What can foreign medicine offer to patients with prostate cancer?

Approximately one in eight men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime. This disease is the second most common among the male population. Prostate cancer develops predominantly in older people. The median age at diagnosis is 66 years.

Currently in Ukraine there is a trend towards an increase in the incidence of prostate cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, more than 6,000 new cases of malignant tumors of the prostate gland are registered annually in our country. In about 40% of patients, the disease is detected in the third or fourth stage.

The mortality rates from prostate cancer in Ukraine exceed the global ones: in our country 41 cases per 100,000 population, in the world – 18.7 per 100,000. Despite the fact that oncology in Ukraine is developing rapidly and significant progress can already be noted, the level of medical care for patients with prostate cancer remains somewhat lower than in Western countries. That is why many Ukrainians prefer to be treated abroad.

Innovative methods of prostate cancer treatment in foreign clinics

In recent years, active research has been conducted on the search for new, more effective and safe methods of treating malignant tumors of the prostate. Some innovative technologies are already used in foreign clinics.

Robotic Prostate Cancer Surgery

Surgery is the main treatment for prostate cancer. As a rule, radical prostatectomy is prescribed for patients suffering from malignant tumors of the prostate. The two most common side effects of this surgery are erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence. Fortunately, over the past 10 years, significant advances in the field of surgery have reduced the likelihood of their development.

One of the latest innovations in the treatment of prostate cancer has been the use of robotic units for radical prostatectomy. In the past, surgeons performed this operation either openly (through a large incision) or laparoscopically (without robotic navigation).

Robot-assisted operations allow access to the prostate through smaller incisions and more precise manipulations during tumor resection. Thanks to the multifold increase in the operating field, the surgeon can work with even the smallest and most delicate structures, such as blood vessels and nerves, with greater accuracy. This can significantly reduce the risk of developing complications such as erectile dysfunction and urination disorders.

In addition, the removal of prostate cancer with the help of a robot is associated with a number of advantages:

• less painful rehabilitation period;
• less risk of blood loss and infection;
• fast recovery.

Today, some foreign clinics offer single-port robotic surgery for the treatment of prostate cancer. Such operations allow resection of the tumor through just one small incision. They are particularly suitable for patients with contraindications for open surgery (eg obese patients).

Brachytherapy for prostate cancer

This innovative treatment is suitable for patients with localized prostate cancer. It can be used as an independent method of therapy, and in combination with other antitumor methods.

Remote radiotherapy involves irradiating a large area of ​​the body. Thus, not only cancerous, but also healthy cells of the body fall under the influence of radiation. This explains the side effects of this method of treatment. During brachytherapy, the radiation source (radioactive seed) is located in close proximity to the tumor. This allows you to act on it with high doses, without harming the surrounding tissues.

Brachytherapy can be used in combination with other treatments. Recently, researchers at the Cleveland Clinic concluded that brachytherapy in combination with teletherapy could improve survival outcomes in men with high-risk prostate cancer.

High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) for prostate cancer

This is a new non-invasive treatment method in which prostate cancer cells are heated and destroyed using focused ultrasound. HIFU is suitable for patients with low to moderately aggressive prostate cancer. The tumor should be well visualized on MRI and have a favorable anatomical location. The procedure is associated with a minimal risk of side effects, does not require surgical intervention and hospitalization.

Ablation is carried out under the control of MRI, which makes it possible to accurately affect the prostate tissue. Unlike radical prostatectomy and radiation therapy, HIFU does not increase the risk of complications such as urinary and fecal incontinence. After the procedure, patients can return to normal activities in just a few days.

An innovative method for prostate biopsy

Until recently, prostate biopsy was performed transrectally, which was associated with a rather high risk of bacteremia (bacteria entering the bloodstream) and infection. Today, some foreign clinics offer transperineal biopsy. During the diagnostic procedure, the doctor guides the biopsy needle not through the rectum, but through the perineum. The new approach allows for easier access to the anterior prostate, which is difficult to qualitatively examine with a transrectal biopsy.

This technique is especially suitable for patients with a history of infection or sepsis after transrectal biopsy, and for people at risk of complications due to bacteremia.

Treatment of prostate cancer in Turkey at the Memorial Bahçelievler Hospital

When designing Memorial Bahçelievler Hospital, every detail was thought out to ensure maximum convenience for medical staff, patients and their relatives. The administration of the clinic believes that the very atmosphere of the medical institution should contribute to a speedy recovery. Everything, including the color of the walls, furniture, lighting and accessories, is chosen in such a way as to create a cozy and comfortable space.

Memorial Hospital has state-of-the-art facilities, including:

• Elekta Versa HD SIGNATURE is a state-of-the-art linear accelerator that helps to accurately calculate the area and dosage of radiation.
• Da Vinci Robotic Surgical Unit – allows for high-precision robot-assisted operations to remove malignant tumors of the prostate gland.
• MRI 3 Tesla is a modern MRI system that can be used to perform primary diagnosis of prostate cancer, prepare for surgery and monitor the effectiveness of the treatment.
• Dual energy computed tomography – allows you to scan any part of the body in a very short period of time.
• PET-CT is a technology that occupies a very important place in the diagnosis, staging and selection of an effective strategy for the treatment of cancer.

One of the innovative treatments for prostate cancer in Turkey at Memorial Bahçelievler Hospital is High Intensity Focused Ultrasound. The clinic has the latest version of the HIFU device, which allows you to treat the tumor with high precision without affecting healthy tissues.

The advantages of HIFU ablation for prostate cancer at the Memorial Clinic are:

• Minimizing the risk of sexual dysfunction and urinary incontinence;
• The HIFU procedure is performed in one session, the patient can return home the very next day (for comparison, the duration of hospitalization for prostatectomy is 5-7 days, the duration of the course of radiation therapy is 30 days, of which the patient has to go to the hospital almost daily);
• HIFU can be performed in case of recurrence of prostate cancer after surgical removal of the tumor or radiotherapy;
• The HIFU procedure is well tolerated by patients;
• HIFU can be used to treat elderly people who have contraindications to general anesthesia.

Treatment of prostate cancer in Spain at Teknon Medical Center

Teknon Medical Center, located in Barcelona, ​​is one of the leading private clinics in Spain. The center operates in accordance with strict requirements for the effectiveness and safety of patient treatment, which has allowed it to receive several prestigious international accreditations.

At the Institute of Oncology at Teknon Hospital, cancer treatment is carried out by an interdisciplinary team of doctors, which includes: oncologists, oncosurgeons, radiologists, medical imaging physicians and other medical specialists. This is the only cancer center in Europe, which is a branch of the famous Memorial Cancer Center. Sloan-Kettering (New York). Through this partnership, patients at Teknon Hospital have access to state-of-the-art cancer treatments.

The Department of Prostate and Genitourinary Tumors is one of the most highly specialized centers at the Teknon Institute of Oncology. Thanks to the use of high-tech equipment and the latest methods of antitumor treatment, the doctors of the department manage to achieve positive results even in the most severe cases of prostate cancer.

One of the advanced methods of prostate cancer treatment in the department is robotic stereotaxic radiosurgery. Modern methods of diagnostic imaging, such as endorectal magnetic resonance imaging, allow you to accurately determine the size, shape, location of the tumor and create its 3D model. The robotic system then focuses the radiation on the tumor so as not to negatively impact the surrounding healthy tissue. The destruction of malignant tissues occurs non-invasively (without incisions), so this technique is associated with fewer side effects and complications.

Treatment of prostate cancer in the Czech Republic at the St. Zdislava Hospital

The St. Zdislava Hospital is the leading center for robotic surgery in the Czech Republic. The clinic specializes in surgical treatment of diseases of the prostate gland, kidneys, bladder. It also performs bariatric surgeries and joint replacements. The hospital performs more than 1,000 da Vinci robotic interventions each year, half of which are radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer.

Today, robotic surgeries have become an integral part of the clinical practice of the St. Zdislava Hospital. The team of surgeons operating in the clinic are the founders of this modern surgical treatment in the Czech Republic. Jan Dolezel, Chief Physician of the Urological Surgery Team, has been working at the St. Zdislava Hospital on the Da Vinci system since 2007. Dr. Jiří Kočarek started performing robotic interventions in 2006 in Prague. Ivan Colombo began his practice there in 2006. During their work, Czech surgeons were able to gain invaluable experience in the field of robot-assisted surgery.

The St. Zdislava Hospital accepts a large number of patients with prostate cancer from abroad, including Ukrainians. It has close partnership relations with Ukraine. So, in 2021, the clinic took part in the Healthcare Travel Expo exhibition, which was held in Kyiv from May 25 to 27.

Every year, more than 500 patients come to the Czech clinic for the treatment of prostate cancer using robotic prostatectomy. The main advantages of this operation over standard open surgery are:

• the ability to maintain the function of urination and erection in 95% of cases;
• quick recovery (no more than 6 days);
• no noticeable scars;
• less risk of bleeding and infection.

Prostatectomy at St. Zdislav’s Hospital is performed on the Da Vinci Si robotic unit. This is a state of the art equipment that is best suited for prostate surgery due to its long instruments. With their help, surgeons can perform manipulations deep in the pelvic area.

If you are in need of prostate cancer treatment, fill out an online form or call one of the phone numbers listed on the site. Our medical coordinators will contact you as soon as possible and select a foreign clinic that best suits your needs. We will also help to solve all organizational issues. The services we provide are free. The patient pays the cost of treatment at the cash desk of the selected medical center.

What do patients need to know when they go abroad for prostate cancer treatment?

For patients who are sent abroad, it is important that the treatment process is clearly organized and takes as little time as possible. After all, every day spent in a foreign country is associated with spending money. That is why many people prefer to undergo diagnostics at home, and only then go to a foreign clinic. However, even here there are pitfalls.

Sometimes patients come abroad with incomplete or even incorrect diagnostic results, and they have to repeat the examination, wasting precious time and money. There are also cases of incorrectly chosen treatment tactics. For example, one doctor tells a patient that the tumor is inoperable and further treatment is pointless. However, after contacting another doctor, it turns out that there are chances and they should definitely be used.

You can insure yourself against such medical errors with the help of the “second opinion” service. It is very popular and in demand in leading clinics in the USA, Europe and Israel. The essence of the service is to review the results of diagnosis or treatment tactics by an independent specialist. Nowadays, it is not even necessary to visit a doctor to get a second opinion. It is enough to send him medical documents by mail.

MedTour company helps to get a second opinion from leading Ukrainian and foreign doctors. To use the service, please contact our medical coordinators.

Sources of:    bch.org bu.edushipley uchealth.com