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.

prostate cancer incidence by age
Invasive Cancer Incidence by Age at Diagnosis
Invasive Prostate Cancer Incidence by Age at Diagnosis Average Number is the number of new invasive cancer cases diagnosed in the period, divided by the

International Journal of Health Geographics | Full text | Small
All stage prostate cancer Incidence by ZIP Code in New York State, 1994â“1998. ZIP code-level ratios of observed incidence to age- and race-adjusted expected

Trends in prostate cancer incidence, mortality and survival in
METHODS: Age-standardized incidence and death rates were calculated directly and trends in relative survival rates among men with prostate cancer registered

Prostate cancer incidence and mortality rates and trends in the
National vital statistics data were used for prostate cancer mortality rates for both countries, and age-adjusted and age-specific incidence and mortality

Prostate Cancer Resources and Information | OncoLink
Age is generally considered the most important risk factor for prostate cancer. The incidence of prostate cancer rises quickly after the age of 60,

Update: Prostate Cancer Screening
In sharp contrast to the rise in prostate cancer incidence in the U.S. since 1973, . than age 50 who are at higher risk of developing prostate cancer.

Surveillance Research - Cancer Race/Ethnicity Statistics
The SEER Program collects and publishes cancer incidence and survival data in 1973-1995 includes statistics and interpretation for prostate cancer for

SEER Fast Stats - Prostate Cancer, Incidence
Fast Stats: Prostate Cancer. --Choose a Cancer Site--, All Sites, Bones and Joints Age-Adjusted Incidence Rates and 95% Confidence Intervals

Prostate cancer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The primary risk factor is age. Prostate cancer is uncommon in men less than 45, "International trends and patterns of prostate cancer incidence and

Risk | Prostate Cancer Information | UPMC Cancer Centers
There are dramatic increases in the number of prostate cancer cases between age categories. The sharp increase in incidence with age is a hallmark of this

Cancer Research UK : UK Prostate Cancer incidence statistics
This page presents UK prostate cancer incidence statistics by age , geographic Figure 1.2: Age standardised (world) incidence rates, prostate cancer in


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