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.
A qualified physician will choose a treatment based on several factors, including the results of a physical examination. Different treatments are effective depending on whether the cancer is recurring or the physician has just diagnosed the disease. The disease's stage of development, the patient's age, and any other health concerns go into deciding the best course of action.
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.
Some patients are treated with minimally invasive techniques while others require surgery. Blocking the actions of various male hormones is sometimes effective for slowing or stopping the growth of cancerous tissue. An extreme form of hormone therapy involves removing the testicles, which are responsible for producing the majority of the body's supply of testosterone. Oral medications may be prescribed to inhibit the action of certain androgens.
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 may be used to kill the cancerous cells or retard their growth. Radiation may be delivered to the gland from an external machine. Some radiation machines use a 3-D image of the tumor to conform the radiation beams into a shape that matches the tumor. Internal radiation therapy is a technique physicians use to implant radioactive seeds directly into the affected tissue through a needle. If the disease has spread to the bones, the physician injects the patient with radium-223, a radioactive substance that seeks out cancer cells in bone and kills them.
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.
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.
A qualified physician will choose a treatment based on several factors, including the results of a physical examination. Different treatments are effective depending on whether the cancer is recurring or the physician has just diagnosed the disease. The disease's stage of development, the patient's age, and any other health concerns go into deciding the best course of action.
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.
Some patients are treated with minimally invasive techniques while others require surgery. Blocking the actions of various male hormones is sometimes effective for slowing or stopping the growth of cancerous tissue. An extreme form of hormone therapy involves removing the testicles, which are responsible for producing the majority of the body's supply of testosterone. Oral medications may be prescribed to inhibit the action of certain androgens.
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 may be used to kill the cancerous cells or retard their growth. Radiation may be delivered to the gland from an external machine. Some radiation machines use a 3-D image of the tumor to conform the radiation beams into a shape that matches the tumor. Internal radiation therapy is a technique physicians use to implant radioactive seeds directly into the affected tissue through a needle. If the disease has spread to the bones, the physician injects the patient with radium-223, a radioactive substance that seeks out cancer cells in bone and kills them.
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.
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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