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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Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia - Diagnosis and Treatment Options at
Benign prostatic byperplasia (BPH) treatment, for prostate gland enlargement, at mayoclinic.org.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a noncancerous growth of the prostate gland. This small, chestnut-shaped gland surrounds the urethra (the tube from

NEJM -- Saw Palmetto for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Original Article from The New England Journal of Medicine -- Saw Palmetto for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.

Enlarged prostate
An enlarged prostate is often called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or benign prostatic hypertrophy. It is not cancer, and it does not raise your risk

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia - Highlights
Saw palmetto, a popular herbal remedy for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), does not work any better than placebo, according to an important 2006 study in

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) - Treatment Options
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). How is it treated? Treatment options for BPH include lifestyle changes, "watchful waiting," drug therapy, non-surgical

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
BPH (also referred to as benign prostatic hypertrophy) is a condition in which the prostate gland becomes very enlarged and may cause problems associated

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia - Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention
Usually, the prostate gland starts to enlarge after middle age. When the prostate becomes enlarged, the condition is called benign prostatic hyperplasia

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia - Mens Health: Health and Medical
Benign prostatic hyperplasia is nonmalignant (noncancerous) enlargement of the prostate gland, a common occurrence in older men. It is also known as benign

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
The prostate is a gland the size of a chestnut. It is only present in men, and it is situated under the bladder surrounding the urethra, the passageway that

Enlarged Prostate: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
Action steps to relieve an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia - BPH). Plus BPH treatments including office-based minimally invasive treatments.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) -- familydoctor.org
Information about benign prostatic hyperplasia from the American Academy of Family Physicians.

eMedicine - Prostate Hyperplasia, Benign : Article by Raymond J
Prostate Hyperplasia, Benign - Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland that may restrict the flow of urine

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), Enlarged Prostate - urologychannel
Overview, causes, anatomy, risk factors, and signs of benign prostate hyperplasia, BPH, or benign prostate enlargement described here. BPH involves hormones

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
Benign, prostatic, hyperplasia, BPH, medical, surgical, alternative.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Diagnosis and Treatment Jan 1995; 11-3
A description of benign prostatic hypertrophy along with a look at the symptoms, diagnostic tests and treatment options.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) also known as Nodular hyperplasia, Benign prostatic hypertrophy or Benign enlargement of the prostate (BEP) refers to the

Managing Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia - July 1, 2002 - American
Medical and surgical options for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia have expanded in recent years. Saw palmetto, the most widely used

Prostate Enlargement: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Provides basic information about the prostate gland and prostate enlargement. Describes symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.


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