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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Prostate Cancer - Sexual Function After Treatment
Similarly those who have weak erections before treatment are likely to have weak or no erections afterwards. The prostate cancer itself rarely has a direct

Erectile Dysfunction | Prostate Cancer Information | UPMC Cancer
How prostate cancer treatment affects erections. Some prostate cancer treatments may affect the nerves or arteries responsible for erections;

Prostate Cancer and Erectile Dysfunction - WebMD
Erectile dysfunction, also called impotence, is the inability to develop or sustain an erection satisfactory for sexual intercourse. Though prostate cancer

Tests for Erection Problems
Tests for erection problems help determine a specific cause for a man's Even after a prostate is removed, prostate cancer cells can remain in the body.

Sex and prostate cancer
Treatment for prostate cancer can cause a variety of side effects. Erection difficulties can be very difficult to come to terms with.

Side effects of hormone therapy for prostate cancer
Difficulty getting an erection, or impotence, is a major side effect of hormone therapy for prostate cancer. You will not be able to get an erection as long

Prostate Cancer and Erection
prostate cancer treatment may interfere with erection of the penis.

Vacuum Erection Device after Prostate Cancer Treatment
vacuum erection device helps impotence after prostate cancer treatment.

Therapies may help post-prostate impotence, Reuters 12/30/02
"If you are a man with erection problems after prostate cancer, it is worth trying a medical treatment for erectile dysfunction," Schover told Reuters

Reclaiming your sex life after prostate cancer therapy
Patients report numerous consequences due to prostate cancer therapy, Injection therapy is almost guaranteed to produce an erection - it even works on

Prostate Cancer - Topic Overview - Yahoo! Health
Experts don't know what causes prostate cancer, but they believe that your age, may cause impotence, which means not being able to have an erection.

Green Tea Saves Erections! - It cuts off by 50 % prostate cancer
Green Tea Saves Erections! - It cuts off by 50 % prostate cancer!

Pomegranate Juice Boosts Sex Drive and Erection! - Also, it cures
Pomegranate Juice Boosts Sex Drive and Erection! - Also, it cures prostate cancer. Also, it cures prostate cancer. By: Stefan Anitei, Science Editor

Prostate Cancer
Nerves that help a man have an erection are right next to the prostate. Surgery to remove the cancer may damage them. Many times a special form of surgery,

Torbay Prostate Cancer Support Association: FREE VACUUM ERECTION
PROSTATE CANCER NEWS · Who we are and What we do. Forthcoming Events Vacuum erection devices (pumps)are now available free on presecription to men with

Cornell Sexual Medicine Program - Erectile Dysfunction and
Thirdly, direct erection tissue damage may occur and this can lead to leakage Typically, patients being treated with radiation for prostate cancer are

Erection after surgery - Prostate Cancer - MedHelp
This is a discussion on MedHelp about Erection after surgery. Community members of MedHelp provide help, support, guidance and discussion around the topic

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