NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. (Ivanhoe Newswire) – This year, more than 162,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. Cancer treatment, while life-saving, can cause incontinence and erectile dysfunction. A new outpatient procedure can protect men from the unwanted side effects caused by radiation.
John Schroeder officiates track and cross country meets for kids in his hometown. At 66, this former high school athlete places a premium on staying active and healthy. Several years ago, a routine PSA test indicated John’s levels were higher than normal. Doctors confirmed he had prostate cancer.
Schroeder explained to Ivanhoe, “And they kept saying you’re a young guy, you should have surgery. And I kept thinking, I’m a young guy, why do I want to buy Depends the rest of my life? Why do I want to have erectile dysfunction?”
John also struggled with ulcerative colitis; which could be aggravated by radiation treatments. That’s when John learned about a new FDA- approved hydrogel to protect delicate tissue. It’s a called SpaceOAR. It stands for organ at risk.
Radiation oncologists mix the liquid gel with an accelerant. In an office or outpatient setting, doctors inject the gel near the prostate. It solidifies in the body and creates a space between the prostate and delicate tissue.
“Having the gel move the rectum away from the prostate significantly lowers the dose of radiation that the rectal tissues get,” explained Edward Soffen, MD, Chairman for the Department of Radiation Oncology at CentraState Medical Center.
That means a reduction in side effects like bleeding, pain, and incontinence. The gel stays in place in the body for three months, and then dissolves and is excreted naturally. For John, the SpaceOAR kept him on his feet and free of side effects during radiation, and after.
Right now, the SpaceOAR hydrogel is covered by Medicare on a case-by-case basis. Dr. Soffen says he is hoping insurance carriers will expand coverage of the procedure.
Contributors to this news report include: Cyndy McGrath, Field and Supervising Producer; Kirk Manson, Videographer; Gabriella Battistiol, Assistant Producer; Roque Correa, Editor.