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.

cancer prostate sex
More Sex Tied to Higher Prostate Cancer Risk
Men who have had multiple sexual partners -- and particularly those who get gonorrhea -- are more likely to also get prostate cancer, say researchers.

NPR : Active Sex Life Seen as Protecting Prostate
A report in this week's Journal of the American Medical Association has good news about the relationship between sex and the risk of prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer - CNN.com
When you have prostate cancer, male sex hormones (androgens) can stimulate the growth of cancer cells. The main type of androgen is testosterone.

Sex and Prostate Cancer Risk
increased prostate cancer risk from sex does not exist.

Prostate Cancer and Sex - My Journey With Prostate Cancer - One
Prostate Cancer and Sex - My Journey With Prostate Cancer - One Mans View.

Can Sex Prevent Prostate Cancer? - Prevention.com
Studies show that regular sexual activity may have many health benefits.

News in Science - Frequent sex keeps cancer at bay - 07/04/2004
Men who have active sex lives or masturbate frequently have a reduced chance of developing prostate cancer, a U.S. study has shown.

Prostate cancer - prostate gland, testosterone, prostatectomy
Prostate cancer is an uncontrolled (malignant) growth of cells in the prostate gland (a male sex gland). The prostate gland is located at the base of the

Prostate Cancer Radiotherapy Won't Affect Sex - Cancer Information
MONDAY, Oct. 29 (HealthDay News) High-dose precision radiation therapy doesn't harm the sexual function of prostate cancer patients, U.S. researchers say.

Sex After Prostate Cancer at Henry Ford : Sex After Prostate Cancer
Sex after prostate cancer : The urologists at the Vattikuti Urology Institute specialize in the world's most state-of-the-art treatments of prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer caused by too much sex?
According to a recent article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, frequent sexual activity does not increase the risk of

National Prostate Awareness -How Fulfilling Sex Can Happen After
Ralph and Barbara Alterowitz are authors of the second edition of ÁœIntimacy with Impotence: The Couple's Guide to Sex After Prostate CancerÁ« Ralph is a

Erectile Dysfunction | Prostate Cancer Information | UPMC Cancer
Some prostate cancer treatments may affect the nerves or arteries responsible for erections; others may affect libido, or sex drive. Radical prostatectomy

BBC NEWS | Health | Masturbation 'cuts cancer risk'
Men could reduce their risk of developing prostate cancer through regular Anthony Smith, deputy director of the Australian Research Centre in Sex,

Sex and prostate cancer
A friend with prostate cancer is terrified to have sex with his wife in case he 'passes something on' to her. How can we convince him it's OK?

Have more sex to prevent prostate cancer
Elevated testosterone has been tied to both a high sex drive and prostate cancer, which had led scientists to propose a link between cancer and sexual

Sex and prostate cancer
This page tells you about sex and prostate cancer. Treatment for prostate cancer can cause a variety of side effects.

First-Person Stories about Sex, Relationships and Prostate Cancer
First-person stories by men and women dealing with the effects of prostate cancer.


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