Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer diagnosed in men, and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men, after lung cancer. About 1 in 9 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime, with more than 1.4 million men diagnosed yearly globally.
Many prostate cancers grow slowly and are confined to the prostate gland, where they may not cause serious harm. However, while some types of prostate cancer may need minimal or no treatment, other types are aggressive and can spread quickly.
Prostate cancer that is detected early — when it’s still confined to the prostate gland — has the best chance of successful treatment.
Watchful Waiting & Active Surveillance
Surgery
Hormone Therapy
Cryotherapy
High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU)
Treatment
Prostate cancer treatment options depend on several factors, such as the rate of cancer growth, whether it has spread, the patient’s overall health condition, and the potential benefits or side effects of the treatment. Low-grade prostate cancer may not need immediate treatment, and physicians may recommend active surveillance.
In active surveillance, regular follow-up can include blood tests, rectal exams, and prostate biopsies to monitor cancer progression. Cancer treatment such as surgery or radiation may be suggested if tests show that cancer is progressing.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses high-powered energy to eliminate cancer cells. Prostate cancer radiation therapy treatments may involve:
- External Radiation Therapy
- Brachytherapy
In prostate radiation therapy, a highly prevalent complication is rectal toxicity that stems from the rectum’s proximity to the prostate. It is exacerbated by rectal mucosa’s heightened sensitivity to radiation compared to normal or carcinogenic prostate tissue. Despite technological advancements and precise treatment planning, prostate movements within or between sessions leave parts of the rectal wall exposed to high radiation doses, which results in rectal toxicity or proctitis.
Our Solution
There is a growing need for a solution that protects the rectum from the high-dose radiation field. With such a device, the chance for rectal toxicity will be dramatically reduced. This will pave the way to patient-oriented and more cost-effective radiation therapy techniques such as hypofractionation.
The BioProtect Balloon Spacer protects the adjacent healthy tissues from harmful radiation, thereby reducing adverse procedural events.
BioProtect Balloon spacer