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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Side Effects - Prostate Cancer Foundation
Sides effects common to prostate cancer and prostate cancer treatments.

Adverse Effects from Prostate Cancer Treatment
Because it remains unclear whether long-term survival is the same with radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy for localized prostate cancer,

Race affects prostate cancer survival rates
A team of researchers from the US and Japan compared 59 white males and 105 Japanese American males who had receive hormone treatment for prostate cancer at

Erectile Dysfunction | Prostate Cancer Information | UPMC Cancer
How prostate cancer treatment affects erections. Some prostate cancer treatments may affect the nerves or arteries responsible for erections;

Growth factor receptor affects prostate cancer progression
Breeding mice with a gene for a cellular receptor that can be turned on and off-at will-not only enabled researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in

MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Prostate cancer
Some of the side effects for the most commonly used chemotherapy drugs for prostate cancer include:. Blood clots; Bruising; Dry skin; Fatigue

Prostate Cancer, The Cancer Information Network
3D Conformal Radiation for Localized Prostate Cancer - This new radiation treatment modality improve results and decrease side effects.

Prostate Cancer Treatment - National Cancer Institute
The stage of the cancer (whether it affects part of the prostate, involves the whole prostate, or has spread to other places in the body).

Race Affects Prostate Cancer Survival Rates
Japanese American men respond better to hormonal treatment for prostate cancer and have a much higher survival rate than white American men, according to

Side Effects of Prostate Cancer Treatment
The side effects of prostate cancer treatment can be hard to limit. To learn about possible side effects, visit CancerCompass today.

Growth Factor Receptor Affects Prostate Cancer Progression
Cancer News. Growth Factor Receptor Affects Prostate Cancer Progression. NewsRx.com. December 20, 2007. Breeding mice with a gene for a cellular receptor

Long-Term Effects of Prostate Cancer Treatment
Sexual Function Problems or Urinary Incontinence Still Common 5 Years Later.

Obesity Affects Prostate Cancer Test
A borderline PSA prostate cancer screening test is more likely to signal cancer in obese men than in lean men, a JAMA study suggests.

Prostate Cancer, Side Effects of Prostate Surgery, Seattle
Side Effects of Prostate Surgery. Any man considering prostate surgery will grant funds SCCA/ UW participation in national prostate cancer consortium

Effects of prostate cancer treatment downplayed - Nightly News
A new study finds that side effects of prostate cancer treatment, such as impotence and urinary incontinence, are far more common than most doctors admit.

Prostate cancer - treatment, symptoms and causes
Each year, around 27000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK, making it the most common cancer in men. It mainly affects older men.

Growth Factor Receptor Affects Prostate Cancer Progression
Breeding mice with a gene for a cellular receptor that can be turned on and off-at will-not only enabled researchers to show how prostate cancer progresses,

Prostate cancer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In the United States, prostate cancer more commonly affects black men than white or Hispanic men, and is also more deadly in black men.

Prostate cancer - CNN.com
Many men may develop feelings of depression after a diagnosis of prostate cancer or after trying to cope with the side effects of treatment.


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