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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Management of Androgen-Independent Prostate Cancer
Background: Although androgen withdrawal can control prostate cancer for long periods in many patients, controversy exists regarding management when the

Standard treatment for prostate cancer may encourage spread of disease
A popular prostate cancer treatment called androgen deprivation therapy may encourage prostate cancer cells to produce a protein that makes them more likely

RHEF - Program 212 - Prostate Cancer, Androgens and Erectile
Program 212 - Prostate Cancer, Androgens and Erectile Dysfunction page of the Rural Health Education Foundation, a non-profit charitable organisation

All : Hormone Naive Prostate Cancer: Androgen Deprivation Therapy
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is the world's leading professional organization representing physicians who treat people with cancer.

Hormone Therapy | Prostate Cancer Information | UPMC Cancer Centers
Prostate cancer is hormone-sensitive or hormone-dependent, meaning that prostate cancer growth depends on androgens, particularly testosterone.

Adaptive Therapy for Androgen-Independent Prostate Cancer: A
An algorithm was designed for a randomized selection trial to identify promising treatments for androgen-independent prostate cancer for more advanced

Health Care Cost Associated With Prostate Cancer, Androgen
UroToday.com- One-third of men diagnosed with prostate cancer (CaP) will eventually undergo androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). In the October 2007 issue of

Dutasteride Induces Apoptosis In Androgen Sensitive Prostate
Dutasteride Induces Apoptosis In Androgen Sensitive Prostate Cancer Cell Lines. Main Category: Urology / Nephrology Also Included In: Prostate / Prostate

Genomics|HuGENet|Reviews|Prostate Cancer|PubMed ID: 14726805
Androgen plays a role in prostate cancer growth. This is known because androgen is required in rodent induction models of prostate carcinogenesis because

ACS :: Hormone (Androgen Deprivation) Therapy
The main androgens are testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Androgens, produced mainly in the testicles, stimulate prostate cancer cells to grow.

NEJM -- Mechanisms of Androgen-Refractory Prostate Cancer
However, these tumors eventually become androgen-independent and grow despite androgen ablation. When prostate cancer is localized in the prostate,


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