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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(Print Version) Prostate Cancer (Early Stage)
Unlike most forms of cancer, early stage prostate cancer is almost completely controllable with total hormone-blocking therapy. The drugs used to contain

Prostate Cancer Staging Systems - oncologychannel
Prostate Cancer Stage 1 Click to enlarge the image. Stage A Very early and without symptoms; cancer cells confined to the prostate

New Test For Curable Early-Stage Prostate Cancer?
"A genetic marker such as GSTP1 that occurs mostly in early-stage prostate cancers may improve the way we diagnose cancer in the future and help us to catch

Prostate Cancer Decision :: Making the Choice : Deciding What to
If a biopsy has shown that you have early stage prostate cancer, this website is for you. It gives you the facts about your disease, your treatment choices,

Prostate Cancer, The Cancer Information Network
Patients diagnosed in early stage prostate cancer have a significant higher cure rate after local therapy. Screening for Prostate Cancer - The purposes of

Prostate Cancer Treatment: Early Stage Disease: Beth Israel
Prostate Cancer: Early Stage Treatment. Treatment of prostate cancer needs to be individualized Decisions regarding treatment options are often based on the

ACS :: Early-Stage Prostate Cancer Patients Wise to Seek More Info
Men choosing a therapy to treat their early stage prostate cancer need to be certain they've fully considered all the options before making that decision.

Prostate Cancer (Early Stage): Online Reference For Health Concerns
LEF Disease Prevention and Treatment Protocols: Prostate Cancer (Early Stage) - medical information.

Prostate cancer guide - MayoClinic.com
The information presented here is designed specifically for men with early-stage prostate cancer, not advanced prostate cancer.

Treatment Choices for Early-Stage Prostate Cancer - National
This booklet describes the treatment choices available to men diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer. NIH Publication #05-4659.

Early Prostate Cancer: Questions and Answers - National Cancer
Stage refers to the extent of the cancer. Early prostate cancer, stages I and II, is localized. It has not spread outside the gland.


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