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Prostate Cancer

by Domenico Savatta, M.D. / Jeffrey I. Katz, M.D.

The number of men diagnosed with prostate cancer has risen steadily since 1980, and it is now the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths among men in the United States. The American Cancer Society registry discloses that there were 232,000 new cases of prostate cancer with 30,000 deaths in the USA in 2004. The incidences of prostate cancer and mortality increase with age. More than 70% of men diagnosed with prostate cancer are over the age of 65. The incidence is more than twice as high among African-American men as Caucasian men. There are also other risk factors linked to prostate cancer including genetics, diet, and exposure to toxins such as Agent Orange.

Current methods of screening for prostate cancer include a digital rectal examination combined with PSA (Prostate Specific antigen) blood test. These should be performed yearly starting at age 40 to 50 depending on the patient's family history and race. PSA values as low as 2.5 may be elevated depending on age. When either of these tests is abnormal, a transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy can be performed in our office. Using this strategy of early diagnosis allows treatment of prostate cancer at an early stage and with a potentially higher success rate.

Fortunately the death rate due to prostate cancer has fallen the last 2 years. This is thought to be due to the effectiveness of yearly screening with PSA. Prostate cancer is currently diagnosed at an earlier stage and is more effectively cured.

Patients diagnosed with organ confined prostate cancer have many choices for treatment. Our urologists offer all forms of prostate cancer therapy including surgery, radiation, and freezing the prostate.

Drs. Savatta and Galdieri routinely perform DaVinci ROBOTIC Prostatectomy.

Drs. Savatta, Galdieri, Lefkon, and Katz perform traditional open prostatectomy.

Drs. Katz, Bonomo, Lefkon, Strauss, and Galdieri perform brachytherapy (insertion of radioactive seeds).

Drs. Katz, Lefkon, and Galdieri perform cryosurgery of the prostate (freezing).