Hope Regional Medical Center is Using a New Diagnostic Tool in the Fight Against Prostate Cancer
By Isabella Benjumea – WJHG — Published: Oct. 31, 2024 at 6:25 PM CDT
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – Hope Regional Medical Center in Panama City is now using a powerful new diagnostic tool in the fight against Prostate Cancer.
Doctors at the center have always used CT and bone scans to treat all cancer patients, but now they’re offering the new “Disruptive” Prostate Cancer Imaging. This is done through a PSMA PET scan, which uses a radioactive tracing agent that shows 3D images to pinpoint the location of cancer cells within the body.
“We inject a special nucleotide called ‘posluma’ into the patient, and that nucleotide then finds the prostate cancer cells in the membrane of the prostate cancer cells, and attaches with the specific protein called PSMA, and that emits an x-ray, which can then be detected by a camera, when the patient is scanned in the cancer center,” said Hasan Murshed, Radiation Oncologist at Hope Regional Medical Center.
Doctors say that this will allow them to detect prostate cancer at an early stage and allow them to be much more precise in their treatment planning. “With the PSMA scan, we can pick up cancers sooner and stage them properly, and if we can catch the cancer early, we can then treat them early and we can cure this patient as well,” said Murshed.
According to Doctor Murshed, over 300,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with prostate cancer yearly, and about 30,000 of those will die. But with the PSMA PET scan, many lives can be saved.
Disruptive Prostate Cancer Imaging Now Offered at Hope Regional Cancer Center, a partner with Advanced Urology Institute
PSMA PET scan is the best way to see prostate cancer anywhere in the body
Panama City, Fla. (October 16, 2024)—Hope Regional Cancer Center, which merged with Advanced Urology Institute in October 2023, is now employing a powerful new diagnostic tool in the fight against prostate cancer – the PSMA PET scan.
PET stands for positron emission tomography, an imaging test that shows 3D images inside the body. PSMA stands for prostate-specific membrane antigen, a protein prostate cancer cells make.
The PSMA-PET test uses an FDA-approved radioactive tracing agent to pinpoint the location of cancer cells within the body. Patients are injected with the radiotracer before starting their PET scan. The tracer binds with the PSMA on the prostate cancer cells, so when your doctor reviews your PET images, any prostate cancer cells within the body are lit up by the radiotracer.
“It’s a disruptive technology,” said Dr. Hasan Murshed, a board-certified radiation oncologist with Hope Regional Cancer Center. “The PSMA PET scan shows us the disease more accurately throughout the body. It shows us the disease at an earlier stage and allows us to be much more precise in our treatment planning.”
Hope Regional Cancer Center is dedicated to treating all types of cancers. It provides vital imaging services necessary for diagnosing nearly 30 different types of cancer, from breast to uterine cancers. Its October 2023 merger with Advanced Urology Institute helped provide for this expansion of care in prostate cancer imaging.
“October marks the first anniversary of our merger with Advanced Urology Institute, and being able to offer this potentially life-saving imaging service to our prostate cancer patients is a pretty great way to celebrate,” said Dr. Murshed.
About Hope Regional Cancer Center
Hope Regional Cancer Center was founded in 2012 on the Emerald Coast by Dr. Hasan Murshed. It is a freestanding, comprehensive cancer treatment center that provides coordination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy infusion services, blood disorder treatments, and image-guided and intensity-modulated radiation therapy. It is among an exclusive group of freestanding cancer centers in Florida that has earned the prestigious American College of Radiology (ACR) accreditation, which is recognized as the gold standard in medical imaging. Learn more about HopeRegionalCancerCenter.com.
About Advanced Urology Institute
Advanced Urology Institute was formed in May 2014, joining four respected urology practices in Florida to create a single-specialty, physician-led organization. It employs more than 68 urologists across more than 30 locations in the state and treats urologic and sexual health issues for more than 250,000 men and women annually. Learn more at AdvancedUrologyInstitute.com.
For more information on PSMA/PET scans and Hope Regional Cancer Center, including interviews with Dr. Murshed, please contact:
Randy Wahlberg
Physician Liaison
Hope Regional Cancer Center
850-276-9614
Prevent Cancer: Tips to Living Cancer Free Life
Cancer is a broad term that describes a large group of different diseases. However, all cancer shares few common features, such as, uncontrolled cell growth, abnormal appearance under microscope, and ability to spread to distant organs. In addition, carcinogenesis is a complex process, which includes initiation characterized by DNA mutation either spontaneously or due to exposure to carcinogens; promotion causing cell divisions due to intra or extra cellular stimulus; and progression when cancer cells metastasize to another organ.
To prevent cancers, we first must understand the risk factors for cancers. Although vast majority of cancers arises denovo, there are many known risk factors for cancers as well.
Age and gender, as we grow old our risk for cancer goes up. Some cancers are gender specific such as breast cancer for women and prostate cancer for men. Sunlight causes skin cancer. Tobacco causes lung cancer, and bladder cancer. Alcohol causes head and neck cancer, breast cancer, esophageal cancer, and pancreatic cancer. HPV virus can cause cervical cancer, and head and neck cancer. BRCA 1 and 2 gene mutation can cause breast cancer.
In USA more than 5 million people each year gets skin cancers. More than a million people each year are diagnosed with lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and other cancers; more than half a million patients die from cancer each year. Many of these cancers can be prevented.
Skin cancer – follow sun safety such as cover exposed skin when outside, wide brim hat, use SPF 15+ sunscreen every two hours, avoid sun between 10 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon, avoid artificial tanning.
Lung Cancer – avoiding tobacco or stopping tobacco use will reduce lung cancers by 95%.
Breast Cancer – alcohol consumption in moderation, avoiding hormone replacement therapy may reduce breast cancer.
Prostate Cancer – low fat diet, eating more vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower or soy derived food has been linked to reduce incidence of prostate cancer, hormone blocking agents such as finasteride can lower risk of prostate cancer.
Cervical Cancer – HPV vaccines has shown to prevent cervical and head and neck cancer.
Like infectious disease and heart diseases, prevention will be key to reduce incidence and mortality from cancers. The best news is that in last 2 decades deaths from cancers has declined by 33% due to less smoking, early detection, and advancements in cancer treatments.
Hasan Murshed, MD is a cancer specialist and board-certified radiation oncologist. Reach him at (850) 481-1687 or www.HopeRegionalCancerCenter.com. This information is intended for education only. For treatment, seek advice from your physician.
Hope Regional Cancer Center Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary!
Hope Regional Cancer Center opened its doors in 2012 to the most state-of-the-art cancer center treatment in Northwest Florida.
A vision of Dr. Murshed became reality as he and his team of experts began treating cancer patients as the only Gold Seal accredited radiation cancer center of the American College of Radiology in Bay County.
10 years have passed, with a mission and purpose of saving lives Hope has grown along with the needs of our community. Hope now offers comprehensive and coordinated cancer care with radiation oncology, medical oncology/hematology, PET/CT scanning, and urology.
Hope is where recovery begins. ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS · CALL 850-481-1687 TO SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT
Hope Regional Cancer Center Receives Distinguished Accreditation and Gold Seal of the American College of Radiology for the 4th Consecutive Term
The most nationally accredited cancer care and treatment in Bay County is right here.
Hope Regional Cancer Center has received the distinguished accreditation and gold seal of the American College of Radiology for the 4th consecutive term. ACR has determined once again that Dr. Hasan Murshed’s team and facility have all met the rigorous standards required for this field leading distinction, and the only radiation cancer center of its kind in Bay county.
Hope is where recovery begins. ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS · CALL 850-481-1687 TO SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT
A New Treatment to Fight Glioblastoma Now Available in Panama City
BY DANI TRAVIS – WJHG Reporter | Published: Oct. 28, 2020 at 8:29 PM CDT
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG) – Doctors say Glioblastoma is the most aggressive brain cancer a person can have. Now, a new medical device to fight it has made its way to Panama City. Once known as Hope Radiation Cancer Center, but now Hope Regional Cancer Center is now offering a different treatment for glioblastoma.
“In the past, we had the surgery, radiation and oral chemotherapy. But now we have Optune, which is the low-intensity electrical field treatment,” Radiation Oncologist Doctor Hasan Murshed said.
Doctor Murshed said Optune was approved by the FDA about two years ago. To find the tumor a patient goes into a radiation treatment room. After the patient receives radiation, he or she is given Optune. It is a device worn on a person’s shaved head for up to 22 hours a day. Clinical nurse manager Melissa Mixdorf said the low-intensity electric field locates the tumor inside the brain.
“Optune Therapy is going and destroying cells as well as making newer cells, so it’s creating a better survival rate for GBM patients,” said Mixdorf.
Without the Optune treatment, the survival rate for GBM patients is about five percent or less in five years.
“Adding Optune treatment to the other treatment options for GBM patients appears to be around 13 percent in five years which has really increased significantly,” said Doctor Murshed.
The treatments are given in monthly sessions for up to 24 months. Doctor Murshed said now patients seeking new technology for treatment no longer have to leave town. The Hope Regional Cancer Center doctors are certified to administer this new treatment.
Copyright 2020 WJHG. All rights reserved.
Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy now available at Hope Regional Cancer Center
For Immediate Release – 9/21/20
For more information or interviews with Dr. Murshed, contact:
Randy Wahlberg
Hope Regional Cancer Center Marketing Office
2900 S. Hwy 77, Lynn Haven, FL 32444
850-276-9614
Randy@WahlbergMarketing.com
HOPE REGIONAL CANCER CENTER has announced that SBRT radiation lung cancer treatment is now available at their facility in Lynn Haven, FL.
SBRT – also known as Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy, is a welcome addition to the wide variety of cancer treatments in place at Hope Regional Cancer Center. Known, for the pinpoint accuracy that this treatment delivers, SBRT sends higher doses of radiation to the tumor and over fewer sessions than traditional radiation therapy. It is particularly effective against small, well-defined tumors in inoperable or risky locations for surgery and is particularly beneficial in targeting certain types of lung cancer.
“We are pleased to be able to offer SBRT to the patients of ours that can benefit from it” says Hasan Murshed, MD, Radiation Oncologist and Founder of Hope Regional Cancer Center. “It’s a treatment program that is typically delivered in one to five sessions. That compares to five to eight weeks with standard EBRT treatment.”
[caption id="attachment_408" align="alignleft" width="300"]
Varian iX Sil Linear Accelerator[/caption]
The benefits for candidates for SBRT in addition to fewer sessions is that higher doses of radiation can be delivered to a very specific area of the cancer tumor while the adjacent healthy cells remain untouched.
The treatment process for SBRT starts with imaging from a CT, MRI or PET/CT scan. This will show the team the exact location, size, and shape of the tumor. A 3D or IMRT treatment plan is developed that establishes the positioning of multiple radiation beams at various desired dosage levels directly at the tumor. The patients’ body is carefully supported and immobilized. During the treatment the procedure is quiet and the patient feels no pain.
A doctor may prescribe SBRT for the patient that presents Early Stage Lung Cancer, Lung Cancer Returned, or Multiple Primary Lung Cancer. SBRT has proven to be a very effective treatment for those patients that are good candidates for this type of treatment.
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Hope Regional Cancer Center Is the Only Full-Service Comprehensive Cancer Center in the Bay County Area
PANAMA CITY, Fla., March 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Cancer patients in Bay County area now have access to multi-specialty comprehensive cancer care at the Hope Regional Cancer Center, which it announced that it is the ONLY Cancer Center in Bay County to offer imaging services, chemotherapy infusion, radiation therapy and urological services under one roof.
Dr. Murshed said “When a cancer patient comes in, many times they require both radiation, chemotherapy and/or surgery. So, in the past what we had to do was do radiation treatments here, and then go for chemotherapy consultation at a different location at a different doctor’s office in town. By bringing in a multi-specialty group that offers chemotherapy and urology in the same facility, patients don’t have to travel to different offices or go out of town for special cancer treatments.”
Dr. Jagjit Tandon, with more than 25 years of experience, recently joined the cancer center as a Medical Oncologist. And Dr. David Aronoff has joined the Center as a Urologist, whose mission is to provide the most effective and proven treatments with the utmost respect and compassion to each urological patient.
The recent expansion also added a PET/CT scanner machine to the cancer center. The 16 slice GE PET/CT scanner is accredited by the national accreditation organization American College of Radiology (ACR). The addition of PET/CT scanner to the Cancer Center will significantly benefit patients as a non-invasive detection for staging of cancer, neurological conditions and cardiovascular diseases.
Dr. Murshed said “We love our patients and our patients love us back, so the fact that we will be able to provide comprehensive cancer care in one place is a benefit to all of us.” The expansion has always been a vision and desire for the center, finally coming to fruition for the much-needed cancer patients and urological patients of the Bay County and surrounding areas.
Contact:
Hasan Murshed
(850) 866-9012
235376@email4pr.com
Hope Regional Cancer Center Is Now the Only Cancer Center in Bay County Area to Offer Cancer Patients Faster, Ultra-Precise Radiotherapy Using RapidArc Technology
PANAMA CITY, Fla., Feb. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Cancer patients in Bay County area now have access to much improved cancer care at the Hope Regional Cancer Center, which it announced that it is the ONLY Cancer Center in Bay County offering a fast, precise form of Radiotherapy using advanced technology RapidArc treatment. This new treatment is two to eight times faster than conventional radiotherapy.
“We’re really excited to be able to offer patients this excellent treatment option,” says Hasan Murshed, M.D., Medical Director. “RapidArc technology will enable us to target cancer accurately while sparing more healthy tissue.”
Hope Radiation Cancer Center’s RapidArc technology delivers image-guided IMRT (intensity-modulated radiation therapy) very quickly, in a single rotation of the treatment machine around the patient. “RapidArc will be much easier on the patient,” says Dr. Murshed, “it’s hard for people to hold still for long periods of time. By delivering doses more quickly, we can simultaneously improve the quality of care and make our patients more comfortable.”
About RapidArc technology
RapidArc treatments is delivered the Hope Radiation Cancer Center using an iX Silhouette medical linear accelerator from Varian Medical Systems, outfitted with an On-Board Imager to guide patient placement and treatment delivery. During a RapidArc treatment, the radiation is shaped and reshaped as it is continuously delivered from virtually every angle in a 360-degree revolution around the patient, creating an aperture to exactly match the tumor thus avoiding normal critical organs from high radiation dose, making treatments much safer for patients.
About Dr. Hasan Murshed
Dr. Murshed obtained his medical degree from the University of Dhaka and received his radiation oncology residency training at nationally recognized institutions including the National Cancer Institute, University of Alabama – Birmingham, where he was the chief resident. He then received his Fellowship training from M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, where he specialized in Prostate Cancer, Breast Cancer, and Lung Cancer. He has published many cancer related articles and authored a popular radiation oncology textbook. He now brings highest expertise and world class cancer treatment technology close to friends, family and home for Bay County cancer patients.
Contact:
Hasan Murshed
8508669012
234156@email4pr.com
Hope Regional Cancer Center Earns ACR Accreditation
Hope Regional Cancer Center, has been awarded the prestigious three-year term of accreditation in radiation oncology as the result of a recent review by the American College of Radiology (ACR). This is the third ACR Accreditation for the Hope Regional Cancer Center (HRCC) and is the only cancer center in the Florida Panhandle to receive this accreditation. Radiation oncology (radiation therapy) is the careful use of high-energy radiation to treat cancer. A radiation oncologist may use radiation to cure cancer or to relieve a cancer patient’s pain.
The ACR seal of accreditation represents the highest level of quality and patient safety. It is awarded only to facilities meeting specific Practice Guidelines and Technical Standards developed by ACR after a peer-review evaluation by board-certified radiation oncologists and medical physicists who are experts in the field. Patient care and treatment, patient safety, personnel qualifications, adequacy of facility equipment, quality control procedures, and quality assurance programs are assessed. The findings are reported to the ACR Committee on Radiation Oncology Accreditation, which subsequently provides the practice with a comprehensive report they can use for continuous practice improvement.
The Hope Regional Cancer Center is dedicated to the treatment of all types of cancer. We provide world class advanced cancer care for each patient in a community setting close to friends, family and home. Our multispecialty, integrated team of board certified cancer experts have been recognized as “Top Doctors” in the areas of radiation oncology and medical oncology/hematology. We understand the importance of customer service toward our patients which explains our 5-star ratings on independent consumer websites such as Vitals and Healthgrades.