Patient-Friendly Treatment Available for Prostate Cancer

Cancer Center offers free prostate cancer screenings during September, Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

  (Houma, La.) Using advanced technology, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center at TGMC offers prostate cancer treatment options with shorter treatment times and increased patient comfort. VMAT (Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy) is an innovative tool in the field of radiation oncology and is used often in treating prostate cancer patients. Since treatment times are so short, the risk of patient movement is greatly reduced, enhancing accuracy and increasing chances for a successful outcome. “We have leading-edge technology in our linear accelerator, and that allows us to treat prostate cancer in a way that is better than ever before,” said Dr. Jeffrey Long, medical director and radiation oncologist, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center at TGMC. “The technology we’re using is IMRT (Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy), but in addition to that, our linear accelerator has VMAT. We’re able to deliver a dose of radiation to the prostate with pinpoint precision that was unthinkable 10 years ago.” Prostate cancer is most common in men 65 years and older, but it is recommended that men begin prostate screenings at age 50 or 45 if African-American or have a family history. Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center at TGMC is offering free prostate cancer screenings during September to help detect cancer earlier, giving more men a chance at beating the disease. “If prostate cancer is caught early, 5-year survival is nearly 100 percent,” said Dr. Long. The prostate cancer screening is performed by a doctor and includes a PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) blood test and physical exam. Below are two free prostate cancer screening events being offered during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month: Wednesday, September 10 TGMC Atrium 8120 Main St. Houma, LA 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. {Appointment Required}   Saturday, September 27 Skinner’s Barbershop 1001 Railroad Ave. Morgan City, LA 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. For more information, please call (888) 616-4687 or visit marybird.org/TGMC.   Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center at TGMC provides the full spectrum of cancer care, from prevention and early detection to diagnosis, treatment, recovery and survivorship for those in the Bayou Region. Its services include chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery, as well as patient navigation, clinical trials and free community screenings. The Center is nationally accredited with commendation and recognized for excellence in cancer care by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer.