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.

pain in prostate
Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases - Abstract of article
We prospectively investigated the clinical parameters that influenced pain during prostate biopsies. From 12 hospitals 1781 patients were enrolled.

Groin pain and prostate cancer
My father has been told he has prostate cancer and has been suffering with pains in the groin and leg. Could this be a definite sign that the cancer has

Prostatitis - CNN.com
An inflamed prostate can cause a variety of symptoms, including a frequent and urgent need to urinate and pain or burning when urinating often accompanied

Reducing Prostate Biopsy Pain
Source: Mayo Clinic Finds What Causes Men Pain in Prostate Biopsy and Best Method to Alleviate It. Mayo Clinic Press Release.

Prostate pain - Multiple Symptom Checker - WrongDiagnosis.com
Causes of Prostate pain, alternative diagnoses, rare causes, misdiagnoses, patient stories, and much more.

Urology -- Male issues: prostate pain
Ken, in spite of your normal feeling prostate, the most common cause of these complaints is an inflammation of the prostate gland, so called prostatitis.

The Complete Book of Men's Health - Part 1: Sexual Health
Recent studies suggest that prostate pain is relieved by microwave hyperthermia. The prostate gland is warmed from 37 to 42.5`C (98.6 to 108.5`F) by a

Prostatitis Symptoms - urologychannel
Prostatitis symptoms can include pain in the region of the prostate. Prostatitis symptoms can range from generalized, chronic pain in the penis, testicles,

What Causes Men Pain In Prostate Biopsy And Best Method To
Researchers at Mayo Clinic have evaluated the major sources of pain for some men during in-office prostate biopsy and an anesthetic method that can best

Prostate pain - WrongDiagnosis.com
List of 11 disease causes of Prostate pain, patient stories, diagnostic guides, full text online books about Prostate pain. Diagnostic checklist, medical

Prostatitis - Mens Health: Health and Medical Information About
Prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate gland. Inflammation causes swelling of the gland and can cause local pain. Prostatitis does not increase the


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