• Ablative therapies.
• Hormone therapy.
• Chemotherapy.
• Immunotherapy.
• Targeted drug therapy.

Related Posts:

• Mayo Clinic Minute: Prostate cancer screening and treatment options
• Mayo Clinic Minute: Importance of exercise for men with prostate cancer
• Consumer Health: Do you know the symptoms of prostate cancer?
• Consumer Health: Treating prostate cancer

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: Improvements in prostate surgery appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Dr. Matthew Tollefson, a Mayo Clinic urologic oncologist, explains how a growing prostate can cause problems.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (1:00) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

Prostate cancer affects more than 250,000 people in the U.S. with about 60% of cases diagnosed in people over 65.

"The prostate gland is a gland that sits around the urethra in men, just below the bladder," says Dr. Tollefson. "That gland then is responsible for producing semen."

But cancer isn’t the only problem that can occur in prostates.

"Men basically urinate through the middle of the prostate – kind of like through the hole in a doughnut," says Dr. Tollefson. "As that doughnut gets larger, that starts to pinch off the urinary stream."

The result is a tough time emptying the bladder and a need to go more frequently. Infections of the prostate are also common and can have similar symptoms, which is why it's important to share information with your health care team.

And even though those symptoms can be embarrassing for some patients, Dr. Tollefson says it's important to see a health care professional.

"There's no reason to really suffer and go through side effects of progression and that type of thing when, really, these things are generally very well-treated and with very little side effect," says Dr. Tollefson.

For the safety of its patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was either recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in a nonpatient care area where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: Signs there is a problem with your prostate appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men, but thanks to improvements in detection and treatment, the likelihood of surviving the diagnosis is good. Both the five-year and the 10-year survival rates for all stages of prostate cancer are 98%, according to the American Cancer Society. As a result, there more than 3.1 million men in the U.S. have been diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point. 

Living after a cancer diagnosis is often called "survivorship." The survivorship experience is different for every cancer survivor, but it's possible to predict some of what the survivor might experience based on the type of cancer. For example, both prostate cancer and its treatment can cause urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction.

"I think survivorship is just a critical issue in prostate cancer management," says Dr. Matthew Tollefson, a Mayo Clinic urologist. "The location of the prostate is a factor, so many men are concerned about urinary function and sexual function, and to some extent bowel function, because these are all in the the general region of the prostate."

After treatment, men may be hesitant to discuss their side effects or be self-conscious about sharing their feelings and worries. Health care providers can help.

"It's absolutely critical to have that discussion with your doctor, says Dr. Tollefson. "We have effective treatments to manage almost all the side effects that can come up, whether they be issues with body composition, or sexual function or urinary control. It's important to understand that that these are common things and recognize that your physician has likely heard this from many people before and really is well-equipped to help manage and get through some of the issues that that do arise."

On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Tollefson discusses what men can expect after treatment for prostate cancer and how they can improve their quality of life going forward.

Watch: Dr. Tollefson discuss prostate cancer survivorship.

Read the full transcript.

For the safety of its patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in an area not designated for patient care, where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.

For more information and all your COVID-19 coverage, go to the Mayo Clinic News Network and mayoclinic.org.

The post Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: Living as a prostate cancer survivor appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

• Men 55 to 69 years
  Clinicians inform men ages 55 to 69 years about the potential benefits and harms of screening for prostate cancer based on prostate-specific antigen. Many men will experience potential harm from of screening. Some will have false-positive results that require additional workup, overdiagnosis and overtreatment, and treatment complications, such as incontinence and impotence.

• Men 70 and older 
  Recommends against PSA-based screening for prostate cancer in these men age 70 years and older.

"The recommendations don't change for men over 70," says Dr. Matthew Tollefson, a Mayo Clinic urologist. "If men over 70 are asymptomatic with no family history, they don't' need to have PSA tests every year. Those men have very low risk of dying from prostate cancer. But, for men who are from 55 to 69, there can be a benefit seen with screening. This is where the task force is now giving nuance to the discussion and saying there isn't a blanket statement for everyone."

Watch: Dr. Matthew Tollefson discusses prostate cancer screening.

Journalists: Broadcast-quality sound bites with Dr. Tollefson are in the downloads.

The prostate-specific antigen blood test is the most common method to screen for prostate cancer. Dr. Tollefson says there are benefits of  prostate-specific antigen prostate cancer screening, but it's not risk-free. "Screening men from ages 55 to 69 is the benefit of catching a cancer earlier, when it's easier to treat and potentially cure. If men are screened, then, potentially, that tumor can be identified when it's at a curable state. Then, they can undergo curative treatment and reduce their risk of dying of prostate cancer.

"The risk of being screened, in a lot of ways, comes with the risk of being treated," says Dr. Tollefson. "If a man is screened, and the test shows he is at risk of prostate cancer, frequently, the next step is to get a prostate biopsy. There is a small but real risk of infection to arise after a biopsy. Then, with treatment —both with radiation as well as surgery — the risk of incontinence and erectile dysfunction can be a real issue for some men."

Prostate cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in American men. About 1 in 7 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society. Dr. Tollefson says it's important for men to have a conversation with their health care provider to determine the best option that weighs risks and personal preferences.

The post Men should know about prostate cancer screening guidelines appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Get smart during Men's Health Week by learning about the latest prostate cancer news, including how a new test offered through Mayo Clinic is reducing unnecessary biopsies.

Here are five things to know:

1.  One in 7 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society.
"Prostate cancer is a very common tumor within the prostate," says Dr. Matthew Tollefson, a urologic oncologist at Mayo Clinic. "It is largely a disease that happens in men as they get older, in their 50s, 60s and 70s."

Watch: Dr. Tollefson explains prostate cancer.
Journalists: Broadcast quality sound bites with Dr. Tollefson are in the downloads.

2.  Some men are at a higher risk for prostate cancer.
"If someone in your family has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, it’s important for you to get screened and tested," says Dr.Tollefson. "And African-American men are at increased risk for developing a more aggressive type of prostate cancer."

Dr. Tollefson says the risk for all men increases with age.

3.  Early detection is best.
Prostate cancer detected when it's still confined to the prostate gland has a better chance of being treated successfully. While some types of prostate cancer grow slowly and may need minimal or no         treatment, other types are aggressive and can spread quickly.

4.  The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has modified its screening recommendations for prostate cancer.
The task force encourages men 55 to 69 to balance the benefits and risks involved, and work with their health care provider to make an individualized decision about screening. The task force continues to recommend against screening men 70 and older.

Watch: Dr. Tollefson explains the new recommendations.
Journalists: Broadcast quality sound bites with Dr. Tollefson are in the downloads.

5.  Mayo Clinic offers a new test to better detect prostate cancer.
The Prostate Health Index, or PHI test, fills the diagnostic gap between a prostate blood screening and prostate biopsy.

“By performing the Prostate Health Index test, we’re able to provide a better risk assessment of that patient’s likelihood of having a malignancy upon biopsy,” says Dr. Alicia Algeciras-Schimnich, chair of Mayo Clinic's Division of Clinical Biochemistry.

The test, offered in collaboration with the company Beckman Coulter, combines three blood assessments to calculate a Prostate Health Index score that is tailored to each patient. This test has been found to reduce unnecessary biopsies by 30 percent.

Watch: Dr. Algeciras-Schimnich explains the Prostate Health Index test.

The post 5 things to know about prostate cancer during Men’s Health Week appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

• Men ages 55 to 69 years.  Clinicians inform men ages 55 to 69 years about the potential benefits and harms of prostate-specific antigen (PSA)–based screening for prostate cancer. Many men will experience potential harms of screening, including false-positive results that require additional workup, overdiagnosis and overtreatment, and treatment complications, such as incontinence and impotence.

• Men age 70 years and older.  Recommends against PSA-based screening for prostate cancer in these men age 70 years and older.

Mayo Clinic urologist Dr. Matthew Tollefson says, "The recommendations don't change for men over 70. If men over 70 are asymptomatic with no family history, they don't' need to have PSA tests every year. Those men have very low risk of dying from prostate cancer. But for men who are from 55 to 69, there can be a benefit seen with screening. This is where the task force is now giving nuance to the discussion and saying there isn't a blanket statement for everyone."

Watch: Dr. Matthew Tollefson discusses prostate cancer screening

Journalists: Broadcast-quality sound bites with Dr. Tollefson are in the downloads.

The PSA blood test is the most common method to screen for prostate cancer. Dr. Tollefson says there are benefits of PSA prostate cancer screening, but it's not risk-free. "Screening men from ages 55 to 69 is the benefit of catching a cancer earlier, when it's easier to treat and potentially cure. If men are screened, then, potentially, that tumor can be identified when it's at a curable state. Then, they can undergo curative treatment and reduce their risk of dying of prostate cancer.

"The risk of being screened, in a lot of ways, comes with the risk of being treated," says Dr. Tollefson. "If a man is screened, and the test shows he is at risk of prostate cancer, frequently, the next step is to get a prostate biopsy. There is a small, but real risk of infection to arise after a biopsy. Then, with treatment —both with radiation as well as surgery — the risk of incontinence and erectile dysfunction can be a real issue for some men."

Prostate cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in American men. The American Cancer Society says about 1 in 7 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime. Dr. Tollefson says it's important for men to have a conversation with their health care provider to determine the best option that weighs risks and as well as personal preferences.

The post What men should know about new prostate cancer screening guidelines appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

ANSWER: Active surveillance is a reasonable approach for men with low-risk prostate cancer. However, prostate cancer has a wide range of possible treatment options. It is important to consider all the options before making a decision. Obtaining a second opinion often can be quite useful when deciding on the best approach.

Prostate cancer is common, particularly in older men, and it often grows slowly. Because of that, many men with prostate cancer actually die due to some other cause. About 1 in 6 American men are diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in their lives, but only about 1 in 30 actually dies from the disease. Therefore, it is important to distinguish between the forms of prostate cancer that may not require treatment right away and those that may be aggressive and need to be addressed more quickly.

Choosing to hold off on treatment and instead closely monitoring prostate cancer through active surveillance may be a good choice when the cancer is small, expected to grow very slowly, confined to one area of the prostate and is not causing signs or symptoms. For older men or those who have another medical condition that limits life expectancy, active surveillance may also be the best option.

Active surveillance does require a commitment to follow-up appointments on the part of those who choose it. Most experts recommend regular blood tests, rectal exams and periodic prostate biopsies to see if the cancer is progressing. If, based on results of those follow-up tests, the cancer looks like it is growing, treatment may be performed at a later date.

If treatment is needed, a variety of options are available. As you noted, surgery to remove the prostate may be recommended.  But other treatments can be used for prostate cancer, too. They include radiation therapy, hormone therapy and chemotherapy, among others. An individual’s specific treatment plan is developed based on a number of factors, such as how fast the cancer is growing, how much it has spread, and the person’s overall health. These factors combine to determine the benefits and the potential side effects of treatment.

Treatment for prostate cancer can cause side effects. Along with other possible complications, incontinence, or leaking urine, and erectile dysfunction can happen after surgery or radiation. The risk of these side effects can be lowered with state-of-the-art radiation therapy or when an experienced surgeon performs the procedure. If surgery is recommended, do not be hesitant to ask the surgeon how many of these surgeries he or she does each year. Surgeons who perform 50 or more a year typically have better outcomes than surgeons who perform fewer.

Keep in mind, too, that prostate cancer — even if it is an aggressive form of the disease — is not immediately life threatening. That means you can take time to talk to several physicians, get their recommendations and decide on the best approach for you.

You should never be afraid to ask for a second opinion. Most physicians understand and even encourage their patients to seek additional input if they have any hesitation or concerns about a diagnosis, recommended testing or treatment plan. If your surgeon or your doctor is offended by a request for a second opinion, you may want to consider switching to a different doctor. — Matthew Tollefson, M.D., Urology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

The post Tuesday Q & A: Active surveillance reasonable approach for low-risk prostate cancer appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Join us Saturday, Feb. 22, at 9 a.m. CT, when we talk about men’s health.  We’ll discuss heart health with Stephen Kopecky, M.D., and prostate health with Matthew Tollefson, M.D., and we’ll talk with Thomas Osborn, M.D. about gout, a form of arthritis that affects an estimated 6 million Americans each year. Another important area regarding men’s health is testosterone. Endocrinologist Todd Nippoldt M.D., will be here to address testosterone deficiencies and testosterone therapy and respond to some of the media hype. We hope you’ll join us.

Myth or Matter of Fact: Higher testosterone levels cause baldness.

To listen to the program LIVE, click here.

Listen to this week’s Medical News Headlines: News Segment February 22, 2014 (right click MP3)

Mayo Clinic Radio is a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic. The show is taped for rebroadcast by some affiliates. On Twitter follow #MayoClinicRadio and tweet your questions.

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Join us Saturday, Feb. 22, at 9 a.m. CT, when we talk about men’s health.  We’ll discuss heart health with Stephen Kopecky, M.D., and prostate health with Matthew Tollefson, M.D., and we’ll talk with Thomas Osborn, M.D. about gout, a form of arthritis that affects an estimated 6 million Americans each year. Another important area regarding men’s health is testosterone. Endocrinologist Todd Nippoldt M.D., will be here to address testosterone deficiencies and testosterone therapy and respond to some of the media hype. We hope you’ll join us.

Myth or Matter of Fact: Higher testosterone levels cause baldness.

To listen to the program LIVE, click here.

For future topics, click on Upcoming Programs.

To listen to archived shows, click on Episodes.

If there is a topic you would like us to address, drop us a note.  Click here to create a guest account.

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