Sunday, December 12, 2010

Medical Treatments for Prostate Cancer for Men

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.