Prostate cancer

Urologists at Ascension Saint Thomas in Nashville, Tennessee, provide advanced care for kidney, prostate and bladder cancer.

Urologic and prostate cancer care in Nashville

Urologists at Ascension Saint Thomas in Nashville, Tennessee, provide advanced care for kidney, prostate and bladder cancers

About prostate cancer care at Ascension Saint Thomas

When you choose Ascension Saint Thomas in Nashville, you get a team of experienced and compassionate doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer and other male genital cancers. Our care teams share best practices and the latest in cancer treatment and research – bringing the best of cancer care to you. Every appointment with your oncologist or urology care team starts with a conversation that focuses on you. Your doctor answers your questions and gets to know you. So, you get a personalized cancer care plan. And with a plan, comes hope. We will help you navigate your care and will be by your side every step of the way, connecting the dots. Our goal is to help you get back to your daily life sooner.

When you’re going through urologic cancer, we’re by your side

Along the way, your care may require imaging, lab tests, pharmacy support, respiratory therapy, physical therapy or other specialists — you do not have to navigate your care alone. Upon your cancer diagnosis, or when you come to us during your cancer care, you’re paired with a cancer care team.

We offer an extended care team for emotional support — chaplain, palliative care specialist and oncology-certified social worker. Our healing garden and chapel are always open for you and your loved ones. Other services include:

Cancer rehabilitation and pelvic therapy
Financial aid counselors
Nutritionists
Oncology-trained pharmacists
Patient and caregiver support groups

Screenings to help detect prostate cancer early

Getting regular Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) screening may help find cancer early, when it is most treatable. Early detection may allow for more options for treatment, too. Talk with your doctor about screenings that are right for you based on your age, family history, smoking history and other risk factors. If you have been previously diagnosed with cancer or are in remission, screenings may be an ongoing part of your cancer care. Talk with your doctor about the right timing for ongoing screenings. We can help you find a primary care provider.

Types of urologic and prostate cancers

Your doctors and care team deliver a customized care plan for your type of cancer. Our goal is to identify the tumor and deliver comprehensive care for your type of cancer, including:

Bladder cancer
Kidney (renal) cancers
Penile cancer
Prostate cancer
Testicular cancer

Symptoms of urologic cancers

Prostate tumors are usually found because of urinary discomfort and weak or interrupted urination flow that gets worse over time, especially at night. Other prostate symptoms may include:

Dark colored (blood) in urine or semen
Discomfort urinating, difficulty starting or holding urine back
Erectile dysfunction, pain
Pain in back, hips and pelvis that doesn’t go away
Weak urine stream or interruption of stream

There are at least five different types of prostate cancer, from slow-growing to aggressive, fast-growing cancer, including metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). If you are diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer, your doctor may recommend observation and a routine blood test that measures prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in your blood. An elevated PSA level can mean prostate cancer tumor growth.

Testicular cancer is associated with swollen, painful testicles.

Penile cancer symptoms include a rash or sore that won’t heal. Talk to a doctor or find one near you if you’re experiencing symptoms. Do not delay care.

A team approach that helps navigate appointments and support services

Along the way, your care may require imaging, lab tests, pharmacy support, nutrition counseling or other specialists. You do not have to navigate your care alone. Your care team at Ascension Saint Thomas will help you schedule appointments, connect with other services and support groups, and answer your questions. From your first consultation and throughout your ongoing care, you and your doctor will stay connected through in-person and virtual visits. When you come into the clinic for your appointments, know that we’re maintaining strict precautions to keep you safe in our care.

How we diagnose urologic cancer

Your care team focuses on identifying if the tumor is noninvasive or invasive, understanding where the tumor began and whether or not the cancer has spread. We use advanced molecular studies to recognize urologic cancer subtypes to create a care plan for your type of cancer. To diagnose urologic cancer, your doctor may recommend testing, such as:

Blood levels of certain proteins tend to change if you have testicular cancer. These proteins are called tumor markers. The main tumor markers for testicular cancer are alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin. Another marker is an enzyme called lactate dehydrogenase.

If you want to learn more about other cancer care options, talk to your doctor. You may want to ask whether cancer clinical trials are the right option for you.

You may have a CT scan of your abdomen and pelvis to check for a tumor. A CT scan is an imaging test that combines a series of X-rays to create a more detailed picture. A contrast material may be used to improve the image. It might be injected into a vein. Or it may be a pill or liquid that you swallow.

Cystoscopy is a procedure that lets a healthcare provider look at the urinary tract. It can help find early signs of cancer, infection, narrowing, blockage, and bleeding. This procedure uses a long, thin, flexible, lighted tube called a cystoscope. This is put into the urethra and moved up into the bladder. The cystoscope lets the healthcare provider look closely at the inside of the urethra and bladder.

Excisional biopsy is a procedure where the entire lesion is removed and examined to help your doctor diagnose your condition and stage for even the most rare cancers.

If you are high-risk or have a family history of cancer, we deliver genetic screening, testing and counseling to help you and your doctor better understand your risk for developing cancer.

mpMRI uses anatomic and functional imaging to help identify prostate lesions and detect prostate cancer.

This may also be called transurethral resection for bladder tumor (TURBT). In this surgery, all the cancer in your bladder is taken out. But your whole bladder isn't removed. This type of surgery might be done if the cancer is only in the lining of your bladder. TUR can also be done to diagnose bladder cancer and find out how deep it has grown into the bladder wall.

An ultrasound is often the first test done if you have a lump on or near your testicle. This test uses sound waves to make images of the inside of your body. It can show if the lump is filled with fluid or is a solid mass. Solid lumps are more likely to cause cancer.

How we treat urologic cancer

Treatment for prostate and urologic cancers may include medication, therapy or surgery.

Chemotherapy (chemo) is the use of strong medicines to kill cancer cells. The medicines travel all through your body in your bloodstream. They attack and kill cells that grow quickly, like cancer cells. Some normal cells also grow quickly. Because of this, chemo can harm those cells.

This surgery removes the whole prostate gland and some nearby tissue. But the surgeon uses a few small incisions instead of one larger incision. This approach may help you have a shorter hospital stay, less pain, and a quicker recovery.

Radiation therapy is a treatment that uses strong rays of energy or particles to kill cancer cells. A machine directs the rays to the area of cancer. Radiation therapy is also called radiotherapy. Its goal is to kill or shrink cancer cells. If you have gallbladder cancer, radiation therapy may be part of your treatment.

The testicle and cord are taken out through a cut (incision) above your pubic area. This surgery is not done through the scrotum. This is because if you have cancer, the surgery could spread the cancer cells to your scrotum or your other testicle.

Your cancer care team provides support from nutrition education and counseling to cancer support groups and spiritual care. And, at Ascension Saint Thomas, our healing gardens and chapels are always open to patients and your loved ones. We offer supportive care and activities for the whole you.

Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that boosts your body’s immune system to help it recognize and attack cancer cells. It uses substances that are either made in the body or in a lab. These substances either boost the immune system overall or help it to better target cancer cells. These medicines can shrink some tumors or slow tumor growth.

Frequently asked questions about our urologic cancer services

Our cancer center is on the campus of Ascension Saint Thomas in Nashville, Tennessee. Your doctor and care team get to know you well, and you’ll receive care for the whole person – from physical health and well-being to mental and emotional health to support for your family and caregivers. At Ascension Saint Thomas, we provide innovative medication treatments, the latest surgical technologies and techniques, high-tech radiation facilities and support services. Our urologic cancer surgeons are part of a national team of cancer specialists sharing the latest in cancer care knowledge and research.

Urologists at our cancer center are trained urologic surgeons. They use minimally invasive surgery techniques when possible to remove a tumor, which may help shorten your recovery after surgery.

Our care team provides genetic tests associated with prostate cancer. Telehealth genetic testing and counseling is now available. Our genetic nurse coordinator schedules your genetic tests and coordinates a consultation with a telehealth genetic consultant from the convenience of your home.

Across our sites of care, we offer high-tech radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted treatment options for many types of prostate and male reproductive cancer, delivered by highly trained specialists, including:

Anti-androgen therapy (hormone therapy)
Brachytherapy (radioactive seeds planted in the prostate)
Chemotherapy and immunotherapy
High-resolution MR prostate exams
MRI-guided biopsy
Non-metastatic CRPC targeted medication therapies
PSMA PET/CT imaging for targeted mCRPC treatments
Robotic-assisted prostate surgery

We can connect you with resources and programs that may be able to help you and your family with options for financial assistance. Our financial counseling team is here to listen to your concerns and work with you to help find options that meet your needs. Your cancer care team can connect you to a financial counselor.

At Ascension Saint Thomas cancer center and clinics, we offer convenient parking. Talk to your care team if you have transportation needs.

Surgical oncologists and anesthesiologists provide enhanced recovery pathways as part of your surgical care plan. They are an important part of our cancer treatment programs. Each pathway is personalized for different types of cancer treatment, to help speed up your recovery after surgery. Your care team uses these protocols to help you prepare for what to expect before, during and after surgery.

Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford
1700 Medical Center Pkwy
Murfreesboro, TN 37129

Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown Cancer Center
2004 Hayes St.
Nashville, TN 37203

If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, go directly to the ER or call 911.