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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Surgical Treatment of BPH
Laser Surgery. In March 1996, FDA approved a surgical procedure that employs side-firing laser fibers and Nd: YAG lasers to vaporize obstructing prostate

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Prostate Laser Surgery. Traditional electrosurgical Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) has been widely utilized and has remained relatively

Self-retraction clamp for dissection
This is the most basic method of laser surgery to the prostate. The Nd:YAG laser was first widely used in this way during open surgery and then applied to

Had sex one week after green light laser surgery for prostate
I had green light laser surgery one week ago and had sex with my wife yesterday. I know now that I shouldn't have but no one said not to do it and I was

Enlarged Prostate: Is It Time for Prostate Surgery?
Laser surgery. Laser surgery uses laser energy to destroy prostate tissue and shrink the prostate. Laser surgery may not be effective on larger prostates.

Enlarged Prostate (BPH): Treatment Options
Laser surgeries are a new option for relieving enlarged prostate (BPH) symptoms. Laser surgery is often performed when other treatments have not worked well

Enlarged Prostate ? Try Laserscope's BPH treatment for an enlarged
Try LaserScope's BPH Treatment for an Enlarged prostate, BPH treatment, Prostate surgery, Enlarged prostate treatment, Prostate treatment, Prostate laser

Enlarged Prostate ? Get the GreenLight BPH treatment
Prostate Surgery. Enlarged Prostate (BPH). Loss of Personal Freedom It is called GreenLight™ Laser Therapy. This therapy can free you from urinary

Video: Laser surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH
This video shows interstitial laser surgery. Here's how it works. A urologist inserts a thin device called a cystoscope to view the enlarged prostate.

Enlarged prostate (BPH) guide - MayoClinic.com
Laser surgery uses a high-energy laser to destroy overgrown prostate tissue. The laser doesn't penetrate tissue deeply, so surrounding tissue isn't harmed.

Prostate Enlargement: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
The laser energy destroys prostate tissue and causes shrinkage. As with TURP, laser surgery requires anesthesia and a hospital stay. One advantage of laser


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