Cancer Urology Program | Advent Health Cancer Institute (2023)

A powerful force against urologic cancer

Chemotherapy treatment: what to expect

Nothing matters more to us than curing him and bringing him home. Depending on the type of urologic cancer you have and how advanced it is, chemotherapy can play a critical role in the successful treatment of your cancer, particularly bladder cancer, prostate cancer, lymphoma, and certain types of kidney cancer. . From the moment you arrive for your chemotherapy treatment, one of our nurses will be there to welcome and guide you, keeping you and your loved one informed, comfortable, and in good spirits throughout your visit.

How does chemotherapy work?

Using a combination of specialized drugs, chemotherapy has the power to kill or slow the growth of fast-growing cancer cells in all parts of the body. It can be given intravenously, by injection, or directly into a specific part of the body. At AdventHealth, formerly Florida Hospital, Cancer Institute, our oncology specialists take an individualized approach to your chemotherapy treatment. Depending on your type of urologic cancer, we will determine which treatment is best for you. Chemotherapy may be the only treatment you receive or, more commonly, it is used in combination with surgery and/or radiation therapy. Along the way, we're here to help where we can, answering any questions and helping you stay strong and optimistic before, during, and after treatment.

Understand your treatment options

Radiation therapy: what to expect

While radiation therapy is one of the most common treatments for urologic cancer, at AdventHealth Cancer Institute we do it with uncommon expertise, guidance, and compassion. Using sophisticated radiation technology, we are able to target tumors in and around the kidneys, bladder, and prostate with incredible precision, relieving pain while leaving healthy tissue intact. Depending on your diagnosis, your dedicated team may recommend radiation alone, but in many cases we combine it with surgery, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy.

How does radiation therapy work?

Our oncology specialists take an individualized approach to each patient's treatment plan. Radiation therapy targets specific areas of the body, shrinks tumors, and kills cancer cells by damaging their DNA.

When treating urologic cancer, radiation therapy is usually given in two ways:

• External radiation delivers radiation in a concentrated beam to keep nearby healthy tissue intact.
• Internal ultrasound-guided radiation or using our MRI-guided HDR brachytherapy, a minimally invasive method that delivers concentrated doses of radiation while keeping nearby healthy tissue safer.

How can we protect you during radiation?

We don't just preach holistic care. We practice it. One of the ways they do this is by continually looking for new and innovative ways to make their treatments as safe and side effect free as possible.

AdventHealth is proud to be the first hospital in Central Florida to offer SpaceOAR, a one-of-a-kind treatment that helps protect you during radiation treatment.

SpaceOAR is a temporary, injectable, non-toxic, biodegradable gel that protects the rectum during radiation treatment for prostate cancer. Matthew Biagioli, MD, a radiation oncologist at Florida Hospital, is a national authority on the use of biodegradable gels. Dr. Biagioli led some of the first studies on its use in prostate cancer. Most commonly used in combination with HDR brachytherapy, the gel is placed before radiation treatment begins and significantly reduces radiation dose to surrounding tissue. SpaceOAR is the first and only prostate cancer spacer device to receive Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance.

Throughout your treatment, your nursing and radiology team will be there to keep you and your support system informed, comfortable, and encouraged.

Innovative surgical procedures

If surgery is part of your treatment plan, it's comforting to know that your health is in the hands of expert surgeons. As the recognized leader in urologic cancer care, every day we help patients recover through innovative surgical care.

options for surgery

Surgery for urologic cancer can be a promising step on the road to a cure and can often be the first option.

Your dedicated team of urologic cancer specialists will review every detail of your medical history and recent tests to recommend the most effective treatment plan for you. Whenever possible, we will use minimally invasive procedures, such as the innovative da Vinci® Surgical System, for faster recovery, less scarring, and better care. Surgery may be the only treatment you need, or it may be used in combination with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.

With a variety of urologic cancers comes a variety of surgeries, including:

• Tumor removal, depending on the type of cancer, will include removing part of the problem around the tumor.

• Organ removal is ideal for cancers that have spread to an entire organ and is an option for the bladder, kidney, prostate, or testicles. This can sometimes be done laparoscopically for a faster recovery time.

• Cryosurgery, used primarily for prostate cancer, involves injecting cold nitrogen to kill cancer cells.

• Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection targets cancer in the groin lymph nodes and can often be done laparoscopically.

Whichever procedure is part of your treatment plan, trust a team ready to guide you with open arms and warm smiles from pre-op to post-op and beyond.

New non-invasive options. New Hope

When surgery is not an option or your oncologist feels that an alternative solution may help treat your cancer more successfully, we offer many of the latest non-surgical procedures at AdventHealthCancer Institute.

Non-invasive options for urologic cancer

Our leading urology specialists specialize in the following non-surgical urologic cancer treatments:

• Embolization blocks blood flow to the tumor, depriving it of oxygen and nutrients through a single injection. It is often used in combination with surgery.

• Cryoablation, also known as tumor freezing, injects supercooled nitrogen gas into the tumor site in an attempt to kill cancer cells in the tumor.

• Radiofrequency ablation, also known as tumor burning, uses a special needle to apply an electrical current directly to the tumor. The heat causes the tumor to cauterize.