A Guide to Prostate Cancer Treatment Options

Prostate cancer is a cancer in male reproductive system involving male prostate gland, that`s why this cancer can only occur in males. Anatomically, the prostate gland is located between the bladder and rectum which physiologically responsible for the production of seminal fluid.

Symptoms

in early stage, symptoms of prostate cancer are often ignored, usually without symptoms, therefore prostate cancer is most commonly found in men age fifty-year and most often diagnosed in their seventies. Any kind of disorders in prostate gland will cause pain, especially when urinating, as well as the erectile dysfunction.

Examination and Diagnosis

The diagnosis of prostate cancer can be taken through physical examination (rectal finger examination) or with a blood test named PSA, PSA blood test or Prostate Specific Antigen, is the antigen if it contained in a person’s blood, the doctor will suspect him suffer prostate cancer. Later the suspicions of prostate specific antigen will be confirmed by taking a tissue biopsy.

Prostate Cancer Treatment options

It is still debatable issue among experts to discuss the appropriate prostate cancer treatment option. This treatment options are vary, depending on patient’s general condition and the stages of disease. The following are prostate cancer treatment options you need to consider:

Surgery

1. Radical prostatectomy

This radical prostate gland removal procedure done under general anesthesia, then the doctor will make the incision in the perineum. Patients need to undergo bed rest in the hospital for about 5-7 days. This prostate cancer treatment options have complications such as inkotinensia uri (urination disorder) and sexual disfunction (impotence). Another alternative for those who are sexually active is potential sparing radical prostatectomy.

2. Orkiektomi (testes removal)

Orkiektomi or testes removal is an effective treatment. Effective means that after surgery the patient no longer requires repeated treatment,  medication or hospitalization. This type of prostate cancer treatment options  usually done when the cancer has spread. Removal of the two testes are going to reduce levels of testosterone, but this treatment procedures will cause physical and psychological effects that can not be tolerated by patients.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is commonly used as alternatives if the surgical procedure too risky. This kind of prostate cancer treatment options are often used primarily to treat cancer, type A, B and C. Radiation therapy for prostate gland can be done in several ways:

1. external radiation therapy

The procedure done with  require no hospitalization.  This prostate cancer treatment options was carried out five times a week, for 6-8 weeks. As for side effects will be encountered such as fatigue, diarrhea, decreased appetite, skin irritation, injury or burns sensation on the rectum, bladder infections and bleeding when urinate.

2. Through a small incision, the doctor will transplant iodine beads or  iridium radioactive directly on prostate tissue.

Drugs

1. Hormonal theraphy

Hormone manipulation was conducted in order to relieve the symptoms of cancer. Prostate cancer treatment option is not for curative purposes, but more on preventive measures is underlined. By lowering levels of testosterone, the expected growth and spread of cancer cells to other places can be prevented.

2. Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is an alternative for symptoms of cancer are resistant to hormonal therapy. Usually the doctor will give a single drug or combination of several drugs to destroy the cancer cells.

the following are drugs that can used to treat prostate cancer:

* Mitoxantronx
* Prednisone
* Paclitaxel
* Dosetaxel
* Estramustin
* Adriamycin

The side effects vary and depend on the drugs given. From many options given you should carefully consider the benefits and side effects of treatments to find the best prostate cancer treatment options that suit with you.

If the cancer has spread or metastases to the lymph nodes around, then hormone therapy can be given. Androgen is the hormone in men which related with an acceleration of tumor growth. Therefore, androgen restrictions may inhibit growth hormone tumors. Androgens such as testosterone produced in the testis, so that sometimes in therapy, removal of the testes was conducted as part of hormone treatment.