Prostate Cancer Treatment
If you’re the one in six American men diagnosed with prostate cancer, we know how worrying it can be. But at Beaufort Memorial, you can count on the most effective treatments available to help conquer the condition and lead a longer, active life.
The Keyserling Cancer Center in Beaufort and New River Cancer Center in Okatie are home to some of the Lowcountry’s leading prostate cancer specialists. These dedicated teams—including board-certified urologists, medical and radiation oncologists, highly trained nurses, therapists and other—will work with you to create the best course of treatment.
Throughout your journey, you’ll have access to a full range of cancer support services, plus your own nurse navigator and social worker to guide you every step of the way.
To make your appointment, call 843-522-7800 (Beaufort) or 843-706-8660 (Okatie). Or find a urologist anytime online.
Surgery
Surgery is the primary treatment for mostly younger men and many older men with early-stage prostate cancer. The most common procedure is called radical prostatectomy, which removes the prostate gland and nearby lymph nodes. If a prostatectomy is recommended as part of your treatment, we can refer you directly to subspecialists—including our partners at Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC Health).
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays (like X-rays) to shrink or kill cancer cells. It often has the best potential for curing the disease and helping prevent a recurrence. Beaufort Memorial uses advanced radiation technology to treat prostate cancer with extreme precision, while sparing normal, healthy tissue.
Because the prostate is close to other critical body structures, a clear view of the prostate during radiation therapy is critical to avoid side effects such as incontinence and impotence. Beaufort Memorial uses External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT) using the latest technology to plan and deliver high-dose radiation with unmatched precision. The result is faster, more effective treatments that minimize the effect on your quality of life.
Get your radiation therapy questions answered or schedule a consultation by calling 843-522-7800 in Beaufort or 843-273-7980 in Okatie. Or submit your information online and a patient coordinator will contact you.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is used to kill cancer cells with medicines delivered in varied cycles through either an IV or a pill. It may be used to shrink a tumor before surgery, to kill cancer cells that remain in the body after surgery or radiation or to treat tumors that have developed in other areas.
Chemotherapy is not a standard treatment for early prostate cancer, but may be an option if the cancer has spread outside the prostate. Recent studies have shown that newer chemotherapy drugs can help men live longer with a better quality of life.
Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapy works by reducing the body’s level of male hormones, called androgens, which prostate cancer cells need to grow. This treatment uses medications that inhibit the body's hormone production. An alternative treatment surgically removes the testicles.
Hormone therapy may be used before radiation to shrink the cancer to make treatment more effective, after surgery or radiation if the cancer returns or if for specific reasons traditional treatments aren’t appropriate.
Active Surveillance
If your prostate cancer is small, not expected to grow quickly and not causing symptoms, your doctor may recommend an approach called active surveillance, or watchful waiting. This means that instead of treatment (and potential side effects), the cancer will be monitored closely. If your results change, or you start to experience symptoms, you may then begin treatment.
Active surveillance is often recommended for older men who have other serious health problems. Men who are young and healthy are less likely to be offered this approach, out of concern that the cancer might become a problem over the next 20 or 30 years.