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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Prostate Health : Natural Prostate Cancer Treatments Curing
Cancer survivor Larry Clapp presents information about alternative and traditional approaches to prostate care.

FOXNews.com - Study: Tomatoes Don't Prevent Prostate Cancer - Cancer
Study: Tomatoes Don't Prevent Prostate Cancer, New study says that lycopene does not protect men from prostate cancer as previously thought.

Can Pomegranates Prevent Prostate Cancer? A New Study Offers Promise
The juice of the pomegranate, say researchers at University of Wisconsin Medical School, shows major promise to combat prostate cancer - the most common

Red Wine Compound Shown To Prevent Prostate Cancer
Consuming a red wine compound called resveratrol may reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer, report researchers. Male transgenic mice fed resveratrol

BBC NEWS | Health | Masturbation 'cuts cancer risk'
Men could reduce their risk of developing prostate cancer through regular that ejaculating may prevent carcinogens accumulating in the prostate gland.

Nutrition Action Healthletter - Preventing Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer, selenium, vitamin e,Alpha-Tocopherol Beta-Carotene,ATBC,gamma-tocopherol,pc-specs,Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial

Green tea shown to prevent prostate cancer
After a year's oral administration of green tea catechins (GTCs), only one man in a group of 32 at high risk for prostate cancer developed the disease,

Selenium To Prevent Prostate Cancer? More Answers Needed
A mineral diet supplement that lowers the risk of prostate cancer by 50 percent? While there's no definitive proof, scientists are intrigued about the

Finasteride to prevent prostate cancer? August 2003; 114-5
Is finasteride preventing prostate cancer, or treating it? The effects were seen early, and there is at least a hint that finasteride may be treating

Learn How to Prevent Prostate Cancer on MedicineNet.com
Prostate cancer risk factors inlcude: age, chemoprevention, poor diet and lifestyle, and race.

Go Ask Alice!: Prostate problems - enlargement and cancer
There is no known way to prevent prostate enlargement, but an enlarged prostate is not associated with developing prostate cancer.

Preventing Prostate Cancer
Preventing prostate cancer - risk factors include age, diet, genetics, race, and possibly inflammation.

A genuine feel-good story: Sex may help prevent prostate cancer
A genuine feel-good story: Sex may help prevent prostate cancer.

Tomatoes Don't Prevent Prostate Cancer
A study shows that lycopene -- found in tomatoes -- doesn't help cut the risk of getting prostate cancer.

Prostate Cancer Prevention
Eating fish may help prevent prostate cancer MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM. Finasteride does not prevent prostate cancer LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

Broccoli and tomatoes prevent prostate cancer better than leading
Broccoli and tomatoes prevent prostate cancer better than leading prescription drugs, research shows.

Have more sex to prevent prostate cancer
Frequent sexual activity may reduce a man's risk of prostate cancer, according to a study in the April 7 Journal of the American Medical Association.

ACS :: Can Prostate Cancer Be Prevented?
At this time, not all doctors agree whether taking finasteride to prevent prostate cancer is a good thing. Men thinking about this should discuss it with

Prostate cancer prevention: What you can do - MayoClinic.com
Prostate cancer: There's no sure way to prevent it â” But these steps might help. While these medications may help prevent prostate cancer, they can also


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