But other men may feel differently and decide on another treatment plan. Analyzing the outcomes, Lieskovsky says, should help illuminate information about what treatments work best in which prostate cancer patients. For example, when surgeons remove the prostate gland, they attempt to preserve the nerve bundles that lie on either side of the prostate. These nerves play an important role in achieving erections, so sparing them lessens the chance of impotence following surgery. Medical physicist Melvin Astrahan, Ph.D., with clinical application from chief physician Oscar Streeter, Jr., M.D., both in the USC Department of Radiation Oncology, have developed software that allows doctors to plan 3D-conformal radiation treatment for all Norris patients.
Conformal radiotherapy involves visualizing a tumor in three-dimensional space.
They plan the treatment by shaping the intended paths of external radiation beams to exactly match the shape of the tumor. By delivering many beams from different angles, physicians can maximize the radiation reaching the tumor, while minimizing the exposure of the surrounding healthy tissue. As a result, the patient will have fewer side effects. The patient also spends less time in the pre-treatment phase. Using the virtual patient makes a huge difference in how physicians work and how patients experience the treatment.