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SBRT Treatment for Prostate Cancer
There are several excellent treatment options for men diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. Some involve a surgical procedure, while others can be done without undergoing general anesthesia or being admitted to a hospital.
Non-invasive treatments for Prostate Cancer include standard radiation therapy (daily treatments over six to eight weeks) or a new form of radiation done over a much shorter period of time called Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT, also called SABR or Stereotactic Ablative Radiation Therapy).
Treatment
SBRT/SABR is an ultra-precise form of radiation therapy that allows doctors to deliver the equivalent of several weeks of cancer treatment in as little as one week. This is possible because of advances in linear accelerators the equipment available to deliver radiation therapy. Because of the complex blocking and computer-guided treatment planning, radiation oncologists are able to design safe and precise treatments that deliver a higher, more effective radiation dose to the prostate during each treatment session.
Advantages
Some of the potential advantages of SBRT:
FAQs
Who is eligible?
Men who have prostate cancer, with a Gleason Score of 6 or 7. The patient’s PSA must be less than 15 mg/ml, and there should be no evidence of lymph node or bone involvement.
What is the success rate?
The success rate is 92% or greater. Early results suggest that SBRT is as effective as, and likely more effective than, standard radiation therapy.
Does SBRT make you sick?
No, it is generally well-tolerated. Some side effects that can occur are:
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Tiredness
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Mild irritation of the bladder and rectum, which can lead to increased urinary and rectal urgency and frequency.
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Long-term, patients can sometimes see blood in the urine or stool, but rarely have rectal pain as the prostate heals after treatment.
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Rectal symptoms can be significantly reduced if a gel spacer is used.
How would I learn more about SBRT?
The best way to find out more about this exciting treatment is to make an appointment with a Radiation Oncologist who is experienced in treating the prostate with this technique. Fill out the form below or call (805) 496-4111 to get scheduled for a consultation.
What steps are required to get started with SBRT:
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Consultation with a Radiation Oncologist who specializes in SBRT.
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Placement of fiducial markers inside the prostate for accurate targeting. We also recommend inserting a temporary gel spacer between the prostate and rectum.
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CT simulation when a cast will be made of your lower legs to help stay in the same place during treatment.
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SBRT usually begins 1 ½ to 2 weeks after your simulation.
Is SBRT done as part of a clinical trial?
Stereotactic radiotherapy to the prostate has been offered successfully for many years and is considered one of the standard of care options to treat prostate cancer in the United States. Our centers have access to the GU-005 SBRT trial that compares SBRT to moderately hypofractionated regular radiation therapy given over six weeks. If you are interested in clinical research, ask your doctor if you are eligible for the GU-005 clinical trial.
What should I expect after SBRT treatments?
We will instruct you regarding care for any potential side effects after treatment. You will have a follow-up in our clinic to assess treatment response, monitor and treat any delayed side-effects, and receive recommendation regarding any potentially beneficial treatments in the future.
SBRT Prostate Treatment Team Thousand Oaks Location
Thousand Oaks Radiation Oncology Center
2230 Lynn Road, Suite 103
Thousand Oaks, California 91360
Phone: (805) 496-4111
Fax: (805) 496-2861
Dr. Jonathan Abelson
Dr. Abelson graduated with honors from Pomona College with a B.A. in Mathematical Economics. He obtained his M.D. from UCLA medical school, where he received the Aesculapian award for service and leadership. He completed his residency training in Radiation Oncology at Stanford University, serving as chief resident in his final year. At Stanford, Dr. Abelson gained comprehensive training in general radiation oncology and expertise in intensity-modulated and image-guided radiation therapy (IMRT and IGRT) and in stereotactic intracranial and body radiosurgery (SRS and SBRT).
Dr. Abelson has authored numerous manuscripts on various aspects of IMRT, IGRT and SBRT, and he has presented at conferences in the United States and internationally. While at Stanford he conducted a clinical trial investigating pulmonary lymphography in SBRT, and on the Central Coast he implemented SBRT and SRS programs. Dr. Abelson is Board Certified in Radiation Oncology by the American Board of Radiology. He is a member of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO), the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), and the American College of Radiation Oncology (ACRO).
Dr. Abelson practices at North Oaks Radiation Oncology Center in Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village Radiation Oncology Center, and Simi Valley Radiation Oncology Center.
Dr. Eugene Ahn
A graduate of the University of Washington, Dr. Ahn attended medical school at the New York University School of Medicine and completed a residency at UCLA Medical Center. He is board-certified in therapeutic radiology with a particular interest in stereotactic radiosurgery for brain tumors and head and neck cancers. Additionally, Dr. Ahn has significant experience in MammoSite brachytherapy for early stage breast cancer. Dr. Ahn initiated the first MammoSite treatment in Ventura County in 2004. The breast brachytherapy program in Thousand Oaks is now the largest in Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties.
Dr. Ahn has published on stereotactic radiosurgery and was the recipient of the Young Oncologist Research Award 2003 from the American Radium Society. He is Vice President of Coastal Radiation Oncology Medical Group and is co-medical director of the Los Robles Gamma Knife Center in Thousand Oaks. Dr. Ahn is a member of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO).
Dr. Ahn practices at North Oaks Radiation Oncology Center in Thousand Oaks, and is medial director of the Simi Valley Radiation Oncology Medical Center in Simi Valley.
Dr. Paul Miller
After earning degrees in Chemistry, Psychology and Chemical Engineering at the University of Kansas, Dr. Miller worked briefly as a research engineer in the aerospace field in Southern California working on the development of the space shuttle. Dr. Miller then worked in a genetics research lab at the University of Kansas where he later attended medical school and completed training in radiation oncology. Board-certified by the American College of Radiology, Dr. Miller has been an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at UCLA School of Medicine since 1990.
Dr. Miller has participated in multiple clinical trials through the years and previously held the position of principal investigator at Los Robles Regional Medical Center in Thousand Oaks, for the Southwest Oncology Group, a national cancer research organization funded by the National Cancer Institute, in cooperation with UCLA. He has published research on high-grade brain tumors, and has actively participated in studies on breast cancer, lung cancer, and brain tumors. Dr. Miller has used his engineering background to spearhead the advancement of optimal technologies for the treatment of cancer patients within this group. He is a member of the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO), and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Dr. Miller practices at North Oaks Radiation Oncology Center in Thousand Oaks and Westlake Radiation Oncology Center.
Dr. Steven Lau
Dr. Lau graduated summa cum laude from Washington University in St. Louis with a degree in biology. He studied genomics at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, before attending medical school at the University of California San Diego where he also completed a doctorate in cancer cell invasion and metastasis. After receiving his M.D., Dr. Lau served a transitional year internship at the University of Hawaii. He completed his radiation oncology residency at the University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas.
Dr. Lau is experienced in a variety of radiotherapy techniques including intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SBRT/SABR), high-dose-rate (HDR) and low-dose-rate (LDR) brachytherapy, Cyberknife, and Gamma Knife. In addition to SRS and SBRT, oligometastatic disease and palliative care are among Dr. Lau’s areas of interest. He has published in many peer reviewed journals and presented his research at numerous society meetings.
Dr. Lau is proficient in Spanish and Cantonese Chinese. He is a member of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), and the American Brachytherapy Society (ABS). Dr. Lau is happy to return to California and looks forward to engaging in his favorite outdoor activities while exploring the region more fully.
Dr. Lau practices at Coastal Radiation Oncology Medical Group’s Westlake Village Radiation Oncology Center in Westlake Village, North Oaks Radiation Oncology Center in Thousand Oaks, and Cabrillo Radiation Oncology Center in Ventura.
