Prostate Cancer
For more information, please contact
Brad Wilkinson
Senior Development Officer
Every year, over 4,000 men in British Columbia will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, which accounts for 12% of all cancer diagnoses in men in the province and is the most common cancer amongst Canadian men.
With one in nine men expected to develop prostate cancer in their lifetime, prostate cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths, emphasizing the need for early detection and effective treatment.
What You Need to Know about Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer impacts the gland located under the bladder that produces a milky fluid.
Symptoms can include trouble starting or stopping urination, a slow urine stream, painful urination or ejaculation, needing to urinate more often, or blood in your urine or semen. Advanced-stage prostate cancer symptoms include weight loss, extreme fatigue, back pain, sudden pain running from your lower back to your leg or swelling in your legs that does not go away.
Risk factors for prostate cancer include age, family history, ethnic background, dietary choices and weight. In B.C., screening is recommended for all men beginning at age 50. Black men and those with a family history of the disease are at a higher risk and may be recommended earlier screening.
"Being able to communicate our research vision, where we need to be and what we can do to get there, and then have someone have the belief and commitment to invest in that future, is extremely inspiring and motivating. It makes it very personal for me. "
Dr. Kim N. Chi
How is BC Cancer Advancing Prostate Cancer Research and Care?
Donor support has enabled BC Cancer to accelerate prostate cancer research and clinical trials.
- Genomic Analysis: Genomic analysis examines the DNA of a person’s cancer to identify mutations driving its growth, enabling highly personalized treatment. This advanced testing is now standard for metastatic prostate cancer, helping to guide improved treatment strategies and detect hereditary risks. With donor support, scientists are refining the test’s accuracy and expanding its scope to enhance care further.
- Precision Radiation Treatments: Recent research by BC Cancer – Victoria’s Dr. Abraham Alexandar has led to the use of a high-precision radiation therapy called Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR), which reduces radiation sessions from up to eight weeks of daily treatments to just five doses. Fewer visits increase BC Cancer’s capacity for timely care for more patients. Additionally, cutting-edge triggered imaging technology tracks motion during SABR treatment to ensure the radiation beam accurately targets the prostate gland — this technology has increased targeting accuracy from 83% to 98%, reducing risk to nearby organs.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) Powered Research: Drs. Abraham Alexander and Winkle Kwan are spearheading the innovative ADAPT-25 trial to further improve SABR. ADAPT-25 trial leverages a custom AI algorithm to target radiation more precisely and reduce SABR treatments from five to just two doses.
- Circulating Tumour DNA (ctDNA) Analysis: BC Cancer’s Drs. Kim Chi and Alex Wyatt have pioneered a simple blood test to analyze ctDNA, which cancers shed into the blood stream, replacing invasive tissue biopsies. Their team has also developed an online tool that allows clinicians worldwide to analyze prostate cancer through ctDNA and determine effective treatment strategies.