A leading prostate cancer specialist is expanding his practice to Prescott Valley, offering Central and Northern Arizona men access to a highly effective, minimally invasive treatment that is rarely available elsewhere in the country. Dr. Ajay Bhatnagar, a radiation oncologist and founder of the Prostate Cancer Institute of Arizona, began seeing patients in the Prescott area in October, bringing with him a specialized procedure known as prostate brachytherapy seed implant – a targeted radiation treatment that offers outstanding cancer control with minimal impact on a patient’s daily life and quality of life.
Dr. Bhatnagar’s arrival is significant for the region because prostate brachytherapy, despite being one of the most effective and cost-efficient treatments for localized prostate cancer, has largely disappeared from the American healthcare landscape. He has made it his mission to revive the procedure and expand access to patients across the country.
“The story of prostate brachytherapy represents exactly what’s wrong with our healthcare system,” Dr. Bhatnagar said. “It is the most conformal radiation treatment for men with localized prostate cancer, but since it’s the most cost-effective – meaning the least revenue-generating – no one does it anymore. My model is patient over profit.”
Unlike surgery or traditional external beam radiation therapy, which can require weeks of daily treatments and significant recovery time, the brachytherapy seed implant is a one-time procedure. Patients often return to work the very next day. The treatment also boasts the highest rate of erectile function preservation among all prostate cancer treatments, a quality-of-life benefit Dr. Bhatnagar considers just as important as the cure itself.
“In my experience, any man who comes in with good function comes out with good function,” he said. “Not only do patients have a very high success and cure rate, but this treatment also has the highest rate of preserving quality of life – including sexual function and bladder function – with minimal downtime.”
Beyond treatment, Dr. Bhatnagar’s Oncologist practice covers the full spectrum of prostate cancer care, from screening and diagnosis using advanced tools like prostate MRI, genetic testing, and transperineal biopsy, to modern brachytherapy enhanced with real-time planning and MRI-guided image fusion. Importantly, he notes that the traditional digital rectal exam is no longer a necessary part of prostate cancer screening – news he hopes will encourage more men to get checked.
Dr. Bhatnagar has also launched the Prostate Cancer Institute of America Foundation to raise awareness, fund physician training programs, and host community events. The foundation’s inaugural charity golf tournament was held in September at Seven Canyons Golf Club in Sedona in honor of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
Men in the Prescott area can schedule a consultation – many of which are available virtually – through his website at ProstateCancerUSA.com.
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Learn more: Prostate Cancer Institute of Arizona: https://www.prostatecancerusa.com
Foundation Golf Tournament Info: https://www.signalsaz.com/articles/prostate-cancer-foundation-announces-sedona-golf-tournament/
