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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Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer
Urinary incontinence, or the loss of the ability to control urination, is a potential side effect of radiation therapy for prostate cancer.

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If you have prostate cancer, you may consider this surgery to remove Radiation's side effects start slowly about six months to a year after treatment.

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Radiation therapy, because of its numerous side effects, is seen as the last resort treatment for prostate cancer. That is why the people usually opting for

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A new radiation therapy for prostate cancer -- Cesium-131 brachytherapy -- has fewer side effects than other treatments. NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill

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Smokers Have Worse Side Effects From Radiation Treatment For Prostate Cancer. Main Category: Smoking / Quit Smoking News Article Date: 08 Nov 2006 - 19:00

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Impotence is also a possible side effect of any treatment for prostate cancer. However, many patients who receive radiation therapy for prostate cancer are

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Significant incontinence affects between 1 and 3 percent of men treated with radiation therapy for prostate cancer. This incontinence is permanent in less

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This causes some of the side effects of radiation treatment. . Men with prostate cancer should know that replacement testosterone can speed up the growth

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Both appear to be good methods of treating prostate cancer, although there Possible side effects of external beam radiation therapy: The numbers used in

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Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill prostate cancer cells, If the healthy tissue can be spared from the effects of radiation, side effects

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Side Effect of Prostate Cancer Radiation Therapy. Radiation therapy may cause patients to become very tired as treatment continues.

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Possible Side Effects Of Radiation Treatment For Prostate Cancer.

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New research findings show men have fewer long-term gastrointestinal side effects with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) than with

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Radiation Therapies For Prostate Cancer Compared For Side Effects (Nov. 7, 2006) â” New research findings show men have fewer long-term gastrointestinal side

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Prostate Cancer Treatment, Side Effects, Living · Prostate Cancer Research and Clinical Nanoparticle Shows Promise In Reducing Radiation Side Effects

National Prostate Cancer Coalition: Radiation: More Side Effects
Prostate Radiation: More Side Effects May Appear Over Time. American Cancer Society News | 06.08.2005. Surgery Side Effects More Stable, Says Study

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Cancer radiation therapy, information about the course of treatment for with prostate cancer and beyond which may lie the developement of side effects.

Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer overview; What are my treatment options? What happens during radiation therapy? What are possible side effects of radiation therapy?

External Beam Radiation Therapy Side Effects
External beam radiation therapy for prostate cancer may cause side effects.


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