Treatment Options

At Sturdy Memorial Hospital, we understand that the treatment plan for every patient varies depending on need, which is why we offer a wide range of cancer therapy options to offer the best possible outcomes for all our patients.

Radiation Therapy

Brachytherapy

Performed by Sturdy Memorial Hospital urologists since 1991, brachytherapy is a procedure that involves placing small radioactive sources, or seeds, into the prostate itself. The radiation dose delivered by these seeds is highly concentrated at the site of the patient's cancer - in their prostate - and is minimal elsewhere. This implant program also uses an innovative "linked seed" product. The radioactive seeds utilized in these implants are connected in a way that improves the level of accuracy with which they can be placed. The connection also decreases the possibility of seeds being dislodged from the prostate and moving around the body. The procedure takes 1-2 hours and the patient is ready to go home later that same day.

Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)

Available at Shields Radiation Oncology Center Mansfield
Image Guided Radiation Therapy, or IGRT, is a technique used to track the internal movements of a patient's anatomy by imaging the patient each day during treatment and making fine positioning adjustments. By following this daily movement and adjusting the radiation beam accordingly, treatment accuracy and precision are enhanced. IGRT is available at Shields Radiation Oncology Center Mansfield, a partnership between Sturdy Memorial and Morton Hospitals, and Shields Health Care Group.

Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)

Available at Shields Radiation Oncology Center Mansfield
IMRT is an advanced mode of high-precision radiotherapy that uses computer-controlled linear accelerators to deliver precise radiation doses to a malignant tumor or specific areas within the tumor. IMRT allows for higher radiation doses to conform more precisely to the three-dimensional shape of the tumor while minimizing radiation to surrounding normal tissues. Pre-op and Post-op Adjuvant IMRT is available for prostate cancer patients.

Cryotherapy

Also referred to as cryosurgery or cryoablation, this minimally invasive treatment uses controlled freeze and thaw cycles to destroy prostate cancer cells.

Prostatectomy Surgery

A radical prostatectomy is an operation to remove the prostate gland and some surrounding tissue. The goal of a prostatectomy is to remove the cancer entirely and prevent its spread to other parts of the body. This operation may be done by open surgery or by laparoscopic surgery through small incisions.

Medical Oncology

The medical treatment of prostate cancer includes chemotherapy prescribed by a medical oncologist. At Sturdy Memorial Hospital, inpatient and outpatient chemotherapy is provided within the hospital by nurses with extensive chemotherapy experience and certification. All of the standard types of chemotherapy are available, including the newer biologic and targeted therapies. Additional state of the art treatments and drug combinations are available through our clinical trials program. Call 508-236-7010 or 508-236-7012 for more information.