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 test
PSA | Prostate Cancer Information | UPMC Cancer Centers
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is an enzyme produced by the prostate gland. The level of PSA in the blood can be determined by a simple blood test.

More Reliable Blood Test For Prostate Cancer Shows Promise
US scientists are hopeful that a blood test for a newly discovered protein will vastly increase the reliability of screening for prostate cancer.

A Better Blood Test For Prostate Cancer
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

Prostate Specific Antigen - Cancer Information (Cancers, Symptoms
PSA Test At A Glance. What is the Prostate Specific Antigen? PSA is tested in the blood. Since the amount of PSA in the blood is very low, detection of

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

New Prostate Cancer Test May Detect More Tumors - washingtonpost.com
An experimental blood test for prostate cancer may help eliminate tens of thousands of unnecessary biopsies at the same time that it detects many tumors

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

The Prostate Cancer Charity - PSA Screening Policy - Page 1
The PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) test is a simple blood test, available from the The PSA blood test can indicate the presence of a prostate problem,

Nano News - Researchers Identify Better Blood Test For Prostate
"A blood test based on EPCA-2 may greatly improve our ability to accurately detect prostate cancer early and minimize the number of false positives,

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 Affects Prostate Cancer Test
The PSA test detects PSA -- prostate-specific antigen -- in the blood. Only prostate cells give off PSA. PSA levels can rise as prostate tumors grow.

The PSA Test for Prostate Cancer - Patient UK
This leaflet is designed to help you decide whether to have the PSA blood test for prostate cancer. You might have no symptoms but just want to check that

Prostate cancer and the PSA test - Better Health Channel.
Prostate cancer is diagnosed using a range of tests, including the PSA blood test. A normal prostate secretes a protein into the ejaculate called prostate

PSA: At a Glance
Overview of PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test, which screens for and monitors prostate cancer in men. Related test: Digital rectal exam (DRE)

Prostate cancer tests
There is more about the PSA blood test in the section on screening for prostate cancer. PSA blood tests are also used to monitor your treatment or decide

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

ACS :: Can Prostate Cancer Be Found Early?
The American Cancer Society believes that health care professionals should offer the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and digital rectal exam

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


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