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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Urology at Hopkins: Brady Urological Institute
Erectile dysfunction, also termed impotence, refers to the inability to obtain or maintain an prostate surgery rectal surgery Peyronie's disease

Impotence (Erectile Dysfunction)
More than 40 percent of men with erectile dysfunction have hypertension. Some studies suggest that impotence after prostate surgery may in part be due

JAMA -- Erectile Dysfunction Following Radical Prostatectomy, June
Erectile dysfunction following radical prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer is a known potential complication of the surgery.

Prostate Cancer Treatment
Erectile Dysfunction. More Prostate Cancer Information and Treatment Plans Of all men who have adequate erectile function prior to surgery,

New Theory About Preserving Erectile Function After Prostate
Erectile dysfunction after surgery to remove the prostate (radical prostatectomy) has traditionally been attributed to nerve damage that theoretically

Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction - Prostate Cancer Research Institute
ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION (ED) IS THE INABILITY TO ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN AN ERECTION SUITABLE .. in maintaining penile length after prostate cancer surgery.

Erectile Dysfunction - Prostate Cancer Surgery and Erectile
Dr. Harmon describes the link between prostate cancer surgery and erectile dysfunction, and how surgeons work to preserve a patient's sexual function.

Cornell Sexual Medicine Program - Erectile Dysfunction/Impotence
Pelvic trauma, pelvic surgery (major prostate, bladder and bowel operations), and pelvic radiation therapy are associated with erectile dysfunction.

Erectile Dysfunction & Male Impotence Treatment from Harvard Health
Other possible causes of erectile dysfunction include medications and prostate surgery, as well as illnesses and accidents. Stress, relationship problems

ScienceDaily: Erectile Dysfunction News
Erectile dysfunction after surgery to remove the prostate (radical prostatectomy) has traditionally been > full story

Genitourinary Center - Prostate Cancer Surgery Including
Prostate Surgery. Prostatectomy (surgical prostate removal) is the most common treatment for prostate cancer. Post-Prostatectomy Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile Dysfunction Causes - urologychannel
Causes of erectile dysfunction are physiological and psychological. Surgery of the colon, prostate, bladder, or rectum may damage the nerves and blood

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Bob Dole, Pitchman for Erectile Dysfunction from Healthfacts in Health alcohol abuse, and diabetes, prostate surgery figures prominently in the ad and

Erectile Dysfunction - Prostate Cancer Foundation
Erectile Dysfunction. Regardless of whether the nerves were spared during surgery or whether the most precise dose planning was used during radiation

Erectile Dysfunction | Prostate Cancer Information | UPMC Cancer
Some prostate cancer treatments may affect the nerves or arteries responsible for erections; Likelihood of erectile dysfunction following surgery

Digital Urology Journal: Erectile Dysfunction
Using the term erectile dysfunction makes it clear that those other problems Also, surgery (especially radical prostate surgery for cancer) can injure

Cialis helps erectile dysfunction for prostate surgery patients
The new erectile dysfunction drug Cialis may improve erections in patients who undergo radical prostate cancer surgery, said the makers of the drug,

Prostate Cancer and Erectile Dysfunction - WebMD
Surgery. Some degree of erectile dysfunction occurs right after surgery to remove the prostate, regardless of whether the technique that tries to spare the

Viagra Useful for Impotence Following Prostate Surgery
Men with prostate cancer who have their prostate removed are usually free of cancer, for erectile dysfunction, can restore impotency lost in surgery.


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