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.

implant prostate seed
Radiation Oncology Department: University of Arizona
Today, there are several methods of treatment available for prostate cancer. The Radioactive Seed Implant is an option that can be offered to many men with

Chicago Prostate Cancer Center | Frequently Asked Questions
The doctor said that my cancer has spread beyond my prostate, can I still have a seed implant? Seed implant may still be a treatment option for you in

Introduction - Prostate Seed Implants - Greenebaum Cancer Center
Prostate brachytherapy, the placement of radioactive seeds in the prostate gland, is the fastest growing method of treating prostate cancer in the United

Stanford Cancer Center - Prostate Seed Implants
Prostate seed implants can be a particularly suitable radiotherapy option for patients diagnosed with early stage prostate cancer.

21st Century Oncology
Although the seeds used to implant the prostate are radioactive, their energy is very low. Only negligible amounts are emitted from the patientâ™s body.

Prostate Cancer Research Institute - Seed Implant
the implant prior to the procedure. These advances also significantly increased the accuracy of seed placement and insured that the prostate would receive

Prostate Seed Implants Impair Quality Of Life
Researchers compared quality of life in 48 prostate cancer patients who received seed implants, with or without external beam radiation, with quality of

Facts about Prostate Brachytherapy
Facts about Radioactive Seed Implants (Prostate brachytherapy) History of prostate brachytherapy (radioactive seed implant). The use of radioactive seed

Prostate Seed Implants, Department of Radiation Oncology, East
Prostate seed implant's three dimensional (3D) final dose distribution . The seeds are the green cylinders. The prostate, urethra, and rectum have been

Prostate Cancer: Seed Implant Therapy
Review article on brachytherapy for prostate cancer.


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