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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Prostate Cancer Treatment Guide
The Prostate Cancer Treatment Guide is a comprehensive source of prostate cancer information that is written plainly and organized conveniently into a chart

Prostate Cancer Treatment Options -- familydoctor.org
Information about prostate cancer treatment options from the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Prostate Cancer Treatment Options
The treatment options for prostate cancer depend in part on whether the tumor has spread. For tumors that are still inside the prostate, radiation therapy

Prostate Cancer Treatment - National Cancer Institute
Expert-reviewed information summary about the treatment of prostate cancer.

MedlinePlus: Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer treatment often depends on the stage of the cancer. Prostate Cancer Treatment Options(American Academy of Family Physicians)

Prostate cancer: Treatment - MayoClinic.com
Radioactive seeds implanted into the prostate have gained popularity in recent years as a treatment for prostate cancer. The implants, also known as

Prostate Cancer Treatment & Information at - M. D. Anderson Cancer
Prostate cancer symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, support and information for prostate cancer patients and survivors.

Prostate Cancer - Diagnosis and Treatment Options at Mayo Clinic
Prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment options at Mayo Clinic, including minimally invasive surgery and prostatectomy.

Prostate Cancer Treatment Guidelines for Patients â“ Version VI
Prostate Cancer Work-Up (Evaluation); Initial Treatment for Prostate Cancer with Low to Intermediate Recurrence Risk; Initial Treatment for Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer treatment - options & costs
Prostate cancer treatment - options & costs, Information and news related to prostate cancer tratament options.

Sloan-Kettering - Prostate Cancer
Memorial Sloan-Kettering's approach to the treatment of prostate cancer is based on a dynamic model of the disease, in which physicians define therapeutic

Prostate cancer : Treatment options
Information about treatment options for prostate cancer.

NHS U-turn on prostate cancer treatment - Telegraph
Get the latest UK news and World news from the Telegraph. Your source for sport news, business news, travel news, motoring news and property news.

Treating prostate cancer
This page tells you about the main types of treatment for prostate cancer. You can choose from the following menu The stages of prostate cancer

Prostate : BC Cancer Agency
Type of treatment is influenced by the patient's age, medical condition and personal desires. For treatment options in localized prostate cancer, see below.

Popular Prostate Cancer Treatment May Encourage Spread Of Cancer
A popular prostate cancer treatment called androgen deprivation therapy may encourage prostate cancer cells to produce a protein that makes them more likely

Hormonal therapy for early prostate cancer : Cancerbackup
In order to grow, prostate cancer depends on the hormone testosterone produced by the testicles. Treatment for locally-advanced prostate cancer

Prostate Cancer Survivors - Treatment Choices
Another website which we encourage you to look at, is Tom Feeney's "Fundamentals of Prostate Cancer Detection & Treatment". This gives two sides of the

Best Prostate Health Tips - Prostate Health
Prostate Health. Prostate Cancer Treatment, Enlarged Prostate Treatment, Prostatitis Treatment - Infection or Inflammation


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