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.

early prostate cancer
The Early Prostate Cancer Trial And Adjuvant Anti-androgen Therapy
The Early Prostate Cancer Trial (EPC) was the largest prostate cancer (CaP) study ever undertaken. It evaluated adjuvant bicalutamide in patients across the

Older Men With Early Prostate Cancer Survived Longer With
A new study shows older men with early stage prostate cancer survive longer if they are treated versus not being treated in favor of the "watchful waiting"

Early Prostate Cancer Diagnosis Ontario
EPCDO advocates for covering PSA screening tests under OHIP and increased awareness of the value of early diagnosis of prostate cancer.

BBC NEWS | Middle East | Israel's PM has prostate cancer
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said he will have surgery for prostate cancer, but he added it had been caught early and he would remain in office.

Treatment `mismatch' in early prostate cancer
atients with early prostate cancer face an unusually broad range. of treatment choices for which In a prospective cohort study of early prostate cancer

News
NEW YORK NOV 27, 2007 (Reuters Health) - More than one third of patients with early prostate cancer receive treatment that may not be appropriate based on

Symptoms of Prostate Cancer Revealed
Symptoms of Prostate Cancer Revealed. many young breast cancer survivors feel wholly unprepared for the impact of chemotherapy-induced early menopause,

The PSA Test for Prostate Cancer - Patient UK
Treatment in the early stages of prostate cancer could help you live longer Also, the main treatments for early prostate cancer do carry some risk and

Diet, Exercise May Slow Early Prostate Cancer
An intensive diet and lifestyle program can slow - or possibly stop - the growth of early prostate cancer.

If you have early prostate cancer : Cancerbackup
Information about the implications of early prostate cancer.

Blackwell Synergy - Eur J Cancer Care, Volume 16 Issue 6 Page 461
Patients with early stage prostate cancer have a wide variety of management The different management strategies for early stage prostate cancer will be

Cancer Research UK : Prostate Cancer symptoms and treatment
The management of early prostate cancer is still controversial and patients need to be fully informed as to the options available to them.

Prostate Cancer: Surgery vs. Watchful Waiting - National Cancer
Surgery Versus Watchful Waiting in Early Prostate Cancer The majority of men had been diagnosed with early prostate cancer due to symptoms,

UpToDate Patient information: Early prostate cancer treatment
There are three standard approaches to treating early prostate cancer: surgical removal of the prostate gland, radiation therapy with or without hormone

Questions and Answers About Early Prostate Cancer
Early prostate cancer is localized (confined) to the gland, and the majority of patients with localized prostate cancer have a long survival after diagnosis

ACS :: Can Prostate Cancer Be Found Early?
The USPSTF has concluded that studies completed so far do not provide enough evidence to know whether the benefits of testing for early prostate cancer

Early Prostate Cancer: Is Surgery Best?
Men with early prostate cancer have several options. But those who get prostate cancer surgery are slightly less likely to die than those who wait and

Early prostate cancer antigen (EPCA): A better prostate cancer
The new EPCA prostate cancer test may be more accurate than PSA test.

Early Prostate Cancer: Questions and Answers - National Cancer
A fact sheet that describes risk factors for prostate cancer, and symptoms and treatment options for localized disease. Discusses available screening tests.


early prostate cancer
da vinci laparoscopic prostate
cancer implant prostate seed
enlarging prostate
giving man massage prostate tip