Medical Treatments for Prostate CancerThere 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. |
| prostate blood work |
|
Roswell Park Cancer Institute - FAQ About Prostate Cancer Stage T1 and T2 prostate cancer is usually found by accident or when a man has a routine examination and blood work. There may no symptoms in these early 21st Century Oncology Once the prostate size has been accurately measured using the ultrasound probe, each patient undergoes a set of preoperative tests which includes blood work Treatment - Prostate Seed Implants At the University of Maryland Medical Center, all prostate brachytherapy patients undergo blood work and other preoperative studies before the day of the More men need prostate cancer testing - The Cancer Blog As a survivor of prostate cancer I agree fully that early detection is critical. I received a call saying that all the blood work was fine - except that The Journal of Urology : Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation Eight transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided prostate biopsies were performed uneventfully. Blood work on the day of the procedure, including hemoglobin, Blood Work: Science News Online, March 15, 2003 Blood Work. Scientists seek to identify all the proteins in plasma look at high blood concentrations of a protein called prostate-specific antigen as an New Blood Test for Prostate Cancer An experimental blood test for prostate cancer seems to work better than the current PSA test -- and can tell whether the cancer is spreading. Prostate Cancer at Age Forty-One: Voices in PSA Rising Magazine Gary Elgort, diagnosed with prostate cancer at age 41, tells how he made his treatment The blood work and digital rectal exam at MSKCC bore out what my Prostate Cancer Survivor - Stories of Recovery - Howard Mills He did a digital examination of my prostate and ordered a PSA test from my blood work. I received a call on April 12 from my doctor with the results from Your Annual Checkup Yearly blood work should include a blood count to rule out any bleeding, Staring at age 50 a man should have a digital exam of his prostate. |
| prostate blood work |
|
indurated prostate milking prostate toy incontinence after prostate surgery prostate cancer awareness rubber bracelet |