Prostate Cancer Treatment Options in New Jersey

Active Surveillance for men with low-risk prostate cancer means you defer treatments such as surgery and radiation, sparing you the possible risks or side effects. You are monitored closely for changes in your cancer. Treatment is always an option in the future if your cancer status changes. 

Thanks to advancements in biomarker testing and prostate imaging, our doctors can accurately determine if you are a candidate for active surveillance. You also may be offered an additional genetic test that helps determine if your cancer is likely to spread.

We follow evidenced-based guidelines for active surveillance which include regular PSA and biomarker testing, physical exam and prostate MRI. Based on those results, you also may undergo MRI-targeted fusion biopsies, if recommended.  

High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) uses an ultrasound probe to deliver high-intensity sound waves at a precise point. The magnitude of ultrasound energy delivered rapidly raises the temperature at the focal point, causing coagulation necrosis without damaging healthy tissue and structures outside the targeted area.

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Cryoablation is a innovative and minimally invasive treatment approach for prostate cancer. This technique involves the use of extremely cold temperatures to freeze and destroy cancerous cells within the prostate gland. During the procedure, a probe is inserted into the prostate, and the targeted freezing of cancer cells disrupts their ability to grow and divide. Cryoablation offers several advantages, including reduced damage to surrounding healthy tissues, shorter recovery times, and the potential for outpatient treatment. While it may not be suitable for all prostate cancer cases, cryoablation represents a promising alternative to traditional treatments, providing patients with a viable option that combines effectiveness with fewer side effects.

Radiation therapy for prostate cancer delivers high-dose energy beams or radioactive seeds to your prostate. Which radiation therapy is right for you is determined by our radiation oncology team based on your type of cancer. Radiation therapy is offered for all stages of cancer and can be administered in conjunction with hormone treatment.   

External Beam Radiation (EBRT): This form of therapy delivers radiation on its own or in combination with brachytherapy. There are three main types of EBRT for prostate cancer:

• Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT): IMRT uses computer programs to treat a tumor from multiple angles while minimizing risk of high-dose radiation to adjacent healthy tissue.
• Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT): SBRT provides high doses per treatment that are precisely targeted. Treatment can be delivered in as few as five sessions.
• Proton Therapy: Unlike the EBRT techniques described above, which use x-rays, protons are different because they deposit most of their energy over a shorter distance. This decreases radiation dose to nearby tissue while effectively targeting the tumor.

Brachytherapy: This involves implanting tiny radioactive seeds or wire into tumor tissue. 

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Depending on your type and stage of prostate cancer, systemic therapy may be the first course of treatment or used in addition to other treatments. These anti-cancer medications include anti-androgen therapy, IV chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Our team of doctors works with  medical oncology and radiation oncology colleagues at the John Theurer Cancer Center to determine if systemic therapy is appropriate for your individualized treatment plan. 

If you have been treated for localized prostate cancer and have had your cancer return, the experts at the Hackensack Meridian Health specialize in treating recurrent prostate cancer. 

We may recommend additional tests such axumin PET scan, 3-Tesla MRI, MRI-targeted fusion biopsy or genetic tumor profiling to enhance your diagnosis. Our multidisciplinary team meets to discuss your case and identify any new systemic therapies or clinical trials of novel agents. 

Early symptoms of prostate cancer can include:

• Frequent urination, especially at night (nocturia).
• A weak or interrupted urine stream.
• Difficulty starting urination
• Straining to urinate.
• Feeling that your bladder has not emptied completely.
• Urgency to urinate.
• Dribbling of urine after you've finished.
• Pain or burning during urination (less common).
• Blood in the urine (hematuria).
• Blood in the semen (hematospermia).
• New onset of erectile dysfunction (difficulty getting or maintaining an erection).
• Pain or discomfort in the pelvic area.

Some of the most common ways our urologists diagnose prostate cancer include:

• PSA Blood Test
• Biomarkers
• Prostate MRI
• MRI-Targeted Transperineal Biopsy (TPB)
• Genetic Tumor Profiling

The urologists at Hackensack Meridian Health treat prostate cancer using the best approach for you. Some of the most common treatment options include:

• Active Surveillance
• Robotic Surgery
• Single-Port Robotic Surgery
• Focal Therapy - High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU)
• Focal Therapy - Cryoablation
• Radiation Therapy
• Systemic Therapies
• Recurrent Prostate Cancer

Learn more about all the treatment options we offer. 

Hackensack Meridian Health offers treatment for prostate cancer at locations across New Jersey — from Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic, Sussex and Union counties in the north to Middlesex, Monmouth, Burlington and Ocean counties in the central and south. Find a care location now.