Reduce Your Risk of Prostate Cancer

Prostate Gland

The prostate is a gland of the male reproductive system. The shape of an egg, it is under the bladder, in the pubic area and in front of the rectum.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in humans in Western countries. In Switzerland, more than 6,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. Statistically, it mainly affects men after 50 years. 60% of men are 70 years old at the time of diagnosis.

The CHUV Prostate Center provides quality care, from diagnosis to post-treatment follow-up. It brings together doctors, nurses and specialized physiotherapists, to offer each patient the best treatment and care are best adapted to their situation.

What is prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer is a malignant tumor that develops most often at the expense of glandular cells in the peripheral part of the organ. This type of tumor is called adenocarcinoma.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in humans (especially from age 65) in Western countries. In Switzerland, more than 6,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. Statistically, it mainly affects men after 50 years. 60% of men are 70 years old at the time of diagnosis.

The diagnosis

Most of the time, prostate cancer develops without symptoms for a prolonged period. The discovery of the disease is most often done as part of a routine health check (blood test).

To make a diagnosis, our specialists perform a biopsy, an examination that involves taking several tissue samples, in different parts of the gland, using a fine needle passed through the wall of the rectum, to reach the prostate. The gesture is directed by an ultrasound probe. The procedure is usually performed under local anesthesia.

All our patients benefit from a targeted biopsy. The specificity of this technique is to previously identify suspicious areas through an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) of the prostate. It thus makes it possible to improve the precision of the biopsy on the cancerous zones, in the majority of the cases. MRI can be combined with a state-of-the-art ultrasound system during collection. In some cases, biopsies crossing the perineum are indicated to have an even more accurate mapping of the entire gland.

The treatment

There are different ways to treat prostate cancer depending on the stage of the disease: surgery (open or robot-assisted), radiation therapy, hormone therapy or chemotherapy. These treatments can be used alone, as exclusive treatments, or associated with each other. For certain localized cancers of the prostate, we propose focal therapy, a new therapeutic strategy that limits its action to the part of the prostate affected by cancer. Focal therapy performed at CHUV uses high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) or cryotherapy. Ultrasound passes through the rectal wall via a probe and is focused on the affected tissue, which is destroyed by heat.

A group of specialists from different disciplines (urology, oncology, radiation oncology, radiology, pathology) conducts a detailed analysis of the medical situation. They share their thoughts and formulate treatment proposals at an interdisciplinary medical consultation meeting.

Proposals are then discussed with the patient as part of a consultation with one or more physicians, depending on the treatment options considered. It is up to the patient to make the final decision. This step is essential because it allows him to participate in the choice of treatment wisely.

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