Why Choose Us for Prostate Cancer Treatment
“I had confidence that the treatment I was getting was the best treatment that could be offered, and that gave me peace.”
Lowry Bushnell
Prostate cancer patient
The Huntsman Cancer Institute Urologic Cancers Care Team is a leader in research and treatment of prostate cancer. We have created, led, or participated in the most important clinical trials that have led to FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer. We were the primary contributor to three of the 13 drugs currently used to treat metastatic prostate cancer worldwide.
We also have a portfolio of therapeutic options outside of standard care, and our clinical care delivery is unparalleled. Our multidisciplinary tumor boards consult on every patient case, looking at imaging, making sure all therapeutic portfolios are considered, and leaving no stone unturned for treatment.
Specialized Treatments
Our Urologic Cancers Care Team provides state-of-the-art care for prostate cancer patients. The multidisciplinary team includes specialists in medical oncology, surgical oncology, and radiation oncology, ensuring personalized treatment plans tailored to each patient's needs.
Advanced treatment options we provide include the following:
- Surgery: Expertise in robotic-assisted prostatectomy and other minimally invasive surgical techniques.
- Radiation Therapy: Utilization of cutting-edge radiation technologies to target cancer cells effectively.
- Hormone Therapy: Application of therapies to manage hormone-sensitive prostate cancers.
- Chemotherapy and Biologic Therapy: Administration of systemic treatments for advanced stages of the disease.
Additionally, we offer a Prostate Cancer Risk Clinic for men at increased risk due to genetic factors or family history, providing personalized screening and prevention strategies.
Our Expertise
More genes for inherited cancers have been discovered at Huntsman Cancer Institute than at any other cancer center.
Our Urologic Cancers Care Team brings together clinical and research teams specializing in prostate and other genitourinary cancers. This multidisciplinary approach ensures patients receive personalized and coordinated care tailored to their specific needs.
Patient Care Philosophy
We believe no one should face cancer alone. Our dedicated and world-renowned doctors, nurses, and medical staff are at the forefront of patient-centered care. We treat the whole person, not just their cancer.
Each day, our medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists work together across disciplines to create and coordinate treatment plans for every patient. We understand cancer is a complex disease. That is why we use a team approach that includes social workers and support groups, as well as wellness and integrative health services such as acupuncture, massage, creative arts, and more.
Find a Prostate Cancer Doctor
Prostate Cancer Research
We continue to be at the forefront of prostate cancer research, focusing on developing novel treatments and improving patient outcomes.
A notable achievement is our TALAPRO-2 trial, which demonstrated that a combination of enzalutamide and talazoparib significantly improves overall survival rates in patients with metastatic prostate cancer compared to standard therapy.
Clinical Trials
Make an Appointment with a Prostate Cancer Specialist
To make an appointment with a prostate cancer specialist, fill out our appointment form or call 801-587-7000. Our team will determine if your insurance covers treatment at Huntsman Cancer Institute or if you need a referral from a primary care doctor.
External providers can refer a patient using the online referral form or by calling 801-587-7000 to speak to a patient registration specialist.
Prostate Cancer Basics
These are signs of prostate cancer:
- Blood in the urine or semen
- Shortness of breath, feeling very tired, fast heartbeat, dizziness, or pale skin caused by anemia
- A pain in the back, hips, or pelvis that doesn't go away
- Sudden or frequent urination (especially at night)
- Trouble starting, weak or interrupted (“stop-and-go”) flow of urine
- Trouble emptying the bladder completely
- Pain or burning while urinating
Many other health problems can also cause these signs. If you have any of these signs, you should see your doctor as soon as possible.
Learn more about from the National Cancer Institute.
Anything that increases your chance of getting a disease is called a risk factor. Having a risk factor does not mean you are sure to get cancer. It means your chances are higher than the average person’s. Talk with your doctor to learn more about your cancer risk.
The chance of getting prostate cancer increases with age.
Learn more about ways to prevent cancer and about cancer screenings.
Doctors use these tests to diagnose prostate cancer:
- Physical exam and history: A health care provider examines your body for signs of disease. Your personal health habits, past illnesses, and symptoms help guide the exam.
- Digital rectal exam (DRE): A health care provider inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum and feels the prostate through the rectal wall, checking for lumps or abnormal areas.
- Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test: This test measures the level of PSA, a substance made by the prostate, in the blood.
- Transrectal MRI (magnetic resonance imaging): This test uses a magnet, radio waves, and a computer to make detailed images of the prostate.
- Biopsy: The health care provider removes cell or tissue samples so they can be viewed under a microscope to check for signs of cancer.
- Transrectal ultrasound: This procedure uses high-energy sound waves to create a picture of prostate tissue. The health care provider gently inserts a lubricated probe into the rectum.
Cancer stages show whether cancer has spread within or around the prostate or to other parts of the body. Cancer spreads in the body in three ways: through tissue, the lymph system, or the blood.
These are the stages used for prostate cancer:
- Stage 1: Cancer is found in the prostate only and cannot be felt by a digital rectal exam or seen through imaging tests.
- Stage 2 (2A & 2B): Cancer has not spread outside the prostate but is found in one-half of one lobe of the prostate, or in opposite sides of the prostate.
- Stage 3: Cancer has spread beyond the outer layer of the prostate.
- Stage 4: Cancer has spread beyond the seminal vesicles or to distant parts of the body.
When cancer spreads from where it started to another part of the body, it is called metastasis. These metastatic cancer cells are the same type of cancer as the primary tumor. For example, if prostate cancer spreads to the bone, the cancer cells in the bone are actually prostate cancer cells. The disease is metastatic prostate cancer, not bone cancer.
Learn more about the from the National Cancer Institute.
