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 spreading to the prostate
ACS :: Drug Gives Slight Benefit For Prostate Cancer Spread To Bone
Bone weakness and fractures are a problem for men with advanced prostate cancer. These occur because of cancer spreading to the bone, osteoporosis,

Prostate Cancer Less Likely To Spread When Treated With Higher
New research suggests that men with prostate cancer who choose radiation therapy should seek treatment centers that will offer high-dose radiation.

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

Prostate Cancer Info : education, support, male hormone therapy
As mentioned, cells can break off from the cancer and spread. Sites where prostate cancer tends to spread are the lymph nodes, various bones (especially the

BMJ BestTreatments :: Conditions :: Prostate cancer :: How far has
For N: The number tells you whether your prostate cancer has spread to your lymph nodes near the prostate in your pelvis. These are sometimes called

Prostate cancer - treatment, symptoms and causes
If prostate cancer spreads to other parts of your body, other symptoms can develop. The most common site for prostate cancer to spread to is one or more

Prostate Cancer: What You Need to Know -- familydoctor.org
Like many types of cancer, prostate cancer can be aggressive. This means it grows quickly and can spread to other parts of the body. (When cancer spreads

ACS :: Drugs May Help Slow Bone Spread of Prostate Cancer
Two drugs that work in different ways may help slow prostate cancer spread to the bones, according to researchers presenting their findings at the 37th

Prostate cancer - Health & Wellbeing
Like most other types of cancer, as prostate cancer grows it can spread beyond its site of origin into other tissues or organs nearby, such as the rectum or

Prostate cancer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Since prostate cancer is a disease of older men, many will die of other causes before a slowly advancing prostate cancer can spread or cause symptoms.

Prostate Cancer, Cancers, THE MERCK MANUAL OF HEALTH & AGING
Prostate cancer can spread directly to nearby structures, such as the urethra or bladder. When the cancer spreads beyond the region of the prostate,

eMedicine - Prostate Cancer: Metastatic and Advanced Disease
The Partin tables are the best nomogram for predicting prostate cancer spread and prognosis. Patient Education:. For excellent patient education resources,

Neurologic Complications of Prostate Cancer - May 1, 2002
Prostate cancer also spreads to the lungs in about 50 percent of patients with metastatic disease, and to the liver in about 25 percent of those with

BBC NEWS | Health | Secrets of prostate cancer spread
Scientists learn more about how prostate cancer spreads away from the gland to the rest of the body.

Types of Prostate Cancer - WrongDiagnosis.com
Stage III (C) prostate cancer - local spreading to tissue near the prostrate. When prostate cancer spreads (metastasizes) outside the prostate, cancer

Prostate Cancer, The Cancer Information Network
Prostate Cancer Calculator - The chance of cancer spreading out of the prostate gland, and the chance of cancer spreading to regional lymph nodes and

Prostate cancer - CNN.com
Some forms of prostate cancer are aggressive and can spread quickly to . Spread of cancer. Prostate cancer can spread to nearby organs and bones and can

Prostate Cancer
In some men the cancer lies dormant for decades; in others it progresses rapidly. When prostate cancer spreads, it usually goes to the bones and produces a

The stages of prostate cancer
With prostate cancer, it is sometimes possible for there to be metastases (cancer spread) present even when the prostate tumour is still very small.


cancer spreading to the prostate
curing prostate cancer
cancer economics prostate treatment
device massage prostate
alcohol prostate cancer