The Marin Cancer Institute, a nationally accredited cancer center, offers a comprehensive program for the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of genitourinary cancers. The quality of care we provide to prostate, bladder, kidney and testicular cancer patients is equivalent to a university center, but with personalized service oriented toward the patient and referring physicians.
Our goal is to provide our patients with the highest possible quality coordinated care and timely follow-up. We offer a caring environment with many holistic support services and comprehensive education about available treatment options.
The Multidisciplinary Team Approach, Patient Conferences, and Spouse & Family Involvement Services are just a few of the special features of our comprehensive program.
Contents
- Easy Referral
- High level of patient care - with a personal touch
- Our Comprehensive Services
- Spouse & Family Involvement Services
- The Multidisciplinary Team Approach and Weekly Tumor Conferences
- Patient & Family Information Guide
- Treatment Options
Easy Referral
We understand that patients and their primary care physicians want a seamless and timely referral process. We will assist you with your transition into our care facility, including getting you the right paperwork, and answering your questions.
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High level of patient care - with a personal touch
The medical care you will receive at the Marin Cancer Institute will be provided by board-certified physicians who specialize in surgery, radiation, and medical oncology. They provide the best available treatments, use state-of-the-art equipment and offer access to experimental therapy through national clinical trials. Your care will be tailored to your needs, as the treating physicians have a hands-on relationship with each patient and are personally involved in your treatment every step of the way.
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Our Comprehensive Services
Medical Services:
- Urologic Oncology: subspecialty level of care in the diagnosis and treatment of all genitourinary malignancies
- Surgery: including nerve-sparing procedures for prostate, testicular and bladder cancers; laparoscopy for kidney cancer, and state-of-the-art lower urinary tract reconstruction and organ-sparing approaches for bladder cancer
- Radiation Oncology: including Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), the latest advance in radiation treatment, which accurately targets the tumor with a high dose of radiation while minimizing the side effects; and image guided radiation therapy (IGRT), with gold seed prostate markers to accurately target the prostate
- Brachytherapy: minimally invasive treatment for prostate cancer, also known as radioactive seed implantation
- Medical Oncology: including chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and immunotherapy, as well as vaccine-based and new biological therapies
- Active Surveillance: monitoring and follow-up care of prostate cancer patients who choose "watchful waiting"
- Combined Modality Therapy: organ-sparing surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy used together to preserve organ function
We offer the latest treatments through clinical research trials. Should qualifying patients be interested in participating in a randomized trial, they will be randomly selected to receive either a new treatment being tested, or the best available standard treatment.
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Spouse & Family Involvement Services
Suddenly becoming a caregiver to a cancer patient can be stressful. It's vitally important that spouses and family members take care of themselves during this important time.
We offer a variety of support services to aid the body, mind, and spirit. Many are free, and others are fee-for-service or low-cost. Financial aid may be available to those requiring assistance.
Learn more about our Spouse & Family Involvement Services.
Patient Support Services:
- Nutrition consultation and planning
- Management of sexual dysfunction
- Integrative Medicine for Holistic Care
- Cancer Resource & Recovery Center
- Emotional, family and spiritual assessment and counseling
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The Multidisciplinary Team Approach and Weekly Tumor Conferences
We believe that the best diagnosis and treatment planning is done by an interdisciplinary medical team comprised of a urologist, radiation oncologist, medical oncologist, pathologist, radiologist, and primary care physician. We also know that numerous physician visits - sometimes spread over days and weeks - can be burdensome. Patients can become confused and often feel left out in decision-making.
Most patients' cases at MCI are reviewed weekly at at least one "tumor conference". Teams of physicians with varied specialties in treating cancer gather to discuss the progress of their patients. Although patients do not attend these weekly Tumor Conferences, we encourage you to stay in touch with us about your treatment, or call us any time with any questions or concerns you may have.
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Patient & Family Information Guide
As a patient of the Prostate Genitourinary Program at MCI, you will have access to many unique services and educational materials. You will receive a patient education binder specially researched and written by the program's specialists for patients like you. Filled with a comprehensive glossary, explanation of treatments and therapies, this binder is meant to help educate you on your cancer and your treatment. If you have additional questions we are always just a phone call away.
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Treatment Options
Once you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer your physician will map out the best course of treatment for you based on the extent of the cancer and the likelihood of cure following any form of treatment. Surgery, such as Radical Prostatectomy, and various forms of Radiation Therapy are likely treatment options for patients who are in good health (with a 10-year life expectancy), and in whom the cancer appears to be localized to the prostate gland. Hormonal Therapy is most commonly used in patients with metastatic prostate cancer (cancer that has spread outside the prostate gland to lymph nodes, bone, or other sites).
Not all prostate cancers need to be treated. In some cases, with a physician's input, a patient will choose a "Watch and Wait" or "Active Surveillance" approach to treatment. This decision can be made if the cancer is:
- Very small and confined to one area of the prostate
- Expected to grow at a very slow rate
For detailed information on any of these treatment options, click on the above links, or contact the Prostate/Genitourinary Cancer Program at the Marin Cancer Institute by calling (415) 925-7372 or toll free (888) 731-9900.
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