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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eMedicine - Prostate Cancer: Management of Localized Disease
Standard treatments for localized prostate cancer include surgery, radiation therapy Complications of external radiotherapy include cystitis, proctitis,

IngentaConnect Metastatic Prostate Cancer: Complications and Treatment
Metastatic Prostate Cancer: Complications and Treatment. Authors: McMurtry, Cynthia T.; McMurtry, James M.1. Source: Journal of the American Geriatrics

The Prostate Cancer Charity - First National Survey
For a man with prostate cancer there is a risk that the cancer will spread to the skeleton, causing metastatic bone disease. This can cause complications,

Treatment- and Disease-Related Complications of Prostate Cancer
One of the highlights of the 16th International Prostate Cancer Update was a session on treatment- and disease-related complications of prostate disease.

Surgery For Prostate Cancer: Risks And Complications
Surgery For Prostate Cancer: Risks And Complications.

Cryosurgery in the Treatment of Prostate Cancer
Impotence is a major complication with all forms of treatment for prostate cancer. The cryosurgery patients reported a 85% incidence of impotence.

Prostate Cancer - All About Prostate Cancer
Prostate Cancer Activist Judge Ralph M. Burnett, Jr. Succumbs to PCa Related Complications. The Honorable Ralph M. Burnett, Jr., a district court judge in

Anticipating Complications - Prostate Cancer Foundation
Anticipating complications from treating bone metastases.

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Complications from prostate cancer are related to both the disease and its treatment. The typical complications of prostate cancer and its treatments inclu.

Complications of Prostate Cancer - WrongDiagnosis.com
Complications of Prostate Cancer including secondary medical conditions, and symptoms, or other types of Prostate Cancer complication.

Smoking Linked to Complications in Prostate Cancer Treatment
Smoking Linked to Complications in Prostate Cancer Treatment.

MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Prostate cancer
The appropriate treatment of prostate cancer is often controversial. . Impotence is a potential complication after prostatectomy or radiation therapy.

Pamidronate and Prostate Cancer Complications - National Cancer
In a combined analysis of two randomized trials, the drug pamidronate (brand name, Aredia^) failed to relieve bone pain or prevent fractures in men with

Help for Bone Complications of Prostate Cancer - National Cancer
In a study published in the October 2, 2002, issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, patients with prostate cancer that had spread to the

Diagnosis and Treatment of Prostate Cancer - April 1, 1998
Another handout on management options for prostate cancer, also written by the authors . Rare complications of transrectal prostate biopsy include rectal

Neurologic Complications of Prostate Cancer - May 1, 2002
Neurologic complications continue to pose problems in patients with metastatic prostate cancer. From 15 to 30 percent of metastases are the result of

Prostate cancer - CNN.com
Complications from prostate cancer are related to both the disease and its treatment. One of the biggest fears of many men who have prostate cancer is that


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