Cross-Specialty Collaboration for Patients with Prostate Cancer

A study shows that a uro-oncology multidisciplinary team approach for prostate cancer patients may lead to more accurate and complete preoperative staging and neoadjuvant/adjuvant treatment (as opposed to a non-multidisciplinary team approach), as well as positive impacts for patient management.¹ But the data is not yet conclusive. A multidisciplinary, patient care team may include a urologist, oncologist, radiation oncologist, and pathologist.

Over the past 10 years, Dr. Ryan Hankins, a urologist, and Dr. Sean Collins, a radiation oncologist, have been committed to working as a team when it comes to treating patients. Both are physicians at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., where they have created a comfortable and productive relationship through collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Regardless of which doctor initially meets with the patient, they discuss the case and determine together if the patient is a candidate for a perirectal spacer. “Communication between the radiation oncologist and urologist is paramount because we both need to agree that the patient is a candidate. Since Dr. Collins is the treating physician, he generally makes the decision and I confirm it,” Dr. Hankins says.

Drs. Hankins and Collins communicate regularly — often daily — on patient cases. When making decisions on who should receive a perirectal spacer such as SpaceOAR™ Hydrogel, they look at various aspects of the patient’s medical history and medical condition. “We are always in communication,” Dr. Hankins says about their partnership.

With Dr. Hankins’ clinical experience managing complications associated with radiotherapy and understanding the potential role of a perirectal spacer such as SpaceOAR Hydrogel can play in preserving the patient’s quality of life, they are able to offer tailored care to patients with prostate cancer who enter their practice.^2,3

The two physicians work hand-in-hand, reviewing potential treatment options and determining from the start the best approach for each patient. If both doctors and the patient agree on radiation therapy, their focus shifts to addressing potential side effects.

“Perirectal spacing is important in trying to minimize side effects associated with radiation therapy,” Dr. Hankins says. “Both Dr. Collins and I speak to our patients about this. I mention to every patient who I send to radiation oncology that they should consider having a perirectal spacer such as SpaceOAR Hydrogel placed because it may help decrease radiation exposure to the rectum.” As a result, the chances of experiencing side effects related to bowel, urinary, and sexual function may be minimized.^2,3

When performing the SpaceOAR Hydrogel procedure, Dr. Hankins usually uses local anesthesia so patients may be able to resume their daily activities on the same day.* “They usually say they felt nothing during the placement procedure,” Collins says.

Dr. Collins also discusses his aging patient population. “I’ve noticed that men are living longer, into their 90s, so we actually need to control the cancer for a longer period of time,” he says.

When Dr. Collins first considered using SpaceOAR Hydrogel several years ago, he recognized that Boston Scientific, the device manufacturer, was focused on product training. “They weren’t about selling the product,” he recalls. “They were only going to let us use this product after completing training to become a certified applier.”

“And they actually listen,” Dr. Collins says about Boston Scientific, explaining that the company acted on feedback to add design features that are intended to enable visualization on CT. Boston Scientific developed SpaceOAR Vue™ Hydrogel, its next-generation hydrogel spacer that is designed to offer visibility via CT scan when compared to non-iodinated spacers.⁴

He continues, “the fact that we have a company that listens to us, cares about us, and also cares about the patient is very exciting.”

Dr. Hankins confirms this noting that, “They really have led the way by designing a product intended to help preserve quality of life for patients undergoing radiation therapy.”

Another important aspect highlighted during training is how to identify signs that indicate the procedure should be aborted. Through key steps of hydrodissection and aspiration, Drs. Collins and Hankins can confirm the placement of SpaceOAR Hydrogel.

Like any team, communication, collaboration, and partnership are essential. Prostate cancer patients may benefit when their care team works together to develop a course of treatment with a team mentality.¹ Collins concludes, “We want to work together to give our patients the best possible outcomes for their prostate cancer.”