Finding an oncologist specializing in prostate cancer near me is essential in getting the highest-quality care. Your diagnosing doctor can refer you to one, or use MediFind online tool to search for one specialized in treating your health issue.
Recent research demonstrated the influence of selecting the appropriate specialist on treatment outcomes for men diagnosed with prostate adenocarcinoma. Researchers interviewed 47 men diagnosed with the cancer.
1. Experience
Prostate cancer begins with the prostate gland, a small walnut-shaped organ located between the penis and urethra of men who were assigned male at birth. This gland secretes fluid to mix with semen to keep sperm healthy for conception and urination.
When diagnosed at its early stage, doctors may suggest watchful waiting or active surveillance rather than immediate surgery to treat cancer. Once it spreads further, radical prostatectomy surgery may become necessary to remove diseased tissue while simultaneously dismantling lymph nodes in the area and stopping any future cancer recurrences.
Find an oncologist that best fits your needs by searching for one who regularly performs prostate surgeries at a center that offers care to such patients. Research indicates that surgeons specializing in these surgeries tend to achieve superior outcomes than generalists.
Do your research when selecting an oncologist. Having worked on such cases for an extended period allows them to hone their craft further over time and develop expert strategies.
Top centers feature multidisciplinary teams of specialists from multiple fields of medical oncology – radiation oncology, urology and pathology specialists for instance – who collaborate to plan your treatment. This ensures all the doctors working on your case are on the same page and that you receive comprehensive care.
Consider cost when making decisions regarding medical appointments and visits. While health insurance should cover most costs associated with appointments, a copay will likely apply each time. Ask your physician if there are resources that could reduce these expenses such as payment plans or financial assistance programs that could assist.
Consideration should also be given to the cost of medication and any additional treatments such as radiation or hormone therapy that your oncologist recommends, such as radiation or hormone therapy. These additional expenses can quickly add up; speak to them about any discounts or payment plans available – don’t forget indirect costs like lost wages when taking unpaid leave for treatments!
2. Multidisciplinary Team
An interprofessional healthcare team is essential to effective prostate cancer care, including urologists, medical oncologists and radiation oncologists who specialize in the disease. Patients with advanced or recurrent prostate cancer may benefit from additional specialists like nurse practitioners, physical therapists and dietitians as well. Furthermore, doctors and nurses with expertise in gynecologic oncology, urology and surgery may provide supportive care services for men living with prostate cancer.
Urologists specialize in treating diseases of the urinary tract and male reproductive system, and can perform surgery, prescribe medication such as endocrine therapy and recommend other therapies for men with prostate cancer. If chemotherapy or radiation treatments are required for treatment purposes, urologists may refer patients directly.
Medical oncologists specialize in treating cancer using medications such as chemotherapy and endocrine therapy, managing side effects associated with prostate cancer treatment and helping their patients make lifestyle adjustments to enhance their quality of life. A medical oncologist may recommend additional therapies such as radiation or hormone therapy for men suffering advanced prostate cancer.
Radiation oncologists specialize in using radiation to treat prostate and other genitourinary cancers, including pain management and erectile dysfunction associated with advanced prostate cancer. Radiation oncologists will often collaborate closely with urologists in providing coordinated prostate cancer care treatment plans.
Dietitians provide nutritional recommendations to patients during prostate cancer treatment to maintain strength and a healthy weight, as well as suggesting supplements to offset any side effects such as bone weakness associated with hormone therapy.
Clinical trial teams can evaluate new and promising treatments for prostate cancer. Such teams may include medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and urologists with expertise in conducting trials; their members can help men select the ideal therapy option based on current evidence and best practices.
Multidisciplinary Prostate Cancer Clinics provide you with world-class cancer care close to home. Here you’ll be able to meet simultaneously with both urologists and radiation oncologists to explore treatment options; each approach will be discussed so you can select one best suited to you and your circumstances.
3. Patient Reviews
Prostate cancer is one of the most prevalent forms of male cancer and luckily one of the easiest to treat. Treatment options may include radical prostatectomy, radiation therapy or ADT (hormonal therapy).
Finding an oncologist to treat your prostate cancer is of utmost importance, yet depending on user review sites like Yelp can be problematic as their reviews may not always be reliable. A physician search service like MediFind can assist in quickly locating an oncologist with extensive experience treating similar conditions as well as positive feedback from other patients.
Surgery and radiation therapy are among the primary therapies for early-stage and high-risk prostate cancer, but other approaches may also be considered. With regard to radiation therapy for prostate cancer, daily sessions where X-ray beams are targeted at tumor sites while sparing surrounding tissues is typically recommended as part of your treatment team. You might work closely with radiation oncologists, urologists, and surgeons as part of their team approach for advanced cases or those that have spread. They may discuss additional techniques like stereotactic radiosurgery that could improve outcomes or outcomes when treating advanced cases or those which have spread.
Active surveillance, a non-treatment approach where patients are carefully observed to ascertain whether or not cancer has returned, may be advised by doctors. When recommended by their PCPs, patients should have a discussion about its advantages and disadvantages with them as well as any concerns over possible serious side effects from disease such as erectile dysfunction and urinary, bowel or sexual dysfunction that might occur due to active surveillance.
If the prostate cancer recurs, it will usually be treated with radiation and hormone therapy, with some doctors suggesting clinical trials of new therapies that might provide improved results than existing approaches. Furthermore, physicians should discuss palliative care which may reduce symptoms and ease pain caused by its return; medications like penile implants or injections to relieve erectile problems could be provided along with external-beam radiation or brachytherapy with radium-223, strontium or samarium radiation or therapies like external-beam radiation or therapy as well as drugs for urinary or bowel dysfunction issues – all which might provide relief and ease pain from its return. Patients can find support within local prostate cancer support groups.
4. Location
For optimal prostate cancer care near me, find a physician who not only treats cancer in general but can address its specific nuances as well. This is particularly relevant with prostate cancer due to genetic mutations, age differences and other variables influencing its presentation. If your diagnosing doctor doesn’t specialize in prostate care themselves, ask to be referred to one. You can also check the qualifications of physicians via medical school websites, hospitals or cancer centers near your location.
A top prostate cancer center requires more than just one board-certified oncologist; their multidisciplinary approach has proven itself successful, earning top spots on U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-2024 Best Hospitals rankings.
Urologists are physicians trained to diagnose and treat issues with the urinary tract (kidneys, ureters, bladder and penis) and male reproductive organs. Some specialize in specific areas, such as prostate cancer or kidney, bladder or testicular cancer – these specialists are known as urologic oncologists.
Your prostate gland is a walnut-sized organ located at the front of your pelvis that produces seminal fluid that travels through your urethra into your penis and plays an integral part in both reproductive system function and sexual pleasure.
Some of the top urologic oncologists are also leading researchers. They specialize in creating innovative diagnostic techniques, developing new treatments and improving quality of life for their patients. Typically they work alongside radiation oncologists and medical oncologists at the same center.
Urologic oncologists of distinction also engage in teaching. They offer training for residents and medical students. Furthermore, their research is presented at national conferences as well as being published in highly respected journals.
Before choosing an Oncologist, contact their office and verify they accept your health insurance plan. It may be possible to schedule your initial consultation via an online video visit called telehealth or telemedicine; however some Oncologists prefer seeing patients personally while some don’t offer this service at all.