Above : Pali Momi ’ s Urology Clinic is where Dr . Charles Kim meets one-on-one with patients to review their care needs and plans . Right : Radiation Therapy Room
and West O ‘ ahu . Next was a specialized 3T MRI , which incorporates a technology called multiparametrics that identifies potential cancerous tumors .
Pali Momi also became the first and only program in the state to offer the UroNav Fusion Biopsy System for prostate screening . This advanced UroNav technology combines a pre-biopsy MRI image with an ultrasound biopsy in real time , allowing physicians to target suspicious lesions more precisely and capture accurate tissue samples .
“ Using this technique has improved our detection of prostate cancer from 20 percent to about 70 percent ,” Dr . Kim said . “ So , the number of unnecessary prostate biopsies has decreased .”
Another benefit of this type of testing is that the MRI fusion biopsies are meant to only detect high-grade significant cancer , not the slow-growing indolent type of prostate cancer . This allows doctors to more accurately plan treatment .
Genetic testing is now allowing doctors to detect and categorize prostate cancer even earlier . “ We ’ re kind of on the forefront of that in Hawai ‘ i ,” Dr . Kim said . “ We actually did a bit of research on some of the biomarkers and the cost , which actually got published . In our study , we showed that we could save up to a million dollars a year .”
Genomics leads to cost savings in the form of blood tests , 4K and PCA3 , that offer better screening to reveal fast- or slow-growing cancers , which helps doctors determine whether cancer treatment is needed or not .
All of these options are just some of the advantages of the new Pali Momi Cancer Center ’ s comprehensive care for patients . And while Dr . Kim is helping lead the charge in adding more options for detecting and treating cancer , he is confident in this progression because of the multidisciplinary team approach that Pali Momi utilizes .
“ It all kind of fits together because of the Cancer Center ,” Dr . Kim said . “ Usually one patient has to see the urologist , radiologist and oncologist , and he sees everyone separately to get their advice . Often it gets confusing . Our multidisciplinary approach brings all of the medical specialists together as a group to talk about the patient ’ s best treatment plan .”
Every step forward reminds Dr . Kim how far cancer care has come since his MacGyver-style surgical setup during his humble beginnings in his garage . And after 21 years of practice , he has no plans to stop pushing to improve care and educate patients .
“ We have to get the word out on men ’ s health . A lot of what we are doing now for prostate cancer has been done for years for breast cancer .”
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