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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Sloan-Kettering - Long-term Outcomes for Prostate Cancer Show
Long-term Outcomes for Prostate Cancer Show Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy "Our results suggest that IMRT should be the treatment of choice for

Radiation Therapy and Brachytherapy Survival Rates
The use of Radiation Therapy as prostate cancer treatment. âœ12-Year Outcomes Following Permanent Prostate Brachytherapy in Patients with Clinically

eMedicine - Prostate Cancer: External Beam Radiation Therapy
Zelefsky MJ, Leibel SA, Gaudin PB, et al: Dose escalation with three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy affects the outcome in prostate cancer.

JAMA -- Abstract: Biochemical Outcome Following External Beam
Context Combined treatment using radiation therapy (RT) and androgen suppression Biochemical Outcomes of Treatment for Prostate Cancer Vicini et al.

Long-term Outcomes For Prostate Cancer Show Intensity Modulated
15, 2006) â” New research suggests that men with prostate cancer who choose radiation therapy should seek treatment centers that will offer high-dose

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Link: UroToday - Predicting the Outcome of Salvage Radiation Therapy for Recurrent Prostate Cancer after Radical Prostatectomy.

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the outcome of salvage radiation therapy for recurrent prostate cancer after successful treatment with salvage radiotherapy for recurrent prostate

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IngentaConnect Familial prostate cancer: outcome following
Familial prostate cancer: outcome following radiation therapy with or Among patients with a rising post-treatment PSA profile, PSA doubling times were

Prostate Cancer News: Treatment and Outcomes - Prostate Cancer
Outcome associated with obese men who undergo external beam radiation therapy. 6/29/2007 Money Issues Strain Marriage After Prostate Cancer Treatment

UroToday - Predicting the Outcome of Salvage Radiation Therapy for
Advanced Prostate Cancer Treatment Resource Center Prostate Cancer arrow Predicting the Outcome of Salvage Radiation Therapy for Recurrent Prostate


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