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.

african american prostate cancer
Biological Markers Of Prostate Cancer Shed Light On Cancer Burden
With funding from the National Cancer Institute and American Cancer Society, the researchers compared prostate cancer cells from 50 African-American and

African-American Men Understimate Risk Of Prostate Cancer
Many African-American men radically underestimate the likelihood that having a needle biopsy for suspected prostate cancer will result in a cancer diagnosis

Ed Hinerman On Life Insurance ยป The African American Dilemna With
It is a statistical fact, and certainly no secret, that African American men continue to take more of a beating from prostate cancer than men from any other

National Prostate Cancer Coalition: Prostate Cancer and African
African American men have the highest rate of prostate cancer in the world: For African American men, prostate cancer deaths are projected to drop 15.4

Prostate cancer screening in African American and Caribbean males
Prostate cancer screening in African American and Caribbean males: detriment in delay from ABNF Journal, The in Health provided free by Find Articles.

Prostate Cancer in African-American Men
Detailed information on prostate cancer in the African-American man.

Prostate Cancer in African-American Men - New York Presbyterian
African-American men may have the highest rate of prostate cancer incidence in the world. In addition, their prostate cancer mortality rate is twice as high

Educating African American men about prostate cancer: the
Educating African American men about prostate cancer: the barbershop program from American Journal of Health Studies in Health provided free by Find

Prostate Health
African American men may have the highest rate of prostate cancer incidence The causes of higher rates of prostate cancer among African American males

Prostate Cancer: A Major Health Concern for African American Men
African American men over age 45 are at higher risk for prostate cancer, and should have a screening exam yearly.

The Prostate Health Education Network: Prostate Health Education
Prostate cancer education and awareness focusing on African American men. Check cancer risk level and African American Prostate Cancer Disparity Summits

African American & Prostate Cancer
Malecare's has a two prong contribution to ending prostate cancer disparities among African African American's with Prostate Cancer.

genome.gov | Hereditary Prostate Cancer in African-Americans Study
Scientists are just beginning to study why prostate cancer is more prevalent in African-American men than in any other population, and are focusing closely

ICC - African Americans & Cancer
In 2001, the most commonly diagnosed cancer in African American men is expected to be prostate cancer (37%), followed by cancers of the lung (15%),

Prostate Cancer: What You Need to Know -- familydoctor.org
For unknown reasons, African-American men are at higher risk than Caucasian men. Men with a family history of prostate cancer are at higher risk, too.

ACS :: African-American Men Need Early Prostate Cancer Screening
African-American men are known to have a greater risk of developing prostate cancer. But is the cancer more aggressive in African-American men compared to

African-American Prostate Cancer Crisis
Prostate Cancer Crisis For African-American Men - Tragedy, says ACS.

African American Prostate Cancer Concerns
African American men continue to face higher rates of prostate cancer and poorer results from treatment. Some recent articles look at why (2004).


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