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The American Cancer Society explains that, except for skin cancers, prostate cancer is the most common cancer found in men living in the US.
At the same time, prostate cancer that is identified early on in the disease’s progression and treated effectively presents relatively low risks. Johns Hopkins Medicine tells us that, in the big picture, prostate cancer’s prognosis is one of the best when considering all forms of cancer. On a population level this is true, but an individual’s situation must be evaluated on a personal basis.
Although each individual’s situation is different, identifying and treating prostate cancer early on can lead to more beneficial outcomes for patients. That’s why it’s so important to consider your options and find a qualified, experienced, and patient-oriented prostate cancer specialist.
Which types of physicians treat prostate cancer? What kind of prostate cancer treatments might they suggest? What should a prospective patient ask a physician before receiving care from them?
Keep reading to find the answers to these questions. That includes important questions to ask a prostate cancer specialist before becoming their patient.
Understanding the Role of Prostate Cancer Specialists
While primary care physicians are not specialists, they normally conduct initial testing and screening related to prostate cancer. It’s important to acknowledge and briefly describe their role in this process.
A primary care physician is the first point of contact for many patients who are concerned about prostate cancer. These physicians conduct initial tests, such as prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood tests and digital rectal exams (DREs).
If the results of those texts and exams identify abnormalities, physicians will refer their patients to specialist physicians — specifically, doctors for prostate issues.
Receiving further evaluation and treatment from a specialist for prostate cancer is important for a few key reasons. The first is that these physicians have expansive training related to prostate issues. The second is that their ongoing professional education keeps them informed of emerging technologies and treatments for prostate cancer.
The main types of specialists provide treatment for prostate cancer: urologists, radiation oncologists, interventional radiologists and medical oncologists.
Urologists’ Role in Treating Prostate Cancer
Urologists focus on treating issues related to the urinary tract and reproductive system, as the Cleveland Clinic explains. That includes, but is not limited to, the prostate gland. Urology specialists have targeted education and professional experience related to those parts of the body.
Urologists can and often do play a key role in treating prostate cancer. They consult with patients, order tests, perform exams, and suggest treatment options. Urologists are surgeons, so they perform surgical procedures such as radical prostatectomy.
They often work with other healthcare providers, such as medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and interventional radiologists to treat prostate cancer and support patients. As with any physician and condition, urologists tailor treatment recommendations based on the state of prostate cancer, a patient’s overall health, and other factors.
Oncologists’ Role in Treating Prostate Cancer
Oncologists are physicians who specialize in treating cancer. In a sense, urologists who treat prostate cancer are oncologists. Like urologists, other physicians who dedicate themselves to their area of medicine through education and professional experience.
Their in-depth knowledge and expertise can help patients choose treatments in line with their overall health and the state of their cancer. Oncologists also work with other providers to create a coordinated treatment plan to better support patients.
Types of oncologists who treat prostate cancer include:
- Radiation oncologists, who use radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) to treat cancer. Radiation can be provided through external devices or by the placement of a radiation source within the body.
- Medical oncologists, who use medication to treat cancer. Chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and hormone therapy are all examples of medicines used to treat cancer.
- Interventional radiologists, who use minimally invasive procedures to treat cancer. They utilize medical imaging, like MRIs, for precision guidance during those procedures.
Identifying the Right Type of Prostate Cancer Specialist for Your Needs
There are many treatments for prostate cancer, which vary considerably in terms of their invasiveness and short- and long-term side effects. For many, although not all patients, there are multiple options for effective treatment.
For small, very low risk, slowly growing early-stage prostate cancer, “treatment” such as active surveillance can be enough to monitor and control the disease in some cases. This “treatment” focuses on regular testing. Further action is only taken if the cancer progresses. This does carry the risk of the cancer getting out of control, and high quality risk stratification and monitoring is very important.
In other cases, radiotherapy, medication, or surgery are needed. It’s important to also consider minimally invasive treatments, such as laser focal therapy (LFT) and transurethral ultrasound ablation (TULSA-PRO), when appropriate.
These MRI-guided outpatient treatments have a reduced incidence of side effects as compared to the traditional treatments. While not appropriate for all cases of prostate cancer, these treatments can be effective when cancer has not spread beyond the prostate.
Because different types of physicians specialize in these procedures, it’s important to understand the available options. Finding the right type of prostate cancer specialist for your needs can be critical.
A peer-reviewed study published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine found that:
- The majority of patients in the study relied on their primary care physician to provide a referral to a diagnosing urologist.
- The majority of patients in the study also relied on their diagnosing urologist to select a specialist for treatment.
The study goes on to recommend that primary care physicians consider counseling patients about getting second opinions from providers with different perspectives on treatment. That’s because of the significant influence those physicians have over the progression of patient treatment. A urologist who does not perform minimally invasive treatments such as TULSA Pro or focal laser ablation may not be the best person to evaluate the appropriateness of these treatments for a particular patient and may not even suggest the patient investigate these options.
While the advice in that article is focused on primary care physicians, it’s relevant to patients as well. Consultation with healthcare providers is a fundamental need for determining an effective treatment plan that takes individual health, sensitivity to side effects, potential complications, and other factors into account.
Seeking a second opinion or multiple opinions about treatment from prostate cancer doctors is a valid and important part of that process. Additional input from qualified prostate cancer physicians can support a better understanding of relevant treatment options and help make the path forward clearer.
Asking certain questions can make it easier to choose between treatment options and increase confidence in receiving care from a specific physician or team of them. Keep reading to find questions to ask when seeking a prostate cancer specialist.
Essential Questions to Ask Prostate Cancer Specialists
The following questions help patients learn more about individual providers and the treatments in which they specialize. In the big picture, these questions break down a complex topic and inform patients about the specifics of treatment.
Foundational Questions About Experience and Qualifications
To ensure a physician is qualified to provide prostate cancer treatment, consider asking these questions:
- How long have you been treating patients with prostate cancer? A qualified physician with less experience may certainly be able to provide effective treatment, but an experienced prostate cancer specialist may put some patients’ minds more at ease.
- Are you board-certified in your specialty? Board certification demonstrates a physician’s commitment to their area of practice. If the physician is using MRI to guide the procedure, are they a board-certified interventional radiologist?
- How many prostate cancer patients do you treat annually? This question can help make a provider’s recent experience clearer.
Treatment Approach and Options
These questions can make it easier to understand a physician’s approach to treating prostate cancer:
- What are the treatment options you recommend for my stage of prostate cancer? The answer can help patients recognize what the next steps in the treatment process will be.
- How do you decide which treatment is best? This question can reveal a prostate cancer specialist’s thought process. The answer should mention core considerations like the patient’s overall health, the stage of the cancer, and the side effects of treatments.
- What are the potential side effects of these treatments? Side effects, in particular long-term side effects that affect general quality of life, are worth considering — especially when multiple treatments with different side-effect profiles may be effective.
Patient Communication and Support
Answers to these questions set expectations for patients and physicians alike:
- How will you keep me informed about my treatment progress? Physicians should be able to answer this question without much hesitation.
- What support services do you offer for patients undergoing prostate cancer treatments? It’s crucial to understand how patients are supported outside of treatment itself.
Outcome Expectations
Every patient and case of prostate cancer is different, but questions about outcome expectations can still provide valuable context:
- What are the success rates for the treatments you administer? Success rates are especially important to understand if multiple treatments are suitable for a patient.
- Can you provide patient references or testimonials? Hearing about other patients’ experiences can provide more context about what to expect during treatment.
Consider Your Options for Treating Prostate Cancer
It’s important to make the most of any consultation with a healthcare provider, whether it’s with a prostate cancer specialist or another type of physician. The questions we’ve shared can help patients better understand how a specific provider will provide treatment, as well as treat the patient as an individual.
Prostate Laser Center offers minimally invasive treatment options for prostate cancer to qualifying patients. These proven and effective treatments compare favorably to common traditional treatments in terms of potential side effects.
Seeking treatment for prostate cancer? Schedule a consultation today.
NOTE: The information provided on this website is general medical information and does not establish a physician-patient relationship. Please discuss your particular situation with a qualified medical professional.
