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. |
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African-Americans With Prostate Cancer More Likely To Have Family African-American men with prostate cancer were more likely to report a family history of prostate cancer and breast cancer among siblings than men who did Prostate Cancer: A Major Health Concern for African American Men African American men over age 45 are at higher risk for prostate cancer, and should have a screening exam yearly. ACS :: African-American Men Need Early Prostate Cancer Screening African-American men are known to have a greater risk of developing prostate cancer. But is the cancer more aggressive in African-American men compared to ACS :: Statistics for 2007 Cancer Facts & Figures for African Americans 2007-2008. Estimates the number of new cancer cases and deaths for 2007 and provides the most recent statistics National Prostate Cancer Coalition: Prostate Cancer and African African American men have the highest rate of prostate cancer in the world: For African American men, prostate cancer deaths are projected to drop 15.4 Prostate Health African American men may have the highest rate of prostate cancer incidence The causes of higher rates of prostate cancer among African American males ICC - African Americans & Cancer Lung cancer among African Americans accounts for the largest number of cancer deaths among both men (30%) and women (21%), followed by prostate cancer in African-American Prostate Cancer Crisis Prostate Cancer Crisis For African-American Men - Tragedy, says ACS. African American Prostate Cancer Concerns African American men continue to face higher rates of prostate cancer and poorer results from treatment. Some recent articles look at why (2004). genome.gov | Hereditary Prostate Cancer in African-Americans Study Overview of the National Cooperative Study of Hereditary Prostate Cancer in African-Americans, which is sponsored by Howard University and the National |
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