Dr. Bhalchandra Parulkar, Saint Vincent Hospital Urologist, First in New England to be awarded Center of Excellence Designation for SpaceOAR Hydrogel Surgery
Process Reduces Risks for Prostate Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiation Treatment
Worcester, MA— Dr. Bhalchandra Parulkar, a urologist at Saint Vincent Hospital, receives the first SpaceOAR Center of Excellence designation in New England for his use of a new technology to help prostate cancer patients avoid some of the negative effects of radiation therapy.
SpaceOAR Hydrogel is an absorbable gel spacer to help reduce the radiation dose delivered to the rectum in men undergoing radiation therapy for prostate cancer. Prostate radiation therapy can cause unintended damage to the rectum, which can lead to proctitis and fecal incontinence issues or other long-lasting side effects.
SpaceOAR Hydrogel creates a temporary space between the prostate and the rectum, designed to reduce the radiation dose to the rectum and reduce urinary irritation and sexual side effects.
“The introduction of SpaceOAR Hydrogel as a pre-treatment option at Saint Vincent Hospital demonstrates our commitment to providing the best possible care to our patients by offering the latest innovation in treatments,” says Dr. Bhalchandra Parulkar, a urologist at Saint Vincent. “Men diagnosed with prostate cancer have some difficult decisions to make, but knowing that an option like SpaceOAR Hydrogel can potentially limit the risk of damage to other organs during radiation treatment will hopefully make a few of those decisions easier.”
Placed through a needle, SpaceOAR Hydrogel is administered as a liquid between the prostate and the rectum, but quickly solidifies into a soft gel that expands the space and pushes the rectal wall away from the high-dose radiation area. The hydrogel stays in place for about three months. After about six months, the hydrogel is naturally absorbed into the body.
“When I was first diagnosed with prostate cancer, my doctor and I talked about potential treatment options, including radiation,” said Peter, a local patient who recently underwent treatment. “I knew immediately that I wanted SpaceOAR Hydrogel to be part of my radiation therapy, as it made the risks of radiation seem less scary. I was reassured to know that my doctor is using the latest innovations available to help me avoid experiencing some of the side effects associated with radiation.”
According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men, with more than 183,000 new cases diagnosed each year. More than 60,000 men in the US opt to treat their prostate cancer with radiation every year.