Medical Treatments for Prostate Cancer

There are many different medical treatments for prostate cancer that involve the clinical care of a healthcare professional. These treatments include expectant therapy, surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, and chemotherapy. Expectant therapy is to carefully observe and monitor the prostate cancer. Because prostate cancer cells often spread very slowly, many older men who have the disease may not need more extensive treatment. However, expectant therapy usually includes routine physician examinations, including digital rectal exams and PSA tests. The different types of surgery for prostate cancer are radical prostatectomy - an open-surgery procedure in which the entire prostate gland and surrounding tissue are removed. Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) - surgery to remove part of the prostate gland that surrounds the urethra. Cryosurgery - this procedure involves killing the cancer cells by freezing them with a small metal tool placed in the tumor. Side effects of prostate cancer surgery include incontinence and impotence. Incontinence is the inability to control urine and may result in dribbling of urine, especially immediately after surgery. Normal control usually returns within weeks or months after surgery. Impotence is the inability to achieve an erection. For a month, or so, after surgery, most men are not able to get an erection. Eventually, approximately 40 to 60 percent of men will be able to get an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse, but without ejaculation of semen, since removal of the prostate gland prevents that process.

Radiation therapy uses high energy rays to kill or shrink cancer cells, and to decrease their ability to divide. Radiation is often used to treat prostate cancer that is still confined to the prostate gland, or has spread only to nearby tissue. If the disease is advanced, radiation may be used to reduce the size of the tumor and to provide relief from symptoms. Possible side effects of radiation for prostate cancer may include diarrhea, with or without blood in the stool, and colitis, problems associated with urination, a degree of impotence (inability to get an erection), which may occur within two years of radiation therapy.

The goal of hormone therapy is to lower the level of male hormones in the body, particularly testosterone. Hormone therapy does not cure the cancer, and is often used to treat persons whose cancer has spread or recurred after treatment. Produced mainly in the testicles, testosterone causes prostate cancer cells to grow. Thus, reduced testosterone levels can make the prostate cancer shrink and become less active. Most studies show that hormone therapy works better if it is started early. Chemotherapy is the use of powerful, anti-cancer medications to kill cancer cells.. Hospitalization may be needed to monitor treatment and chemotherapy's side effects. Common side effects of chemotherapy include: nausea and vomiting, hair loss, anemia, reduced ability of blood to clot, mouth sores, increased likelihood of developing infections, fatigue. Most side effects disappear once treatment is stopped.

advanced prostate cancer treatment
Prostate Cancer Information from TAP Pharmaceuticals
Lupron Depot is indicated for the palliative treatment of advanced prostate cancer. The most common side effect associated with Lupron Depot is hot flashes.

Intraoperative radiotherapy for locally advanced prostate cancer
Intraoperative radiotherapy for locally advanced prostate cancer: treatment technique and ultrasound-based analysis of dose distribution.

Advanced prostate cancer remains sensitive to treatment even after
Advanced prostate cancer can be treated successfully with intermittent chemotherapy, according to a study conducted by Oregon Health & Science University

Viadur Prostate Cancer Treatment
Commercial information about a twelve-month hormone therapy implant for advanced disease.

UroToday - Advanced Prostate Cancer Treatment Center
Thursday, 29 March 2007; EAU 2007 - Hormonal Treatment for Localized and Advanced Prostate Cancer Thursday, 29 March 2007; EAU 2007 - EAU Session on

Advanced Prostate Cancer Treatment - WebMD
Information about the treatment options that are available for advanced prostate cancer.

UpToDate Patient information: Advanced prostate cancer
This topic review will discuss the treatment of men with advanced prostate cancer. A separate topic review is available about the treatment of early stage

eMedicine - Prostate Cancer: Metastatic and Advanced Disease
Continuous advances have provided a new understanding of the diagnosis, staging, and treatment of metastatic and advanced prostate cancer.

Advanced prostate cancer treatments, from UCSF
We define "advanced" prostate cancer as prostate cancer that requires additional therapy beyond surgery and/or radiation. The treatment options available to

Treatment of advanced prostate cancer, from the Prostate Cancer
Treatment of advanced prostate cancer, from Prostate Cancer Infolink web site, preserved at Phoenix5.

Hormonal Treatment For Localized And Advanced Prostate Cancer
UroToday.com - Hormonal Treatment for Localized and Advanced Prostate Cancer was discussed at the EAU on Wednesday March 21, 2007.

UroToday.com Premiers Advanced Prostate Cancer Treatment Resource
UroToday.com - UroToday.com, (http://www.urotoday.com) announced today the launch of the Advanced Prostate Cancer Treatment Resource Center. T.

Prostate Cancer Info : education, support, male hormone therapy
Prostate cancer info on prostate cancer education, prostate cancer support, (LHRH-A) for treatment of advanced prostate cancer (metastatic Stage D2).

Men with advanced, incurable prostate cancer can benefit from
Intermittent Taxotere/Calcitriol chemotherapy feasible in treatment of advanced prostate cancer. Treatment "holidays" may allow disease to be managed as

Cancer Research UK : Prostate Cancer symptoms and treatment
Treatment of locally advanced prostate cancer. These patients may receive radiotherapy or hormone therapy. Randomised trials have established roles for both

Postgraduate Medicine: Prostate Cancer Symposium: Advanced
Advanced prostate cancer can be a devastating clinical condition, but the natural .. Patients' choice of treatment in stage D prostate cancer.

ACS :: Vaccine Could Be New Treatment for Advanced Prostate Cancer
A vaccine that contains human prostate-specific antigen (PSA) may help men with advanced prostate cancer, according to a study published in a recent issue

Prostate Cancer Treatment Guide
The Prostate Cancer Treatment Guide is a comprehensive source of prostate Chemotherapy may be used in advanced prostate cancer, if the disease has

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PAACT Inc. (Patient Advocates for Advanced Cancer Treatments) If you are seeking information about Prostate Cancer (PC), our site can be of help to you.


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