John Leak from Atlanta describes his prostate cancer diagnosis as “happenstance with divine intervention;” John’s cancer was detected while being treated for kidney stones. After his diagnosis, John diligently researched treatment options. As a funeral director, he had often seen the end result of untreated cancer. Plus, a family member had recently died from liver and colon cancer. Finding the best treatment option at a world-renowned facility was important to him.
John’s urologist had talked to him about cryotherapy treatment and radical prostatectomy.
Through research, John learned about ProstRcision®. He consulted with his brother and son, who were both physicians, and Dr. Frank Critz at RCOG. After gathering research and the opinions of four physicians, John chose ProstRcision as his prostate cancer treatment.
“The survival rate really influenced my decision,” John says. “My urologist couldn’t provide the survival rate for other forms of treatment, and the side effects from having cryotherapy or a radical prostatectomy weren’t appealing.”
Keep in mind; it is not unusual for doctors to offer information about the treatment, but not about the survival rate. However, patients want to know the survival rate, not just receive the treatment. Ultimately, patients decide on treatment by asking which treatment method will give the best chance of having a zero PSA at 10 years which is the gold standard to show survival rate. There are at least twelve different treatments for prostate cancer, and many do not have documented long-term survival rates.
With all of this information in mind, three weeks after his diagnosis, John had his prostate seed implants on August 31, 2005, and began his external beam radiation treatments on September 28, 2005. Today, sixteen years later, John’s PSA is 0.03 ng/ml, and he gets regular check-ups.
“I feel the best option for my Dad’s long-term health was treatment at RCOG,” says his son Brandon. “The procedure was not invasive and offered a better short-term recovery and a long-term survival rate.”
It’s important to understand that the outcomes for any prostate cancer treatment will vary based on each patient and their specific health history and cancer diagnosis. However, you are placed into a risk group based on various factors. The table here shows the 5, 10, and 15 year chance of having a zero PSA for men in Low, Moderate, and High-risk groups. Because prostate cancer recurs very slowly, 5 and 10-year results are misleading. That is why you must look at the 10 year chance of having zero PSA after any treatment. Here is more information about the risk groups:
Low risk: Tumor is located only in the prostate, and the PSA is <10 and grade group 1 (Gleason 6).
Intermediate risk: Tumor is located only in the prostate, the PSA is between 10 and 20, or grade group 2 or 3 (Gleason 7).
High risk: Tumor is located outside of the prostate, the PSA >20, or grade group 4 or 5 (Gleason 8 to 10).
Keep in mind; the risk groups do not perfectly describe your chances of cancer recurrence. It’s important to continue your follow-up care as scheduled by your doctor.
The treatment for your prostate cancer will be based on many factors, including your age, overall health, preferences, and the advice of your medical team.
