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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BBC NEWS | Health | Breast cancer gene raises prostate risk
A genetic mutation which can cause breast and ovarian cancer increases men's risk of developing prostate cancer, researchers say.

New Prostate Cancer Gene Identified
Researchers at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) have found a new way to speed the discovery of genes that suppress tumors,

Penn Researchers Find Mutation In Prostate Cancer Gene
A genetic mutation associated with prostate cancer has been identified, for the first time, by scientists at the University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center.

Researchers Find Mutation In Prostate Cancer Gene
"Our results suggest that this gene is involved in prostate cancer," says Timothy Rebbeck, PhD, assistant professor of epidemiology and principal

ACS :: Prostate Cancer Gene Discovery May Aid Testing
Scientists have confirmed the existence of a gene for prostate cancer, paving the way for possible testing and providing clues that may one day lead to a

Prostate cancer
THE SECOND LEADING cause of cancer death in American men, prostate cancer 1 in 500 cases of prostate cancer. The next step will be to clone the gene.

genome.gov | 1998 Release: Prostate CA Gene Mapped to X Chromosome
It is the second prostate cancer gene this group of scientists has uncovered. Their report appears in the October issue of Nature Genetics.

TGen finds key prostate cancer gene
TGen finds key prostate cancer gene, Scientists from TGen and other research facilities and universities have identified a gene that may be linked to an

TGen finds key prostate cancer gene
Scientists from TGen and other research facilities and universities have identified a gene that may be linked to an aggressive form of prostate cancer,

Prostate Cancer
(Penetrance is the probability that an individual carrying a disease gene is affected. Sometimes an individual who carries a gene for prostate cancer may

Prostate Cancer and Gene Therapy : Molecular Therapy
This web focus, presented by Molecular Therapy , highlights some important research that has advanced the field of prostate cancer gene therapy.

Prostate Cancer Gene Discovered
Prostate Cancer Gene Discovered. A newly discovered genetic variant appears to carry with it a significant risk for prostate cancer, putting about one man

Prostate cancer gene definition - Cancer Information (Cancers
Prostate cancer gene: One of the genes that influences the origin and/or progression of prostate cancer, cancer of the prostate gland. Prostate cancer genes

Prostate cancer gene BRCA2 definition - Medical Dictionary
Prostate cancer gene BRCA2: A gene that normally acts to restrain the growth of cells but which, when mutated, is responsible for a significant fraction of

Localization of a Prostate Cancer Predisposition Gene to an 880-kb
In conclusion, there exists substantial evidence from multiple independent studies for a predisposition gene for prostate cancer at chromosome 22q12.3.

Possible Prostate Cancer Gene Found -- Seydel 2002 (123): 4
Researchers have identified a gene that may cause some cases of inherited prostate cancer. They have also proposed the first mechanism for how prostate

New Prostate Cancer Gene Identified -- Kaiser 2004 (1103): 2
TORONTO--Cancer geneticists have found a new gene that could put some men at increased risk for prostate cancer, a disease that strikes one in six men in

Prostate Cancer Gene Also Raises Colon Cancer Ris - Cancer
Prostate Cancer Gene Also Raises Colon Cancer Risk. By E.J. Mundell HealthDay Reporter. SUNDAY, July 8 (HealthDay News) -- Compelling evidence from four

BBC NEWS | Health | Prostate cancer gene identified
Scientists have identified a gene which could identify how aggressive a man's prostate cancer will be.


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