Dr. Anderson Prostate Cancer Interview

Dr. Anderson Prostate Cancer Interview

Recently, Osceola Woman Newspaper sat down for a question and answer session with urologist, Axel W. Anderson, IV, MD.  Dr. Anderson, who is certified by the American Board of Urology, recently joined the medical staff of St. Cloud Regional Medical Center. As former chairman of Urology at Orlando Health and active member of the medical community in Orlando for the past 20 years, Dr. Anderson now accepts new patients at his new location in St. Cloud.

Dr. Anderson graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1978 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology/Zoology.  After earning his Medical Degree at Ross University, he completed his residency in general surgery at University Hospital in Jacksonville. He completed his urology residency at the University of Connecticut Health Center, where he was named Chief Resident.  He earned his board certification in urology in 1992.

Married to Sharon, with four children, Dr. Anderson is a member of the American and Florida Urological Associations, and enjoys golf, cycling and photography in his spare time.

Rebecca Brewer, CEO of St. Cloud Regional Medical Center says that Dr. Anderson brings to St. Cloud particular expertise in the leading-edge treatment of female incontinence, male sexual dysfunction and prostatic disease.  Read more to find out about prostatic disease below:

OWN: What is the best way to screen for prostate cancer?
Dr. Anderson: The PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) blood test. It is a simple blood test that does not require fasting.

OWN: At what age should men start these screenings?
Dr. Anderson: Men should get screened at age 45. African Americans or anyone with a family history of the disease should start at 40 or sometimes even earlier.

OWN: Should men get checked yearly?
Dr. Anderson: Men should be checked annually, and men at increased risk should be checked every six months.

OWN: Is a biopsy the only way to tell if a prostate is cancerous?
Dr. Anderson: If the PSA blood test is abnormal, a biopsy of the prostate is the only way to make the definitive diagnosis. Biopsies rarely cause any problems, are simple to do, and can be done as an outpatient procedure. Men can return to work the following day after a biopsy.

OWN: What is the next step after a biopsy?
Dr. Anderson: If it does not show cancer, it is still important to follow the patient closely. The biopsy could have missed a tumor, as many prostate cancers are microscopic. We will watch closely for two years, and instead of doing a PSA every year, we would do it every six months.

If the results show that there are cancerous cells, there are several different options for treatment, and I discuss all of these with my patients. Together we decide on the best course of treatment for each individual.

Your first option could be surgery. Radical Prostatectomy is now done with robotic technology. Most patients that want surgery prefer this technique. It is quicker, no large incisions, less downtime, less blood loss and less discomfort.

Radiation therapy is also a good option. There are two different types of radiation therapy. The first, External Beam Therapy doesn’t require any incisions. It is very well tolerated, and patients generally have minimal side effects.  However, it can be inconvenient; treatment lasts about eight weeks.

The other type is Brachytherapy, which is an outpatient procedure. Tiny radioactive seeds are implanted into the prostate under ultrasonic guidance.   This is an excellent option for patients who have been diagnosed with low risk prostate cancer. These three options make up 90% of what is currently being done in patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer.

There are some less common treatments patients may hear about. One is called, HIFU (High Intensity Focused Ultrasound). This procedure looks very promising although it is not currently approved by the FDA in the United States. There are some urologists that will take their patients out of the country where this treatment can be performed. It is expensive and usually not covered by insurance.

Cryotherapy, or freezing the prostate, is another option. This therapy usually will be used for salvage therapy when patients’ primary therapy has failed, however it can be used as primary (or first line) therapy.

Hormonal Therapy is commonly used if your initial therapy failed, or if the patient is not a candidate for more invasive treatment. It does not cure prostate cancer but can prolong the patient from developing any problems from prostate cancer Unfortunately, there are many side effects that can occur with hormonal therapy.

The last option is Active Surveillance.  This is usually for older patients or patients that have a lot of medical problems and cannot tolerate any of the above treatments.

OWN: Who is most at risk for prostate cancer?
Dr. Anderson: The greatest risk factor is family history: grandfather, father, uncles, and brothers. Agent Orange exposure can also be a possible risk factor.

OWN: What is important to you as a urologist?
Dr. Anderson: In my 20 years of private practice and now at St. Cloud Regional, I enjoy taking a personal interest in the well being of my patients. Patients need a urologist who is available and will talk about all the different options for treatment. What might be best for one patient might not be best for the next.

Call 407-891-2951 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Anderson. His practice, Urology Associates of St. Cloud, opened June 14, 2010 at 2900 17th Street - Suite 2 in St. Cloud.