Florida Hospital Waterman | Waterman Wellness | Early WInter 2019

FHWaterman . com 7 for aggressive prostate cancer It was during a routine annual physical and blood test that Dan Pierce, 74, of Tavares, discovered he had prostate cancer. “My primary care doctor said my prostate screen- ing bloodwork showed a high Glea- son score, and so he referred me to Dr. Gerboc who diagnosed me with prostate cancer,” Pierce says. “The Gleason score is a measure of how aggressive the prostate cancer is,” says Jason Gerboc, DO, board-certified urologic surgeon. “We use this score to assist us with developing a treatment plan for the patient.” He advised Pierce to receive radia- tion treatment from Florida Hospital Waterman Cancer Institute and radia- tion oncologist Anudh Jain, MD. “Here at Florida Hospital Waterman, we work directly with patients and other specialists to come up with the best care. We have advanced technol- ogy, and we offer patients a wide host of The most advanced cancer care available At Florida Hospital Waterman, we have the leading-edge technologies and medical expertise to help our patients through every stage of the process, from diagnosis to treatment—all in a compassionate, friendly, patient- centered environment. The Florida Hospital Waterman Cancer Institute is a cancer program dedicated to providing our patients with the most advanced treatment and care available in Central Florida. Accredited as a comprehensive community cancer program by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer, we offer both radiation oncology and medical oncology. Our team of board- certified surgeons has the only fellowship-trained surgical oncologist in Lake County, so you know that you or your loved one is receiving only the best in medical and surgical care. Learn more about the Florida Hospital Waterman Cancer Institute at FHWatermanCancer.com . SHOULD YOU GET THE TEST? Men who are over 40 or have a family history of prostate cancer should get an annual PSA test. If you need a urologist, you can find one at FHWaterman.com . ADVANCED TREATMENT options,” Dr. Jain says. “We have state- of-the-art cancer treatment right here, close to home.” TruBeam and SpaceOAR Pierce’s medical team decided upon a treatment plan of nine weeks of radia- tion therapy using the latest TruBeam linear accelerator system and the use of SpaceOAR hydrogel. “SpaceOAR hydrogel acts as a spacer providing distance between the rectum and the prostate, making it much less likely that the rectum is exposed to radiation and any negative side effects,” explains Dr. Jain. “The hydrogel is minimally invasive, remains stable during radiation therapy and then is gradually absorbed by the body after radiation therapy has been completed.” Pierce finished his treatments in July and says he is feeling great. “I’m still on some medications that make me a little tired, but I don’t have any complaints,” he says. “I had an excellent experience, and everyone was just super nice and wonderful. I’m back to working in my yard and all the usual stuff.” Anudh Jain, MD Dan Pierce finished his radiation therapy in July and says he is feeling great.