$5 Million Commitment Launches Two New Pcf
LOS ANGELES, Calif., November 11, 2020 In recognition of Veterans Day, the Prostate Cancer Foundation today announced its new $5 million commitment to launch two new Centers of Excellence in collaboration with the VA Boston Healthcare System , Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the VA Portland Health Care System and Oregon Health & Science University to deliver best-in-class precision oncology treatments to Veterans with prostate cancer.
PCF is committed to continuing to expand our partnership with the VA to advance cutting-edge research and care for Veterans with prostate cancer, said Jonathan W. Simons, MD, PCF president and CEO. Partnering with Dana-Farber and Oregon Health & Science University brings top expertise to our precision oncology efforts serving our nations Veterans. It is our duty to ensure that no Veteran is left behind when a medical breakthrough comes to the clinic.
More than 15,000 men in the Veterans Affairs health system are newly diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, making it the most frequently diagnosed cancer among Veterans. One in nine men and one in six African American men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, and four million men in the U.S. are living with the disease.
The Portland and Boston COEs were established with funding made possible through the Blavatnik Family Foundation and Rob and Cindy Citrone.
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About The Medical Reviewer
Dr. Mark Pomerantz is a medical oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Dr. Pomerantz received his undergraduate degree from Yale University and his medical degree from Stanford University. He trained in Internal Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. He then pursued a fellowship in Medical Oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. Dr. Pomerantz received his post-doctoral training in cancer genetics with Dr. Matthew Freedman at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT. He is on faculty at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in the Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology.
Genitourinary Cancer Treatment Center
At the Center for Genitourinary Oncology, we provide compassionate care and the most effective therapies for prostate, kidney, and testicular cancer, as well as many other rare and common cancers. Staffed by medical, urologic, and radiation oncologists, our center offers the latest treatments fueled by ongoing discovery.
We know you face challenges which extend into family, work and other responsibilities. That knowledge guides how our team of specialists works with you to create a care plan that takes your individual goals and needs into account. Our team will build a treatment plan tailored to your cancer, based on the latest surgical, chemotherapy, and radiation treatment approaches, including access to clinical trials.
In addition to offering the latest in clinical care, we provide a wide range of resources from support groups to nutritional advice to complementary therapies to support you physically and emotionally throughout your treatment.
Our team also conducts clinical research and investigations to improve our ability to diagnose and treat patients with all genitourinary malignancies. Our physicians and researchers conduct ongoing research studies focused on: investigations of prevention and early-detection strategies, assessment of new therapies, quality-of-life studies, and the analysis of tissue, blood, and tumor samples to better understand the biology of the malignancies and relation to patient outcomes.
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Brigham And Women’s Virtual Prostate Cancer Clinic Offers Patients Convenience Efficiency
BOSTON — While most of the world has adapted to “virtual” medicine during the pandemic, it is nothing new for some patients at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Rich Boyajian, a nurse practitioner in Radiation Oncology at Brigham & Women’s Hospital, is the founder of the Virtual Prostate Cancer Clinic.
Nearly a decade ago, when he realized how far patients were traveling for routine tests and how busy the doctors were going over the test results.
“There has to be a better way,” he thought.
With a grant from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boyajian created the program and the software.
When the virtual clinic opened in 2016, David Fraley was among the first patients to enroll. He realized the convenience and efficiency immediately.
Fraley, who was treated for prostate cancer in 2011, no longer had to drive all the way into Boston for lab work. He could do it in Foxboro.
“You don’t have to waste three or four hours out of the day coming into Boston. And if there is a situation, you deal with it,” Fraley said.
Boyajian and his colleague, Physician Assistant Ashley Kowtoniuk, use a zip code search to identify affiliated labs that a patient can easily visit.
Once the patient’s blood work and the patient’s questionnaire are in, the software automatically extracts the information and “knows” if the patient has relapsed.
It can also tell if the patient has significant symptoms.
Boyajian understands that feeling well.
Dr Wayne Samsoondar Reviews
Dr. Samsoondar has been very helpful. He seems very knowledgeable and has a very comforting manner. He took the time to explain all aspects of my prostate issues.
So much more than expected, more than a Doctor, he is my hero, very caring and has made me the best person I could be.
excellent and intelligent, and communicative doctor. The office is very efficient most of the time.
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Dr Victor Mak Reviews
Dr. Victor Mak is an INCREDIBLE doctor! He is professional, patient, attentive, dedicated and pleasant! He listens carefully and his calm demeanor is reassuring. I was referred to Dr. Mak for constant recurring bladder infections. Dr. Mak performed three procedures and prescribed me the effective medications. My infection has now been cleared for over two years. It is really a pleasure going to my followup appointments to see him. Thank you! Dr. Mak.
Many gratitude for Mak who saved my suffering with expert operation.
Great doctor. I had trouble staying calm while he was fixing me under local as I was nervous as heck. He did an excellent job. Very professional and highly skilled.
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Since 2009
Dr. Michael Kogon is one of the leading urologists in Richmond Hill. He completed his medical degree at the University of Toronto. Dr. Michael Kogon finished his postgraduate training at the same university. He is chief of the division of urology at Mackenzie Health Hospital in Richmond Hill. He provides comprehensive urological care to his patients. He has experience in the management of Kidney ailments. Dr. Michael Kogon is currently accepting new patients. The hospital has a full-service emergency department, core services and specialized services to provide you with the care you need.
Prostate Cancer Patient Thriving 17 Years After Diagnosis
Whenhe was 67 years old, Barry Polsky said I do for the first time in his lifewhen he married his wife, Randi. One year later, the retired high school teacherand lifelong baseball fan was offered one of his dream jobs as a tour guide atFenway Park. And earlier this year, at the age of 72, he and his wife headed toSouth Africa for a 15-day excursion that included a safari.
Polskysays hes grateful for all of these experiences especially because he neverwould have imagined them possible when he was diagnosed with cancer nearly twodecades prior.
In 2002, Polsky, then 55, was diagnosed with high-risk, localized prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is generally referred to by risk category Polskys diagnosis meant that while his scans did not show definitive evidence that his cancer had spread beyond his prostate, there was a high risk it already had. This diagnosis is rare most prostate cancers are low or intermediate risk.
I heard cancer and I started planning my own funeral, says Polsky. I honestly thought this was it for me.
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What Risk Factors Can Contribute To Prostate Cancer
The established risk factors for prostate cancer are age, race/ethnicity, and family history:
- Age: The risk of prostate cancer increases with age, and the incidence begins to rise sharply after age 55 and peaks at age 70-74, declining slightly thereafter, according to a 2002 study.
- Race/ethnicity: Men of West African ancestry are more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than men of other ancestral groups. While prostate cancer is less common in Asian Americans and Hispanic/Latino men than in non-Hispanic whites, disease rates in these populations may be increasing.
- Family history: Prostate cancer is largely an inherited disease. About 60% of prostate cancer risk is inherited from ones parents and about 40% is due to environmental and lifestyle factors.
Robotic Surgery For Prostate Cancer
If youre faced with the prospect of having surgery for prostate cancer, Brigham and Womens Center for Robotic Surgery at Brigham and Womens Faulkner Hospital can help get you back to feeling normal again.
If you and your doctor decide on surgery to treat your prostate cancer, you may be a candidate for a minimally invasive surgical procedure called robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. Radical prostatectomy is the surgical removal of the prostate to treat prostate cancer. The robot is a state-of-the-art surgical system, which includes fine instruments that a trained urologist uses to surgically remove your prostate gland through several small incisions.
For most patients, potential advantages with robot prostatectomy over open radical prostatectomy include:
- Improved visualization of the anatomy due to 3-D vision and increased magnification
- Small incisions . Precise, fine surgical maneuvers guided by the surgeon
- Less pain after surgery, decreasing the need for pain medications
- Faster recovery. Most patients are well enough to leave the hospital less than 24 hours after surgery and resume routine activities one to two weeks after surgery
- Removal of the urethral catheter five to seven days after surgery
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Who Should Be Screened For Prostate Cancer
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that people with prostates between the age of 55 and 69 screen for prostate cancer after discussing and reviewing benefits, harms and limitations of screening with their doctor. The USPSTF recommends against screening for people age 70 and older.
The American Cancer Society also recommends that men discuss with their health care provider the uncertainties, risks, and potential benefits of prostate cancer screening. This discussion should take place at:
- Age 50 for men who are at average risk of prostate cancer and are expected to live at least 10 more years.
- Age 45 for men at high risk of developing prostate cancer, specifically African American men and men with a first-degree relative who was diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early age .
- Age 40 for men with more than one first-degree relative who had prostate cancer at an early age.
After this discussion, men who want to be screened should get the prostate-specific antigen blood test. The digital rectal exam may also be done as a part of screening.
Please note the differences between these guidelines. The ACS recommends earlier screening for those at highest risk of the disease. In addition, the ACS specifies no upper age limit at which to discontinue screening. Rather, life expectancy could determine when yearly or bi-annual screening ends.
Cancer Treatments At Saint Anne’s Hospital
The Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons nationally accredits Saint Annes as a Community Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Program with commendation. Our program also is accredited in radiation oncology by the American College of Radiology and has earned the Womens Choice Award® for five consecutive years as one of Americas Best Hospitals for Cancer Care. These distinctions are awarded to facilities committed to providing the best in cancer diagnosis and treatment.
- High-dose rate, intensity modulated and image guided radiation therapies
Inpatient Care
Saint Annes provides specialized care for cancer patients who require hospitalization, delivering holistic care that addresses a patients physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Our nursing model fosters the valuable relationship between nurse, patient, and patients family, creating a comfortable and familiar atmosphere.
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What Are The Potential Benefits And Drawbacks Of Prostate Cancer Screening
In the right circumstances, prostate cancer screening can lead to an early diagnosis and curative treatment before it has spread. However, prostate cancer screening is not always appropriate for individuals in the 55 to 69 age range. In many cases, prostate cancer does not have an impact on a persons lifespan: in fact, the American Cancer Society reports that for most older patients, prostate cancer is often a chronic, non-life threatening disease.
While aggressive, curative treatment is critical for many men with prostate cancer, there are side effects associated with prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment:
- A prostate cancer diagnosis can cause the following mental and physical issues.
- An elevated PSA level is often not associated with cancer, but other conditions, such as an enlarged prostate and inflammation of the prostate . As a result, positive screening results usually require a further, usually invasive, procedures such as transrectal ultrasound-guided core-needle biopsy of the prostate to diagnose prostate cancer.
- Problems such as incontinence and impotence are possible with prostate cancer treatment. Since many prostate cancers are not very aggressive, a medical professional can help determine whether the potential benefits of curative treatment outweigh these potential complications.
Therefore, it is important to avoid overdiagnosis and overtreatment whenever possible.
Cancer Treatments At St Elizabeth’s
Our multidisciplinary team offers a high level of clinical expertise in preventing, diagnosing, and treating all types of cancer, and treats our patients and families with compassion and care from diagnosis through treatment to recovery.
Cancer care treatments include:
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center for medical oncology and hematology care
- Radiation Oncology Center complete with state-of-the-art technology, including a Varian linear accelerator, high-dose radiation and two 56-slice CT scanners
- da Vinci® Surgical System for gynecologic, prostate and urologic cancers as well as cancer of the bile ducts
- Comprehensive laboratory services
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