BackTable Urology

What does a urologist actually need to know to confidently manage advanced prostate cancer in the clinic? On this episode of BackTable Urology, host Dr. Ruchika Talwar interviews Dr. Kristen Scarpato, director of the advanced prostate cancer clinic at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and Dr. Jason Hafron, chief medical officer of the Michigan Institute of Urology. They break down how the landscape has shifted, why more patients stay in urology for treatment, and how to select and monitor therapy based on disease state, comorbidities, and patient goals.

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This podcast is supported by

Bayer

https://www.bayer.com

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Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction02:41 - Shift to Urology-Led Advanced Prostate Management07:07 - Sorting Therapies by Disease State10:33 - Treatment Intensification and Doublet Therapy17:54 - ARPI Selection and the Four Ps Framework25:46 - Managing Financial Toxicity29:30 - Monitoring, Labs, and Imaging34:11 - Red Flags and Comanagement36:49 - When to Refer to Medical Oncology41:11 - Future Directions and Practice Economics46:33 - Closing Remarks

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More about this episode

The discussion covers sorting therapies by disease state rather than drug class, doublet and triplet intensification, the nuances of choosing between abiraterone, enzalutamide, apalutamide, and darolutamide, and Dr. Hafron’s “four Ps” framework for drug selection. Dr. Scarpato addresses financial toxicity, surveillance protocols, and red flag symptoms. Both guests share their referral triggers for medical oncology, approaches for oligometastatic disease and metastasis-directed therapy, and practical tips for running an advanced prostate cancer clinic.

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Resources

Advanced Prostate Cancer: AUA/SUO Guidelinehttps://www.auanet.org/guidelines-and-quality/guidelines/advanced-prostate-cancer Trial Design and Objectives for Patients With Prostate Cancer: Recommendations From the Prostate Cancer Working Group 4 (JCO)https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO-25-02834 ARACOG (AFT-47): Darolutamide vs Enzalutamide and Cognitive Function, ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04335682https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04335682 ARASENS: Darolutamide and Survival in Metastatic, Hormone-Sensitive Prostate Cancer (NEJM)https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2119115 PSMAddition: 177Lu-PSMA-617 Plus Standard of Care in mHSPC, ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04720157https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04720157 Medicare Plan Finder, referenced on air for comparing Part D out-of-pocket drug costshttps://www.medicare.gov/plan-compare/

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BackTable Urology is the go-to podcast for urologists, urologic oncologists, and urogynecologists.

Download the free BackTable app to get early access to new episodes, cases, and courses curated by physicians in your specialty.

► https://www.backtable.com/app

How can private practice and academic residency programs work together to shape the next generation of urologists? On this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. Jose Silva interviews Dr. Javier Castillo about launching an academic residency within a busy private urology group in Puerto Rico. They highlight the business, training, and research challenges involved, as well as the innovations that make real collaboration possible. Dr. Castillo also reflects on why building character in trainees is just as important as teaching surgical skill.

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Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction04:04 - Launching a Residency and Building the Practice08:13 - Teaching in the OR and Progressive Responsibility13:58 - Clinic, Administration, and Resident Training16:38 - Expanding BPH Treatment Options25:21 - Creating a Research Culture and AI Projects32:42 - AI Uroflow Project and Follow Up40:21 - BPH Case Workup and Shared Decision-Making47:11 - Patient Goals and Procedure Selection55:43 - Sacral Neuromodulation and New Technologies01:00:19 - Teaching Character and Mentorship01:03:07 - Closing Remarks

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More about this episode

The conversation explores how to teach residents in the OR while maintaining efficiency, build a research culture, and leverage advanced technologies like AI-driven home uroflowmetry. Dr. Castillo and Dr. Silva discuss individualized BPH treatment, expanding procedural options, and aligning care with patient goals. The episode closes with practical lessons on mentorship, character, and the strategies that make a residency program thrive for both trainees and patients.

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BackTable Urology is the go-to podcast for urologists, urologic oncologists, and urogynecologists.

Download the free BackTable app to get early access to new episodes, cases, and courses curated by physicians in your specialty.

► https://www.backtable.com/app

How can reconstructive urologists improve quality of life for cancer survivors beyond the initial cure? On this episode of BackTable Urology, Dr. George Koch interviews Dr. Hiren Patel about building a comprehensive survivorship practice that addresses the long-term needs of patients following genitourinary cancer treatment. They discuss moving beyond post-prostatectomy ED and incontinence to include management of radiation sequelae, immunotherapy effects, and urethral strictures, as well as the role of patient-centered communication, care coordination, and technology.

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Get the BackTable apphttps://www.backtable.com/app

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Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction04:26 - Redefining Survivorship11:29 - Why Survivorship Practices Matter17:53 - Workup and Aligning Care21:05 - Managing Active Cancer Scenarios27:20 - Building a Survivorship Program30:12 - Growing Referrals and Optimizing Workflow39:24 - System Support and Research Gaps44:04 - Tech Advances in Reconstruction48:50 - Single-Port Retroperitoneal Case59:55 - Tips, Tricks, and Wrap-Up

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More about this episode

The conversation covers patient expectation setting, logistics of establishing a survivorship clinic, aligning care with patient goals, and multidisciplinary collaboration with oncology and primary care. Dr. Patel highlights strategies to reduce ER visits and system burden, the importance of continuity, and advances such as single-port robotic retroperitoneal ureteral reconstruction. The episode concludes with practical tips on trust-building, workflow optimization, and advocating for survivorship programs within larger health systems.

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BackTable Urology is the go-to podcast for urologists, urologic oncologists, and urogynecologists.

Download the free BackTable app to get early access to new episodes, cases, and courses curated by physicians in your specialty.

► https://www.backtable.com/app

With so many treatment options for bladder outlet obstruction, how do you select the best approach for each patient? On this episode of BackTable Urology, host Dr. Jose Silva is joined by Dr. John DiBianco for a practical discussion on evaluating lower urinary tract symptoms and matching patients with the right intervention. They emphasize confirming that symptoms are truly due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) before proceeding, and walk through triggers for intervention, including quality-of-life impact, UTIs, renal impairment, high post-void residual, bladder stones, and retention.

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Get the BackTable apphttps://www.backtable.com/app

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Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction03:24 - Complex BPH Referrals and Symptom Assessment06:07 - Deciding When to Operate11:12 - Imaging and Prostate Sizing14:27 - When to Use Cystoscopy and Urodynamics16:43 - Incorporating Patient Preferences21:53 - Medical Therapy and Pills23:45 - Decision Aids and Personal Experience27:13 - Managing HoLEP Complications and Leakage32:57 - Advances in HoLEP Technique36:07 - TURP Indications and Outcomes38:36 - Special Considerations: Radiation and UroLift39:58 - ThULEP vs. HoLEP41:17 - Redo Surgery Strategies43:52 - Counseling Through Case Scenarios56:16 - Future Directions in BPH Treatment59:05 - Wrap Up and Credits

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More about this episode

The conversation covers everything from surveillance and imaging-based prostate sizing to when to use cystoscopy and urodynamics for complex or high-risk patients. Drs. Silva and DiBianco compare procedure options like HoLEP, TURP, GreenLight, UroLift, PAE, iTind, and aquablation, highlighting how factors like prostate size, morphology, history, and patient goals drive decision-making. They discuss durability, redo surgery issues, management of radiation patients, and postoperative care including leakage management and pelvic floor therapy. The episode wraps up with future directions in BPH procedures and practical counseling tips for patient satisfaction.

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Resources

Love this episode? Check out BackTable.com and search “BPH” to get more information on a variety of the surgical options discussed in this episode, including HoLEP, Aquablation, PAE, and more! Further resources include the BackTable App, which has a course on treating Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.

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BackTable Urology is the go-to podcast for urologists, urologic oncologists, and urogynecologists.

Download the free BackTable app to get early access to new episodes, cases, and courses curated by physicians in your specialty.

► https://www.backtable.com/app

Can shared decision-making and patient support change the treatment journey for overactive bladder? On this episode of BackTable Urology, host Dr. Suzette Sutherland and OAB expert Dr. Jannah Thompson discuss how patient education, clear counseling, and ongoing follow-up improve care for patients with overactive bladder and urge incontinence. They cover practical strategies for building an effective OAB care pathway, staff training for better patient navigation, and proactive approaches that increase adherence and access to advanced therapies.

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Get the BackTable apphttps://www.backtable.com/app

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This podcast is supported by

Medtronic Pelvic Healthhttps://urgencyisreal.com/

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Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction04:00 - Shared Decision-Making06:51 - Clinic Efficiency10:38 - Expanding OAB Therapy Options12:27 - Long-Term OAB Care17:41 - Building an OAB Program18:18 - Staff Training and Follow-Up25:32 - OAB Navigator Implementation27:14 - Navigation Outcomes28:39 - Scaling with Staff and Epic30:35 - Algorithm Resources34:08 - Neuromodulation Advances38:37 - New Tibial and Battery-Free Devices40:56 - Quality of Life in OAB Care46:11 - Access and Adoption51:22 - Streamlining Therapy Discussions52:47 - Closing Remarks

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More about this episode

The conversation explores the diverse landscape of OAB treatment options, the evolving role of neuromodulation, and how new technologies are enabling more personalized care. Dr. Thompson shares insights on empowering staff as part of the clinical team, leveraging patient navigators to boost follow-up and advanced therapy uptake, and the importance of integrating patient preferences and lifestyle factors into every decision. They emphasize that quality of life, not just symptom control, should be central to OAB management, and discuss how to engage patients as partners throughout their treatment journey.

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Resources

Patient navigation for overactive bladder improves access to carehttps://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00192-019-04085-7

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BackTable Urology is the go-to podcast for urologists, urologic oncologists, and urogynecologists.

Download the free BackTable app to get early access to new episodes, cases, and courses curated by physicians in your specialty.

► https://www.backtable.com/app