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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University of Florida Shands Cancer Center: Prostate Cancer
The Prostate and Genito-Urinary Team is part of the University of Virginia Cancer Center, which is a highly ranked National Cancer Institute designated

UVa Cancer Center Prostate Team
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UCSD Cancer Center - Prostate
This program brings together a multidisciplinary team to treat benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer. At UCLA more than 200 prostatectomies

Mayo Clinic Cancer Center Prostate SPORE Grant Renewed
The prostate is a male sex gland responsible for producing fluid that forms semen. It is located below the bladder, in front of the rectum and surrounds the

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From the Middle East to the Midwest and from Northern Africa to the Northwest, men around the globe have traveled to Northwest Hospital for prostate

Northwest Hospital & Medical Center - Prostate Cancer
Prostate seed implants can be a particularly suitable radiotherapy option for patients diagnosed with early stage prostate cancer.

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Advanced Prostate Cancer Treatment Resource Center Home arrow Prostate Cancer arrow Cryoablation Resource Center - Prostate

UroToday - Cryoablation Resource Center - Clinical Publications
Home arrow Cryoablation Resource Center - Prostate & Renal AUA 2007 - Primary Prostate Cryoablation: Results from 1198 Patients Tracked with the COLD

UroToday - Cryoablation Resource Center - Clinical Publications
Prostate Center of Austin is a world renowned prostate cancer center. Dr. Fagin specializes in the da Vinci Robotic Surgery, a minimally invasive procedure

da Vinci Robotic Surgery - Prostate Cancer Center
Contact information and recent press releases about the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

Media Center - Prostate Cancer Foundation
Mayo Clinic Cancer Center's Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for prostate cancer research

The Prostatitis and Prostate Cancer Center
Information on Prostate Cancer & Prostate Surgery.

The Prostate Centre
Prostate Centre, Patient Information about Prostate Cancer.

The Prostate Centre at VGH
Copyright ^ 2005 Prostate Centre at Vancouver General Hospital. All rights reserved. Disclaimer | Glossary | Contact Us. Last updated: Jan 05,08.

MD Anderson Cancer Center: Prostate
Prostate cancer symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, support and information for prostate cancer patients and survivors.

Prostate Cancer Message Board - M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
Share information and experiences with other patients via this online discussion format.

Prostate Cancer and Diseases of the Prostate - Center for Prostate
Department of Defense, Center for Prostate Disease Research, Integrating basic science and clinical research to develop promising detection techniques and

Sloan-Kettering - Prostate Cancer
Memorial Sloan-Kettering's approach to the treatment of prostate cancer is based School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center


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