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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IngentaConnect The Role of Laparoscopy in Prostate CancerStaging
The Role of Laparoscopy in Prostate Cancer Staging. Authors: Jackman, Stephen V.1; Kavoussi, Louis R.1. Source: The Prostate Journal, Volume 1, Number 4,

The Role of Laparoscopy in Prostate Cancer Staging
S. V. Jackman and L. R. Kavoussi: Laparoscopy in Prostate Cancer Staging .. prostate cancer. S. V. Jackman and L. R. Kavoussi: Laparoscopy in Prostate

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Prostate Cancer Treatment - Radical Prostatectomy
The laparoscope allows surgeons to view inside the abdomen and perform the surgery Deciding the best treatment for prostate cancer is a challenge.

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Prostate surgery for SCCA patients is performed at the University of Washington Medical Center, by surgeons who are leaders in prostate cancer surgery in

Laparoscopic Prostate Surgery
For laparoscopic prostate surgery, this technique requires five small (5-10 Laparoscopy also appears to treat the cancer as well as conventional "open"

Cancer News and Information - CancerWise - May 2003 - Less
Laparoscopy & Prostate Cancer. Minimally invasive techniques are becoming increasingly popular to treat prostate cancer. "Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy

Cancer News and Information - CancerWise - September 2005
Prostate Cancer Patient Glad for Laparoscopy. Leonard and Dee Wolff. By Heather Sessions When Leonard Wolff made an appointment for his annual physical exam

ACS :: Procedure for Prostate Cancer Treatment Questioned
Some experts are asking whether or not a surgical procedure called laparoscopy should be used to treat patients with prostate cancer.

Prostate Cancer Health Center
Laparoscopic prostate surgery involves five small ( five to 10 millimeters) Laparoscopy appears to treat the prostate cancer as effectively as surgeries

Article on Laparoscopic prostate cancer surgery from Boston Globe
While the operation may make prostate cancer less frightening to patients, it's very demanding for surgeons, said Dahl, 35, as he took a break in the


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