Q&A with Ron, a SpaceOAR™ Hydrogel patient

In my free time, I live an active lifestyle. I enjoy boating, riding my Harley Davidson, and playing tennis. I also love to exercise and run.

When I turned 40 years old, I started going for annual physical and prostate health evaluations. When I turned 60, a routine blood test showed that my PSA (prostate-specific antigen) level was slightly elevated. Since PSA can be an early indicator of prostate issues, my urologist, Dr. Seskin, recommended that I get an MRI.

The MRI showed areas called lesions. To better understand what those areas were, the next step was a prostate biopsy, where small tissue samples are taken and tested. The biopsy results came back positive, confirming that cancer cells were present.

My biopsy results showed a Gleason score of 3+4, which is used to help determine how aggressive the cancer may be. Based on my specific diagnosis, Dr. Seskin explained that if he were in my position, he would consider radiation therapy as a treatment option. He also recommended using SpaceOAR Hydrogel as part of that approach.

After some research and thought, we decided together to move forward with TomoTherapy™, a type of radiation therapy, along with SpaceOAR Hydrogel.

My Urologist, Dr. Seskin, recommended SpaceOAR Hydrogel and explained how it could be used as part of my treatment plan.

I tolerated the procedure very well. There was slight discomfort in the beginning, but no complications beyond that. The entire procedure took approximately one hour. Two physicians, Dr. Keisch and Dr. Seskin, performed the procedure. I recall Dr. Keisch say, “That’s it — exactly where I want it.” From that point on, I felt even more confident that my surrounding organs would be protected during radiation. When the procedure was complete, I was able to go back to work and exercise without any adverse reactions.