Scarborough Health Network (SHN) is celebrating a major milestone that’s reshaping prostate cancer care for men across the region: 1,000 transperineal prostate biopsies performed and zero serious infections.
Led by SHN’s biopsy team, alongside SHN Urologist Dr. Zachary Klinghoffer and Dr. Jafar Hussaen, this technique is offering men in Scarborough a safer, more precise method for prostate cancer detection. Unlike the traditional method, which takes tissue samples through the rectum and carries a risk of severe infection, the transperineal approach accesses the prostate through the perineum, completely bypassing the rectum and eliminates the risk of sepsis.
“In the past, 30–50 out of every 1,000 patients might have been hospitalized for serious infections,” explains Dr. Klinghoffer. “With this new approach, that number is zero.”
The benefits go beyond safety. Transperineal biopsies allow for better access to the entire prostate, leading to improved detection of clinically significant cancers all without the need for antibiotics or prep procedures like enemas, a common healthcare procedure used to clear the bowels to prepare for medical procedures.
For men in Scarborough, a diverse, growing community where access to care can be a barrier, this innovation means earlier, more accurate diagnoses delivered closer to home. “Many of our patients face challenges like limited health literacy or transportation issues,” says Dr. Klinghoffer. “This program helps remove those barriers.”
This progress was made possible through donor support. “We’ve always had world-class physicians and staff,” Klinghoffer says. “What we haven’t always had is access to world-class technology. Our transperineal prostate biopsy program is proof of what we can achieve when donor generosity puts top-tier technology into our capable hands. With this donor-funded equipment, we’ve not only improved safety and diagnostic accuracy for our own patients, but we’ve also become leaders in this technique, providing training and support to other healthcare institutions across the region.”
As SHN enters a new era focused on teaching, research, and clinical excellence, Dr. Klinghoffer believes ongoing community and donor support will be critical.
“To take our Men’s Health programs to the next level, we need ongoing donor and community support. Your generosity empowers us to innovate and push the boundaries of what can be achieved in a community hospital setting,” Dr. Klinghoffer adds. “We can ensure that men in Scarborough and beyond receive the highest standard of care, right here at home.”
This June, during Men’s Health Month, we’re reminded how vital it is to keep pushing boundaries in men’s care. With donor support, SHN is setting a new standard—right here in Scarborough.