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 Seeds, Effective Against Prostate Cancer in Young Men
According to a new study, brachytherapy (radiation seed implants) are just as effective at curing prostate cancer in younger men (aged 60 and younger) as

National Prostate Cancer Coalition: Radiation 'Seed Therapy
A long term study finds radiation "seed therapy" used to fight prostate cancer achieved cure rates equal to, or better than, traditional surgery.

Prostate Cancer: Seeds Beat Out Watchful Waiting
Older men with prostate cancer who chose treatment with radiation seed Men With Prostate Cancer Less Likely to Die if They Get Radiation Seed Implants

About Cesium-131, the latest in alternative prostate cancer
Int. J. Radiation Oncology Biol. Phys. 2005; 63 (1): 5336-5337. to other isotopes commonly used in permanent seed brachytherapy for prostate cancer

Radiation seeds effectively cure prostate cancer from
Radiation seeds effectively cure prostate cancer from medicineworld.org, your best source for health news and news blogs.

Oncology (General Cancer): Prostate Cancer, Radiation Seeds
If done correctly, he will not suffer from the treatment. Im sure his dr. has a reason for suggesting this treatment. I do not know what kind of therapy he

Prostate Cancer Treatment - Brachytherapy
The seeds remain in the prostate, where the radioactive material gives off localized radiation for a number of months to destroy the prostate cancer.

Radiation Seed Helps Men Fight Prostate Cancer - Cancer
2 (HealthDay News) -- Radiation seed implants, known as brachytherapy, are just as effective for treating prostate cancer in men 60 and younger as they are

Radiation seeds effectively cure prostate cancer in young men
PhysOrg news: Radiation seeds effectively cure prostate cancer in young men.

Prostate Cancer Info : education, support, male hormone therapy
Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill prostate cancer cells, . seed insertion usually is not an option for treatment of prostate cancer that

Prostate Cancer
Tiny radioactive seeds (about the size of a grain of rice) are implanted into the prostate, where the radiation kills the cancer cells.

Prostate Cancer Treatment Options -- familydoctor.org
Information about prostate cancer treatment options from the American Academy In seed therapy, higher doses of radiation can be put right on the cancer.

Prostate Cancer: Seed Implant Therapy
Treatment of Prostate Cancer: Radioactive Seed Implantation Brachytherapy is a form of radiation treatment in which tiny pellets containing radioactive

Prostate Cancer Radiation Seeds
A good though somewhat technical article on radioactive seed implant therapy - Brachytherapy - for newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients.

Prostate Cancer Radiation Treatment - urologychannel
Two types of radiation therapy are used to treat prostate cancer: brachytherapy and external The seeds emit radiation that kills the malignant tumor.

Prostate Cancer: Radiation / Seeds
Discussion of the various types of radiation therapy including external beam, conformal therapy, seed implants, or combined modalities.

Cancer Treatment: Radiation Seed Implant Decreases Risk Of Death
3, 2007) â” Prostate cancer patients cut their risk of dying of the disease in half when they receive radiation seed implants (brachytherapy) to treat their

Radiation Seeds Effectively Cure Prostate Cancer In Young Men
Radiation seed implants are just as effective at curing prostate cancer in younger men (aged 60 and younger) as they are in older men, according to a study

ACS :: Radiation Therapy
Detailed Guide: Prostate Cancer. Radiation Therapy . Brachytherapy (also called seed implantation or interstitial radiation therapy) is the use of small


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