Cancer is a disease caused by abnormal cell growth. Sometimes cancerous cells form in tissues making up the prostate, which is a male reproductive gland located in the lower abdominal area. Statistics show that 20 percent of adult males in the United States will develop this disease but it is usually not life threatening, especially with early diagnosis and treatment. Men diagnosed with this condition need to find out more about effective prostate cancer treatment options.
Many factors will determine how the physician chooses to treat a patient with this disease. The patient's overall health, as well as age, may affect the healthcare professional's decision. The physician factors in whether the diagnosis is new or the disease is recurring. The physician will inform the patient about all the possible and expected side effects of each treatment.
Men who are not having symptoms but show signs of prostate cancer in a screening test will not receive treatment right away. Physicians will wait to see if symptoms ever manifest before exploring treatments. The patient will have regular screening and tests, so the physician can catch any signs that the disease may be spreading or getting worse.
Hormone therapy can be effective for limiting the levels of male hormones that can promote cancer cell growth. Physicians can prescribe various drugs to block the production of testosterone in the testicles or to inhibit the action of androgens. Some men will have one or both testicles removed to eliminate the largest source of testosterone.
If the disease has not yet spread from the gland, surgical removal of all or part of the gland is an option. The surgeon may remove nearby lymph nodes, seminal vesicles, and tissue surrounding the prostate at the same time. Various surgical techniques are used depending on the procedure's scope and goal.
Radiation is a common therapy for killing cancerous cells or restricting their rate of growth. State of the art external radiation equipment uses a computer and sophisticated imaging technology to configure radiation beams into the exact shape of the tumor. This saves surrounding healthy tissues from receiving radiation. An alternative delivery method involves placing radioactive seeds in the diseased area. Cells that are invading bone tissue may be killed with injections of radioactive radium-223.
Chemotherapy attacks growth with drugs taken orally or injected into muscles or veins. Sometimes the physician injects the drugs into the cerebrospinal fluid or delivers it directly to the affected organ. The method of delivery and drugs used depend on the stage and type of cancer the physician is treating.
The patient's physician will do a thorough physical examination and run a series of tests to determine the best solution for the individual. Patients should be sure to discuss all known side effects and be aware of what to expect before, during, and after treatment. Depending on the situation, certain patients may be eligible to enter clinical trials for new treatments still under development. Some of the new techniques in this area of medicine include proton beam radiation, cryosurgery, and high intensity ultrasound. Patients diagnosed with prostate cancer can go on to live long and productive lives with the proper treatment by a qualified medical professional.
Many factors will determine how the physician chooses to treat a patient with this disease. The patient's overall health, as well as age, may affect the healthcare professional's decision. The physician factors in whether the diagnosis is new or the disease is recurring. The physician will inform the patient about all the possible and expected side effects of each treatment.
Men who are not having symptoms but show signs of prostate cancer in a screening test will not receive treatment right away. Physicians will wait to see if symptoms ever manifest before exploring treatments. The patient will have regular screening and tests, so the physician can catch any signs that the disease may be spreading or getting worse.
Hormone therapy can be effective for limiting the levels of male hormones that can promote cancer cell growth. Physicians can prescribe various drugs to block the production of testosterone in the testicles or to inhibit the action of androgens. Some men will have one or both testicles removed to eliminate the largest source of testosterone.
If the disease has not yet spread from the gland, surgical removal of all or part of the gland is an option. The surgeon may remove nearby lymph nodes, seminal vesicles, and tissue surrounding the prostate at the same time. Various surgical techniques are used depending on the procedure's scope and goal.
Radiation is a common therapy for killing cancerous cells or restricting their rate of growth. State of the art external radiation equipment uses a computer and sophisticated imaging technology to configure radiation beams into the exact shape of the tumor. This saves surrounding healthy tissues from receiving radiation. An alternative delivery method involves placing radioactive seeds in the diseased area. Cells that are invading bone tissue may be killed with injections of radioactive radium-223.
Chemotherapy attacks growth with drugs taken orally or injected into muscles or veins. Sometimes the physician injects the drugs into the cerebrospinal fluid or delivers it directly to the affected organ. The method of delivery and drugs used depend on the stage and type of cancer the physician is treating.
The patient's physician will do a thorough physical examination and run a series of tests to determine the best solution for the individual. Patients should be sure to discuss all known side effects and be aware of what to expect before, during, and after treatment. Depending on the situation, certain patients may be eligible to enter clinical trials for new treatments still under development. Some of the new techniques in this area of medicine include proton beam radiation, cryosurgery, and high intensity ultrasound. Patients diagnosed with prostate cancer can go on to live long and productive lives with the proper treatment by a qualified medical professional.
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