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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Proton Beam Radiosurgery at MGH/Harvard
Note: For information about proton beam treatment for prostate cancer contact: Chapman PH, Tarbell: Proton beam therapy. In: Pediatric Neurosurgery.

Prostate Cancer Treatment & Information at - M. D. Anderson Cancer
Prostate cancer symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, support and information Proton therapy offers another way to deliver high radiation doses to a tumor.

Prostate Cancer, The Cancer Information Network
Prostate Cancer meets Protons - A Patient's Experience- A well- researched site for proton therapy in prostate cancer. Read with caution because of the bias

RT Answers - Answers to Your Radiation Therapy Questions
In a few clinics in the country, proton beam therapy is used to treat prostate cancer. Proton therapy is a form of external beam radiation that uses protons

Proton Therapy Prostate Cancer New Cancer Treatment University of
New Cancer Treatment University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute.

Genitourinary Center - Prostate Cancer Brachytherapy, Proton
There are four types of radiation therapy used for prostate cancer: Proton therapy may allow higher doses to be delivered to the prostate without

Proton Therapy Takes Aim in Prostate Cancer Battler
Courtney Peterson, a recent patient from California who completed proton therapy treatment for prostate cancer, said: "They told me it would be a little

New Prostate Cancer Study Shows Success of Proton Therapy
In the most favorable report published so far on prostate cancer patients being treated with proton beam therapy, it was discovered that protons can treat

Proton Therapy and Treatment Center - Loma Linda University
Loma Linda's Proton Treatment Center provides proton beam therapy for lung, brain, and prostate cancer treatment. Proton therapy is a radiation treatment

What is Proton Therapy? learn how Proton Therapy Works and Options
Proton beam therapy is a cutting edge specialized form of radiation therapy used to Sarcomas; Prostate Cancer (early stage); Spine Tumors - such as

Proton Treatment for Prostate Cancer
I am the web site owner and have been treated for prostate cancer using Proton Therapy at Loma Linda University Medical Center. It seems reasonable that


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