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.

blood prostate
Though not perfect, blood test for prostate cancer is still
The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is a common way to detect prostate cancer in its earliest stages. The exact number of a dangerously high PSA count

Prostate Blood Test Questioned, Study Casts Doubt On Value Of PSA
A study says millions of dollars are spent each year to check the prostates of men over 75 who don't benefit from the test. Prior research has found that

Research Corporation Technologies | About RCT | Prostate-Specific
Elevated levels of prostate-specific antigen in the blood suggest enlargement or tumors of the prostate, which can be confirmed by ultrasound test and

Better Blood Test for Prostate Cancer Prostate Cancer Treatment
New studies of a blood protein recently identified at Johns Hopkins, early prostate cancer antigen-2 (EPCA-2), may change the way men are screened for

Protein Patterns In Blood May Predict Prostate Cancer Diagnosis
Patterns of proteins found in patients' blood serum may help distinguish between prostate cancer and benign conditions, scientists from the National Cancer

Prostate - Blood in ejaculate.
Latest News and Information On Prostate Problems. Symptoms, risks, treatments and other information on Prostate Problems.

New blood test for prostate cancer
New blood test for prostate cancer. 22nd May 2007. email this page · print this page. An early assessment of a new marker for prostate cancer,

New blood test for prostate cancer?
Researchers are working hard to find a better blood test than prostate-specific antigen (PSA). The problem with this test is that although the PSA level is

Nano News - Researchers Identify Better Blood Test For Prostate
Current standards of screening and testing for prostate cancer focus on the blood protein prostate-specific antigen (PSA) along with a digital rectal

New Blood Test for Prostate Cancer
An experimental blood test for prostate cancer seems to work better than the current PSA test -- and can tell whether the cancer is spreading.

OBESITY-LINKED HIGH BLOOD VOLUMES RENDER PSA PROSTATE CANCER TEST
OBESITY-LINKED HIGH BLOOD VOLUMES RENDER PSA PROSTATE CANCER TEST LESS EFFECTIVE, STUDY SUGGESTS --Findings could have wide-reaching effects for other blood

UMHS Press Release: Researchers ID new blood test for prostate cancer
In this phase, the researcher identified a panel of 22 compounds that best distinguished the prostate cancer blood samples from the controls.

Hopkins Researchers Find Better Blood Test for Prostate Cancer
Hopkins Researchers Find Better Blood Test for Prostate Cancer.

Prostatitis -- Prostate blood flow
PURPOSE: We determine whether the chronic prostatitis/pelvic pain syndrome is associated with abnormal prostate blood flow.

The Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test: Q & A - National Cancer
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by the cells of the prostate gland. The PSA test measures the level of PSA in the blood (see Question

ACS :: Can Prostate Cancer Be Found Early?
Prostate cancer can often be found early by testing the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), discussed in detail below, in your blood. Prostate cancer

Prostate Cancer Tests
It is normally present in the blood in only very small amounts because there is a good prostate-blood barrier in the absence of prostate problems.

PROSTATE CANCER
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test: A test that measures the level of PSA in the blood. PSA is a substance made by the prostate that may be found in an

Prostate Cancer - Sexual Function After Treatment
During sexual arousal, blood fills the penis to create an erection, and small blood vessels expand in order to deliver enough blood. Prostate treatment such


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