Arizona Oncology is championing SpaceOar hydrogel, a new tool that has proven to protect patients with prostate cancer from the adverse effects of radiation therapy.
SpaceOar is the first device that is designed to protect men’s rectums when they undergo radiation therapy for prostate cancer approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“Providing the best possible treatment to patients is our top priority, which is why we are one of the first centers offering SpaceOAR hydrogel,” Arizona Oncology radiation oncologist Dr. Curtis Mack said. “Creating space between the prostate and rectum is an important advance that significantly diminishes the rectal dose during radiation treatments, and thereby reduces the likelihood of side effects. Currently, I am using it on patients being treated with daily intensity modulated radiation therapy as well as those patients who choose brachytherapy."
SpaceOar is an injectable gel that helps decrease side effects for men who are undergoing radiation therapy. It was designed to temporarily position the anterior rectal wall away from the prostate during the treatment in order to distance the rectum from radiation exposure. Arizona Oncology became the first center in Southern Arizona to put the technology into use.
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