Tulane Urology

prostate cancer

Why Choose Tulane for your prostate cancer treatment?

Tulane Urology has long been committed to advancing minimally invasive urologic procedures in the Gulf South region. We have introduced and pioneered a wide range of innovative techniques, including:

    • Percutaneous nephrostomy

    • Ureteroscopy

    • Shockwave lithotripsy

    • Laser applications in urology

    • Urologic laparoscopy

    • Cryosurgery for prostate cancer

    • Radical perineal prostatectomy

Due to our patient-centered approach and the expertise of our highly specialized faculty, Tulane Urology is a top choice for both routine and complex urologic care. Our experience-driven outcomes and commitment to innovation make us especially well equipped to handle challenging cases with precision and compassion.

Excellence in Specialized Urologic Care at Tulane Urology

Tulane Urology is recognized globally as a leader in providing state-of-the-art care for highly specialized urologic procedures. Choosing an expert team to manage your prostate cancer is crucial. After a diagnosis, patients should consider asking:

    • Has the staging of my prostate cancer been properly completed?

    • Is my cancer localized to the prostate gland?

    • Are fellowship-trained urologists part of my care team?

    • What is their experience level in robotic urologic surgery?

    • Do they utilize specialized imaging techniques such as the PSMA scan?

    • What if my cancer has spread beyond the prostate gland?

Positive outcomes are closely linked to surgeon experience. Our expert multidisciplinary team—including urologic surgeons, medical oncologists, and radiation oncologists—will accurately determine the extent and location of your cancer. If it has spread, we will develop a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to your needs.

The “Perfect Trifecta” in Prostate Cancer Surgery

Leveraging vast experience in robotic and laparoscopic procedures, the Tulane Urology team aims to achieve the “perfect trifecta” for patients, depending on their cancer stage:

    • Cancer Control

    • Continence

    • Coitus (sexual function)

A Center for Robotic Surgery Education & Research

Tulane University’s Department of Urology is at the forefront of education in robotic urologic surgery. Our faculty regularly participate in national and international robotic symposia, contribute to peer-reviewed urologic journals, author textbook chapters, and engage in ongoing continuing medical education (CME) activities.

Who is at risk?

Though you may be at risk, we suggest that you pay special attention to the following risk factors:

    • Increasing age (50 years and above)

    • History of prostate cancer in the family

    • African-American race

    • A diet consistently high in fat

    • Obesity

    • Men at high risk for developing prostate cancer should begin screening at age 40 or 45.

If you have any concerns, please contact your Tulane urologist.

Screening for Prostate Cancer?

Prostate screening tests might include:

    • Digital rectal exam (DRE). During a DRE, your doctor inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into your rectum to examine your prostate, which is adjacent to the rectum. If your doctor finds any abnormalities in the texture, shape, or size of your gland, you may need more tests.

    • Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. A blood sample is drawn from a vein in your arm and analyzed for PSA, a substance that’s naturally produced by your prostate gland. It’s normal for a small amount of PSA to be in your bloodstream. However, if a higher-than-normal level is found, it may be an indication of prostate infection, inflammation, enlargement, or cancer.

    • PSA test in combination with DRE. Using both PSA testing and DRE increases the chances of detecting prostate cancer early, when treatment is most effective.

Symptoms of Prostate Cancer

Most early prostate cancer causes no symptoms and are often detected by an abnormal prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and digital rectal exam (DRE). Signs and symptoms of prostate cancer may include:

    • Weakening or slowing of your urinary stream

    • Frequent need to urinate

    • Trouble emptying the bladder completely

    • Increased frequency of urination

    • Blood in the urine or in the semen

    • Hesitancy in initiating your urinary stream

    • Erectile dysfunction

    • Onset of pain in the bones, especially the lower back

Of note, the prostate enlarges with age, and some of the symptoms mentioned above may be due to benign enlargement of the prostate. Your urologist should be able to distinguish between benign and cancerous prostate conditions.

Diagnosing Prostate Cancer

If an abnormality is detected on a digital rectal exam (DRE) or prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, your doctor may recommend tests to determine if you have prostate cancer, such as an ultrasound and a prostate biopsy.

    • Ultrasound: If other tests raise concerns, your doctor may use transrectal ultrasound to further evaluate your prostate. A small probe, about the size and shape of a cigar, is inserted into your rectum. This probe emits sound waves that bounce off the prostate gland. These echoes are collected and used to create a real-time image, helping your doctor assess the size, shape, and any abnormalities.
    • Collecting a Sample of Prostate Tissue: If initial test results suggest prostate cancer, your doctor may recommend a procedure to collect a sample of cells from your prostate (prostate biopsy). Prostate biopsy is often performed by inserting a thin needle into the prostate to collect tissue. The tissue sample is analyzed in a lab to determine presence or absence of cancer cells.

Determining how far the cancer has spread:

Once a prostate cancer diagnosis has been made, your doctor works to determine the extent (stage) of the cancer. If your doctor suspects your cancer may have spread beyond your prostate, imaging tests such as these may be recommended:

    • Bone scan
    • Ultrasound
    • Computerized tomography (CT) scan
    • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
    • Positron emission tomography (PET)

Not every person should have every test. Your doctor will help determine which tests are best for your individual case.

Determining Whether Prostate Cancer is Aggressive

When a biopsy confirms the presence of cancer, the next step is to determine the level of aggressiveness (grade) of the cancer cells. In a laboratory, a pathologist examines a sample of your cancer to determine how much cancer cells differ from the healthy cells. A higher grade indicates a more aggressive cancer that is more likely to spread quickly.

The most common scale used to evaluate the grade of prostate cancer cells is called a Gleason score. Scoring is based upon the combination of two numbers, with a range from 2 (non-aggressive cancer) to 10 (very aggressive cancer).

STAGES of Prostate Cancer

Once testing is complete, your doctor assigns a stage to your cancer. This helps guide your treatment options. The stages of prostate cancer are:

    • Stage I: Cancer is confined to a small area within the prostate. Under the microscope, the cancer cells appear non-aggressive.

    • Stage II: Cancer may still be small but looks aggressive under the microscope, or it may be larger and involve both sides of the prostate gland.

    • Stage III: Cancer has spread beyond the prostate to the seminal vesicles or nearby tissues.

    • Stage IV: Cancer has invaded nearby organs (such as the bladder) or spread to lymph nodes, bones, lungs, or other distant sites.