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.

hormonal prostate cancer treatment
Hormonal treatment of prostate cancer
Hormonal treatment of prostate cancer - information, advice and treatment from four of the UK's leading cancer specialists. Includes extensive information

Hormone Therapy-- What Is That? Androgen Deprivation Therapy for
Describes how hormone therapy is used to treat prostate cancer. Q. What is Hormone Therapy? How is it Used for Prostate Cancer Treatment?

Hormonal Treatment For Localized And Advanced Prostate Cancer
UroToday.com - Hormonal Treatment for Localized and Advanced Prostate Cancer was discussed at the EAU on Wednesday March 21, 2007.

Hormone therapy: Cancer treatment for certain hormone-sensitive
How hormone therapy cancer treatment works. Specific types of tumors â” most commonly tumors of the breast and of the prostate â” rely on hormones such as

Hormone Therapy - Prostate Cancer Foundation
If prostate cancer is diagnosed at an advanced stage or if the cancer returns after Home > > About Prostate Cancer > Treatment > Hormone Therapy

Prostate Cancer: Hormonal Therapy
Describes the rational for and the various forms of hormonal treatment for late stage Hormonal Therapy is based on the fact that prostate cancer cells

Prostate Cancer Treatment Options -- familydoctor.org
While prostate cancer usually responds to 1 or 2 years of hormone therapy, after some time most tumors start to grow again. Once this happens, the treatment

Prostate Cancer Treatment - National Cancer Institute
Hormone therapy used in the treatment of prostate cancer may include the following:. Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists can prevent the

Prostate Cancer, The Cancer Information Network
Understand the Hormonal Therapy - ProstateCancerFAQ provides well-written information on the hormonal treatment for prostate cancer.

Prostate Cancer Hormone Therapy Affects Thinking - Cancer
Prostate cancer grows when exposed to the male hormone testosterone. Prostate cancer hormone treatment is used to stop the production of testosterone,

Prostate Cancer - Hormonal Therapy
Hormone treatment is also the principal therapy for metastatic prostate cancer when the prostate cancer cells have escaped from the prostate to grow in

USATODAY.com - Prostate cancer treatment has health risks
For the first time, research shows that hormone therapy, a common treatment for prostate cancer, can raise the risk of diabetes and heart disease.

What is hormone therapy?
After that, in some men, the cancer stops responding to the hormone treatment and starts to grow again. This is called hormone refractory prostate cancer.

Hormonal therapy for early prostate cancer : Cancerbackup
about hormonal therapy in the treatment of early (localised) prostate cancer. Hormonal treatment can also make you put on weight and feel constantly

Hormone Treatment for Prostate Cancer - WebMD
Hormone treatment (androgen deprivation therapy or androgen suppression therapy) removes, blocks, or adds hormones to treat prostate cancer.

ACS :: Prostate Cancer Hormone Therapy May Have Unwelcome Side Effects
Hormone therapy is typically given for prostate cancer when it has spread to other parts of the body or has come back after treatment with surgery or

ACS :: Hormone (Androgen Deprivation) Therapy
There are several types of hormone therapy used to treat prostate cancer. . Some studies have shown that hormone treatment may slow down the disease and

Prostate Cancer Info : education, support, male hormone therapy
Prostate cancer info on prostate cancer education, prostate cancer support, hormone analog (LHRH-A) for treatment of advanced prostate cancer

Prostate Cancer Info : education, support, male hormone therapy
He/she may have some practical recommendations to help alleviate symptoms that are in fact due to treatment regimen. Hormone Refractory Prostate Cancer


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