TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT PROSTATE CANCER TREATMENT OPTION

There are many factors which determine the appropriate treatment choices for prostate cancer. These factors include: age, general health conditions, the stage and grade of the cancer, and personal preferences of the patient. For example, some men would prefer to decline a painful or uncomfortable treatment if it is unlikely to increase their lifespan.

There are many surgery options for men with prostate cancer, and in some cases surgery is recommended to remove the tumor. A radical prostatectomy is a removal of the entire prostate gland. This surgery is a common choice of the cancer has not spread beyond the prostate.

A transurethral resection is a procedure to remove urinary blockage caused by the tumor in the prostate gland. This surgery is common for older men who cannot have a radical prostatectomy because they are too old or ill to undergo the other surgery. Cryosurgery is a newly studied surgery for the treatment of prostate cancer. Basically it involves freezing the tumor.

Other than surgery, there is radiation therapy to treat cancer that hasn't spread to other parts of the body. High powered x-rays are used to kill or shrink the cancer cells. If the cancer has spread, then radiation therapy may be used to shrink the tumor in order to provide relief from painful symptoms.

There are two types of radiation therapy commonly used to treat cancer of the prostate. External beam radiation is similar to having a chest x-ray or dental x-ray, except that it lasts for a longer period of time, instead of a few seconds. This treatment is usually performed at an outpatient center daily during the week, lasting for several weeks.

Internal radiation, known as brachytherapy, is when small radioactive pellets (about the size of a grain of rice) are implanted into the prostate. The tiny pellets give off small amounts of radiation directly into the prostate for several weeks or even months until the radioactive material is gone. This treatment does not usually cause discomfort.

Hormone therapy is another treatment option for men whose cancer has spread beyond the prostate or has returned after being in remission. Hormone therapy is used to reduce the natural levels of testosterone (the male hormone) in the body. Lower testosterone levels tend to make prostate cancer shrink or reduce the speed at which it grows.

LHRH is the drug used in hormone therapy to reduce a man's testosterone levels. LHRH is injected at the doctor's office once per month or quarterly. There may be an increase in pain or urinary symptoms with this treatment. Research has shown that this treatment is just as effective in reducing testosterone levels as removal of the testicles.

Orchiectomy is the surgical removal of the testicles. By removing the testicles, testosterone levels are reduced dramatically, since this hormone is produced mainly in the testicles. This procedure is common and usually has few complications.

Chemotherapy is a treatment option if the cancer has spread throughout the body and hormone therapy has been unsuccessful. The goal of chemotherapy is not to kill all of the cancer cells but to slow the pace of its growth. Chemotherapy can damage non-cancerous cells also. Because of this, doctors must carefully balance chemotherapy doses to give enough drug to kill cancer cells, but not so much that it also kills healthy cells. Side effects of chemotherapy include nausea, vomiting, hair loss and heart problems.

Over the last 30+ years survival rates of prostate cancer have increased steadily. Over 75% of men diagnosed with this cancer can be expected to live 5 or more years beyond the original diagnosis. If the cancer has not spread beyond the prostate, 99% will live beyond 5 years past the diagnosis date. The average age at which men are diagnosed with this cancer is 72.

Discuss your treatment options with your doctor. Ask questions. Be informed. Remember that early detection is the key to successful treatment.

Jonathan is a professional educator in the healthcare field with over 15 years of experience. You can visit his latest website Pool Tables For Sale which helps people learn about Mizerak Pool Tables.

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