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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In the early stages, when the cancer is quite small, there are no symptoms. In fact, it can take five or more years of growth before an enlarged prostate

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A host of prostate treatments options are now available for men who suffer from conditions such as prostatitis, enlarged prostate and even cancer.

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Enlarged Prostate and Prostatitis. Enlarged prostate or prostatitis (prostate infection) are common, and do not lead to prostate cancer. On this page:

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Most men with BPH don't develop prostate cancer. But because the early symptoms for prostate cancer and an enlarged prostate could be the same,

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It should be understood however that no matter how uncomfortable some tests may be, detecting an enlarged prostate or prostate cancer in its early stages is

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For a small gland, the prostate can cause big problems. More than half of men in their sixties have enlarged prostates. Prostate cancer is second only to

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Prostate cancer, enlarged prostate (BPH) and prostatisis information - signs, symptoms, treatment, and medication for prostate cancer and enlarged prostate.

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Treatment for an enlarged prostate or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is based on a Watch this video to learn more about predicting prostate cancer.

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BPH or Enlarged Prostate. Frequent urination at night may be a sign of an enlarged prostate. .. Gay Prostate Cancer · Testicular Cancer Enlarged Prostate

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PSA levels may be high in men who have an enlarged prostate gland or prostate cancer. PSA tests are very useful for early cancer diagnosis.

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Both BPH and prostate cancer, however, can cause similar problems in older men. For example, an enlarged prostate gland can squeeze or impinge on the outlet

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I've had a TURP for benign prostate disease and am worried that I may have prostate cancer because the symptoms haven't gone away.

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Side view diagram of male urinary tract showing how an enlarged prostate can .. Although some of the signs of BPH and prostate cancer are the same,

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benign (be-NINE) prostatic (prah-STAT-ik) hyperplasia (HY-per-PLAY-sha) (BPH): An enlarged prostate not caused by cancer. BPH can cause problems with


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