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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Enlarged Prostate
Learn about an enlarged prostate gland. Information about prostate enlargement (BPH) Both types of medications carry the risk of side effects, however.

Prostate Articles
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Treating Prostate Enlargement
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Enlarged Prostate (BPH): Treatment Options
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Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
What kinds of problems can an enlarged prostate cause? . Surgery has also been linked with side effects of erectile dysfunction (in 14 per cent of men

Prostate gland enlargement - CNN.com
Instead of an enlarged prostate gland, your symptoms could be early warnings . To reduce your risk of side effects, your doctor may start with a low dose

Benign prostatic hypertrophy - enlarged prostate gland
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Enlarged Prostate (BPH) - WebMD
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Enlarged prostate (BPH) guide - MayoClinic.com
Enlarged prostate: Explore treatment options for this condition also known as benign Side effects. Side effects are generally mild and controllable.

Prostate Enlargement: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Side view diagram of male urinary tract showing how an enlarged prostate can . side effects when compared with transurethral resection of the prostate

What I need to know about Prostate Problems
What are the side effects of prostate treatments? Hope Through Research; Prostate Frequent urination at night may be a sign of an enlarged prostate.


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