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.

cryo surgery prostate
Cryosurgery for Prostate Cancer
Robert Donnell, MD, describes cryosurgery, a minimally invasive surgical option for prostate cancer.

Prostate Cancer Cryoablation
Cryoablation as a prostate cancer treatment is being considered more and more by both patients and doctors. It is also called cryotherapy or cryosurgery,

Prostate Cancer UK- New Cryosurgery Treatment
Site contains details of TCAP (Targeted Cryoablation of Prostate), a successful new treatment for prostate cancer. Now available in the UK at the Royal

Cryo Surgery (Freezing)
For additional information on Cryosurgery click on the underlined (use your Browser "Back" button to return):. From the PHID (Prostate-Help Information

Cryo Surgery Doctors
Cryosurgery/Ultrasonographer Rochester Urology, To define the potential role of cryosurgical ablation of the prostate (CSAP) as a treatment option for

Cryosurgery More Effective in Treating Some Prostate Cancer
Prostate cryosurgery -- freezing cancerous tumors of the prostate gland -- was initiated nearly six years ago at Allegheny General.

Cryosurgery in Cancer Treatment: Q & A - National Cancer Institute
Cryosurgery is an alternative to surgery for liver cancer that has not spread, for cancer that has spread to the liver from another site, for prostate

Cryosurgery | Prostate Cancer Information | UPMC Cancer Centers
Cryosurgery (also known as cryotherapy, cryoablation, or cryosurgical ablation) is a procedure in which the prostate gland is frozen under controlled

Cryosurgery in the Treatment of Prostate Cancer
This site features review articles on various forms of cancer. It is offered as part of the Cancer News on the Net service.


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