New SpaceOAR ® System Protects Organs at Risk During Prostate Cancer Treatment
SpaceOAR ®( OAR stands for‘ organ at risk’) is a new safeguard being used at Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Flint to protect the rectum during radiation to treat prostate cancer.
The goal of radiation therapy is to maximize radiation to the cancer and avoid radiating surrounding normal tissue. The prostate and rectum are very close and are naturally only separated by a thin wall. Due to this closeness, prostate radiation therapy can accidentally cause damage to the rectum. Now, a new spacer system is used to temporarily move the wall away from the prostate during radiotherapy with the goal of eliminating or reducing damage to the rectum.
The SpaceOAR System consists of a biocompatible gel-like material called Hydrogel. It is injected in between the rectum and prostate in a minimally invasive procedure. The gel separates the prostate and rectum for about three months providing protection during radiation treatment and is naturally absorbed in about six months.
Patients who are about to begin radiation treatment for prostate cancer should discuss this with their radiation oncologist to understand if this is a good option for their care.
Anatomy without SpaceOAR System The rectum is next to the prostate complicating prostate radiation therapy.
With SpaceOAR System
The SpaceOAR Spacer pushes the rectum away from the prostate, decreasing rectal injury during prostate RT.
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