Excitement peaks every four years when the world’s greatest athletes gather for the Olympics. During the 2024 summer Olympics in Paris, the team gymnastics events were as sparkling as the Eiffel Tower at night. For Americans, the outcomes did not disappoint. The U.S. women’s team took the Olympic podium with their fourth team gold, (1996, 2012, 2016, 2024). And, after a 16-year gap with no medals, the U.S. men’s team jubilantly stood on the bronze podium level. They did themselves—and us—proud!
Unlike the Olympics, medicine is not a competition sport—unless you consider victory over disease. When medicine wins, doctors and patients both take home the gold. This is increasingly true in the world of prostate cancer (PCa). Historically, the top achievers were whole-gland (radical) treatments like surgery and various forms of radiation. Despite risks (what Olympian does not face risks?) their track record of conquering PCa exceeded anything that came before.
Yet, as time goes by, new achievements break old records. The start of the 21st century welcomed young entrants into the PCa Olympics: image-guided focal therapies. These approaches literally brought new energy (heat, cold, light) into targeting and destroying tumors. Without surgery or radiation, these minimal-to-noninvasive methods gained cancer control while greatly minimizing side effect risks. In fact, to borrow terms often used in contests, they offer cancer control that is proving competitive with that of radical treatments. Contenders like Focal Laser Ablation and TULSA are the newest gold medal winners for PCa patients and the doctors who provide them—as well as for healthcare economies.
All of us at the Sperling Prostate Center congratulate the 2024 Olympic medalists whose vision, commitment, and dedication to the rigors of training brought them excellence in their fields. They are inspiring models for those of us in the medical arena who also strive for excellence as we serve patient needs, and for the patients who seek the best in today’s clinical treatments.
NOTE: This content is solely for purposes of information and does not substitute for diagnostic or medical advice. Talk to your doctor if you are experiencing pelvic pain, or have any other health concerns or questions of a personal medical nature.
About Dr. Dan Sperling
Dan Sperling, MD, DABR, is a board certified radiologist who is globally recognized as a leader in multiparametric MRI for the detection and diagnosis of a range of disease conditions. As Medical Director of the Sperling Prostate Center, Sperling Medical Group and Sperling Neurosurgery Associates, he and his team are on the leading edge of significant change in medical practice. He is the co-author of the new patient book Redefining Prostate Cancer, and is a contributing author on over 25 published studies. For more information, contact the Sperling Prostate Center.
