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.

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Basic Research in Benign Prostatic Diseases
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is a urologic disorder of aging men. In the United States , more than 55 percent of men over the age of 60 are affected.

NEJM: Articles on prostate disease -- finasteride, PSA, and benign
The Prostate Disease collection covers topics such as finasteride, PSA screening, prostate cancer, and benign prostatic hyperplasia and includes research

Prostate disease Introduction - Health encyclopaedia - NHS Direct
Symptoms depend on what condition you have but common symptoms of prostate disease are difficulty in passing urine, pain when ejaculating, and frequent

Prostate Disease: Enlarged Prostate Treatment from Harvard Health
Unlike the other prostate diseases, it frequently strikes younger men. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate that

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH): Prostate Disease: Merck Manual
the prevalence of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men aged 55 to 74 without prostate cancer is 19%. But if voiding criteria of a maximal urinary flow

MedlinePlus: Prostate Diseases
The primary NIH organization for research on Prostate Diseases is the National Does Saw Palmetto Improve the Symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), Enlarged Prostate - urologychannel
Overview, causes, anatomy, risk factors, and signs of benign prostate to share experiences about living with a certain condition, disease, disorder,

Prostate Enlargement: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Diseases A-Z List of Topics and Titles : Prostate Enlargement: Benign Prostatic Doctors call this condition benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH),

National Kidney Foundation: A to Z Health Guide Item
Benign Prostate Disease. The prostate gland is about the size of a walnut and is located below the bladder, the organ that stores urine.

Prostate Disorders, Prostate Cancer, BPH | Benign Prostatic
The latest research in diagnosing and managing prostate diseases: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), prostate cancer, prostatitis

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
Other diseases may cause similar symptoms. Men with problems urinating should Newer treatments for benign prostate hyperplasia already exist and are


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