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Treatments Available for Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is a gender-specific condition and is one of the most common cancers among men in America. The lack of early warning signs make this type of cancer difficult to diagnose. Prostate cancer grows slowly and usually remains confined in the prostate area. There are, however, some forms of prostate cancer that spread rapidly and aggressively to other parts of the body.

  1. What Is Prostate Cancer?

    • Prostate cancer is the cancer of the small, sperm-producing gland found in males. It affects one in six men in the United States. The early stages of prostate cancer usually don't offer any symptoms, making it hard to diagnose. Most cases will become evident through urinary issues and complications. Some symptoms to look for and alert your doctor about include trouble urinating, decreased flow of urine, blood in your urine, discomfort in your pelvic region, and blood in your semen.

    Treatment

    • There are many methods that can be used to treat prostate cancer. Age, race, activity level and health history all play a role in determining the best regimen. The behavior of the individual's cancer is also heavily weighed in the decision process. The rate at which the cancer is growing and whether and where it has spread are taken into great consideration.

    External Beam Radiation Therapy

    • This treatment method uses powerful X-rays to kill off cancerous cells. Radiation is usually administered for five days a week for eight weeks. Most appointments last only about 15 minutes. There are some risks and side effects, but in the majority of cases, the side effects are temporary. They include trouble urinating, sexual side effects and loose stool.

    Radioactive Seed Implants

    • This method is typically used for men with lower-grade prostate cancers. It is similar to external beam therapy in that it delivers doses of radiation. Small radioactive seeds are implanted into the prostate and, over a significant period of time, the seeds release radiation that kills the cancerous cells. This is one of the most popular treatments among cancer patients. Side effects similar to those of radiation therapy do exist with radioactive seed implantation.

    Hormone Therapy

    • Hormone therapy is delivered to stop the body from producing testosterone, the male sex hormone. Testosterone aids the growth of cancerous cells and is prevented, through hormone therapy, from entering any existing cells. This type of treatment is effective for only a short time, because it is not completely successful in killing all the cancer cells and eventually the cancer will learn to live and replicate without the testosterone. Side effects include reduced sex drive, erectile dysfunction and weight gain.

    Radical Prostatectomy

    • The removal of the prostate gland is only used to treat cancer that has been confined to the prostate gland and has not metastasized to other parts of the body. There are two surgical methods that can be used: They are retropubic surgery in which the gland is removed through an incision in the lower abdomen, and perineal surgery in which the gland is removed through an incision between the anus and the scrotum. Both methods are effective. Bladder control problems and erectile dysfunction are common side effects.

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