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.
Treatments can involve anything from oral medication to major surgery, depending on the disease's stage and the extent of the growth. Testosterone and other male hormones can promote growth, so hormone therapy can be an effective treatment for some men. Prescription medications are available to inhibit the action or production of certain hormones. Removal of the testicles eliminates the body's main source of testosterone.
Surgery is an option if the disease is confined to the prostate gland and the man is in good health otherwise. The surgeon may remove the entire gland or targeted tissues. In some cases, the surgery includes removal of the lymph nodes.
Many types of cancers, including this one, respond well to radiation. Physicians have sophisticated new ways to target radiation therapy directly to the diseased cells. These procedures can often save surrounding healthy tissue from exposure to radioactive materials. Radium-223 injections are used to kill cells that have migrated to bone tissue. Physicians may inject radioactive seeds directly into the prostate gland or use an external radiation machine to target the area.
Chemotherapy is a treatment method that inhibits growth of diseased cells. Patients receive injections of various chemicals directly into the organ, the cerebrospinal fluid, the veins, or the muscles. In some cases, the patient takes the drugs orally.
Patients and their doctors should discuss the various options, possible side effects, and lifestyle to decide on the best therapy. Some patients may be eligible to participate in clinical trials for newly developed therapies. High intensity ultrasound, cryotherapy, and proton beam radiation therapy are three methods of treatment under study by medical researchers. Patients may not be good candidates for trials but their physicians should be able to tell them about any studies they can apply for based on their diagnosis.
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.
Treatments can involve anything from oral medication to major surgery, depending on the disease's stage and the extent of the growth. Testosterone and other male hormones can promote growth, so hormone therapy can be an effective treatment for some men. Prescription medications are available to inhibit the action or production of certain hormones. Removal of the testicles eliminates the body's main source of testosterone.
Surgery is an option if the disease is confined to the prostate gland and the man is in good health otherwise. The surgeon may remove the entire gland or targeted tissues. In some cases, the surgery includes removal of the lymph nodes.
Many types of cancers, including this one, respond well to radiation. Physicians have sophisticated new ways to target radiation therapy directly to the diseased cells. These procedures can often save surrounding healthy tissue from exposure to radioactive materials. Radium-223 injections are used to kill cells that have migrated to bone tissue. Physicians may inject radioactive seeds directly into the prostate gland or use an external radiation machine to target the area.
Chemotherapy is a treatment method that inhibits growth of diseased cells. Patients receive injections of various chemicals directly into the organ, the cerebrospinal fluid, the veins, or the muscles. In some cases, the patient takes the drugs orally.
Patients and their doctors should discuss the various options, possible side effects, and lifestyle to decide on the best therapy. Some patients may be eligible to participate in clinical trials for newly developed therapies. High intensity ultrasound, cryotherapy, and proton beam radiation therapy are three methods of treatment under study by medical researchers. Patients may not be good candidates for trials but their physicians should be able to tell them about any studies they can apply for based on their diagnosis.
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