Advanced Prostate Cancer - Options for Treatment

Prostate cancer normally develops within the peripheral area of the prostate gland and this initially small area of cancerous tissue cannot be felt on a digital rectal examination (DRE) but is often picked up through a PSA test or an ultrasound examination. At this point prostate cancer is described as being in Stage I or is described as a T1 cancer.

As the cancerous region grows within the prostate it will create abnormalities which can now be felt during a DRE and, at this point, the disease is said to have progressed to Stage II or become a T2 cancer.

In both Stage I and Stage II cancer is confined to the prostate gland and is normally treated surgically, with radiation therapy, with cryosurgery or using ultrasound.

As the cancer continues to grow it will spread into surrounding tissues within the pelvic area and will move into Stage III or be classed as a T3 cancer. Finally, prostate cancer cells will be carried to regions of the body outside of the pelvic area and prostate cancer reaches Stage IV or becomes a T4 cancer. It is these two stages of the disease that are classed as being "advanced prostate cancer".

The treatment of advanced prostate cancer is aimed principally at slowing the spread of the disease, providing the best possible quality of life for the patient and extending the patient's life as far as is possible. Although it is possible to cure prostate cancer, particularly in Stage III, the advanced nature of the disease makes this a difficult task and the reality of the situation is that treatment at this point generally represents management of the disease rather than a cure for it.

As prostate cancer cells require male hormones (such as testosterone) to grow, the main form of treatment for advanced prostate cancer is hormone treatment to reduce the production of testosterone.

Hormone therapy may include the use of drugs to reduce testosterone levels in the body or to block the action of testosterone and other male hormones. Treatment options will also include the removal of the testicles (orchiectomy) which produce 95% of the testosterone found in the body.

In some cases of Stage IV cancer hormone therapy may not be effective, or may have only limited results, and patients may require systematic radiation therapy or chemotherapy.

For further information on advanced prostate cancer please visit ProstateCancerExplained.com today.

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Understanding 5 Popular Prostate Cancer Treatment Options

The best course of action to take with respect to prostate cancer treatment options depends upon your immediate state of health. There are several factors to take into consideration, such as your general state of health, your age, the amount of cancer cells present, the stage of cancer, as well as any preferences you may have.

When detected in its early stages, prostate cancer is treated rather easily and your chances of survival are extremely high. The slow development of the disease allows many patients the time to fully understand the many different kinds of prostate cancer treatment options before making a choice.

There are three main paths to curing prostate cancer. Some simple definitions of these paths are included below.

Observation

Nicknamed "watchful waiting," this approach consists of regular tests and checkups in order to monitor the cancer when detected in the early stages. This treatment is usually chosen by men in their 70s and 80s, since they often prefer avoiding the side effects that accompany surgery and radiation treatments.

Surgery

The surgery that removes the prostate gland and the cancer is called a prostatectomy. Some lymph nodes may be removed during this procedure as well. In order to avoid damaging any nerves that help you achieve an erection, be sure to work with a surgeon who is experienced with this kind of procedure.

Radiation

Radiation treatment uses strong rays of energy to kill any cancerous cells. Although the treatment itself may only last for a minute or two, you will usually need to receive five treatments per week for around four to eight weeks. Radiation is administered both internally and externally. For external radiation therapy, a large radiation machine is used. Internal treatment occurs by injecting radioactive seeds with a needle into the prostate. Be aware that radiation treatment also runs the risk of nerve damage.

Additional Treatment Methods

On some cancer patients in the early stage, the prostate gland is subjected to a freezing process that kills any cancerous cells. This option, called cryosurgery, uses probes that are inserted into the prostate gland. The probes contain a very cold gas that freezes any damaged tissue. Cryosurgery can be rather convenient as it can be administered on an outpatient basis. However, only a very few number of people have undergone this treatment, so it is too early to determine how effective it truly is.

Ongoing Treatment

Even after you finish with a treatment option, you should still continue to observed by your physician. Get checkups regularly, which will include detailed follow ups on the status of your cancer. You should expect PSA tests, biopsies, urinalyses, and physical exams.

To calm any fear or anxiety you may have as a result of prostate cancer diagnosis, be sure to research all the different treatment options available to you, along with any potential side effects. Some people find radiation to be too rough on the body, and others may choose surgery over chemical treatments. In the end, the best treatment option is one that matches your personal preferences and current state of health, and is well planned out.

Are you looking for information about prostate cancer treatment options? For more important information on prostate cancer, the prostate gland, and prostate cancer treatments and prevention, please visit http://www.onlineprostatehealth.com for more information.

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Finding Prostate Cancer Treatment Options

With prostate cancer estimated to affect as many as 1 in 6 men, any new research developments that may affect treatment are extremely noteworthy. Because the risks of having prostate cancer increase dramatically with age, every generation is in a race against the clock to find the most effective treatment methods, or prevention methods, possible.

Recently a medical study on men with prostate cancer introduced very interesting news that contradicted some previously held beliefs in the medical community. Some physicians have withheld potentially curative treatment in older men because of a concern about side effects of radiation or surgery. Other physicians have used hormone therapy as a means of delaying cancer progression instead of offering potentially curative treatment.

This new study by Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, however, suggests that drug treatment alone does not improve survival rates of men taking it, and might actually be hindering their improvement. The study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in July.

The prostate cancer information generated by this article studied about 20,000 men, including Medicare patients, whose prostate cancer had not spread to other areas of the body. The study took 6 years to complete, as information was gathered and the men were studied. All study participants were over the age of 66, which means that the data drawn from the study is particularly relevant to older men, but not necessarily accurate for younger men. Average age of a study participant was 77.

Researchers found that the typical treatment of testosterone-blocking drugs might have more drawbacks than benefits. The testosterone-blockers are meant to keep cancer cells from growing, but also have side effects such as bone loss, impotence, and increased risk for diabetes and heart disease. Ultimately, a treatment plan of the testosterone-blocking drugs alone, in older men, didn't appear to be effective.

For men considering Georgia prostate cancer surgery, this study does not influence the need for curative surgery or radiation. Often the antihormone drugs can be very effective when they are paired with surgery or radiation. To maximize the effectiveness of a cancer treatment plan for Georgia men, prostate cancer might require surgery or radiation, rather than drug treatment alone.

Researchers theorized that many men felt they were improving their health by taking the drugs without surgery or radiation, because it was a better course of action than doing nothing. Now that their research has shown this to be an ineffective method of treatment by itself, the researchers hope that doctors will avoid the drug treatments except in combination with radiation and/or surgery.

For older men looking for information about Georgia prostate cancer treatment, the study offers an important topic to bring up with their doctors. While surgery and radiation can seem scary, the solution to prostate cancer doesn't appear to be as easy as popping a pill or receiving an injection, at least for older men. For Georgia men, prostate cancer treatment might require surgery, rather than the simpler approach of a drug treatment.

With the continued research and studies being done, advances in Georgia prostate cancer treatment are continually being made. At this point in time, however, drug treatment alone doesn't seem to be an effective method in the fight against prostate cancer.

John Critz helps inform men about prostate cancer treatment options. His company, RCOG offers the ProstRcision prostate cancer surgery, a leading prostate seed implant treatment.

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Nonsurgical Options for Prostate Cancer

There are nonsurgical options for prostate cancer.

Hormonal therapy is just as popular as surgery, but maybe dismissed by many urologists as unproven. Many patients whose cancer has spread throughout the body find relief through reducing the amount of male hormone in the bloodstream which is what the cancer "feeds on". Without testosterone, impotency is almost inevitable.

One such drug is the DES (diethistibestrol), a chemical that is similar to estrogen (a female hormone). Although DES brings with it a longer life and lessens the symptoms, it does have side effects. It kills a man's sex drive, and many men report the nearly female effects: breast enlargement, thinning beards and even scrotal shrinkage.

LH-RH Agonists (Leuprolide and Goserelin) can be used in later stages of prostate cancer. This is a synthetic pituitary hormone that regulates the release of testosterone into the bloodstream. After triggering an initial rush of testosterone, it causes a drastic decrease in testosterone which then starves the tumor. The side effects are occasional hot flashes, headaches, or impotence. It is usually administered through injections or implant pellets.

Antiandrogens are hormones that inhibits the action of testosterone on cancer cells. It is also marketed to the brand name Flutamide, and it is frequently used in conjunction with other hormone treatments to lessen the pain of advanced prostate cancer

Immunotherapy is a method used to build up the body's natural defense against diseases, including cancer. Some doctors combine immunotherapy with chemotherapy to help patients through the later stages of prostate cancer. Other sufferers use natural cures and herbs to help their bodies fight the cancer.

Radiation and Hyperthermia

Scientists do know that temperatures of 105°F or higher are deadly to cell division and weak cells. Scientists are attempting to put this information to work on prostate cancer by combining it with radiation to kill cancer cells.

When applying heat to the whole body or to the localized area prior to radiation, it seem s to be more effective than either treatment alone

There are Enzyme-inhibiting drugs such as Proscar by blocking production of an enzyme that triggers production of testosterone.

Chemotherapy is usually considered a last resort for many cancer patients. The chemicals directly attack the cancer cells but usually end up killing many healthy cells as well.

These are only a few of the treatments available for prostate cancer patients. Please discuss with your doctor as to what treatment may be the best option for you.

Copyright Fern Kuhn, RN

http://www.thesecretwisdom.com/blog

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Prostate Cancer Treatment Options: Discussing Your Options With Your Oncologist

Being diagnosed with prostate cancer is by no means a death sentence as compared to previously. There are a number of prostate cancer treatment options available. You need to speak with your oncologist to find out which option works best for you.

Learning about your prostate cancer diagnosis may be difficult to accept initially. So you should get your oncologist to answer any questions you may have. He should be able to give you very helpful advice. You may consider bringing a family member with you for the consultation for extra support.

A good tip is to ask your oncologist if he has any leaflets or any book that you can read about the various prostate cancer treatments. As you consider over your prostate cancer treatment options over later, you may need to refer to the facts or what was discussed over during the conversation.

Also ask your oncologist to explain the different prostate cancer treatment options to you in layman's terms. Medical jargon can be difficult to understand and confusing to a mind that is under stress. So, the simpler the way things are explained to you, the better.

In general, there are about three major forms of prostate cancer treatment; surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Hormone therapy is also often used as a complementary therapy. A combination of the three main treatments can be used together or in conjunction with hormone therapy. The type of prostate cancer treatment that you receive will depend on how extensive and advanced your cancer is.

When the initial cancer spreads to the surrounding tissues and then to other sites in the body, the type of prostate cancer treatment used will become more palliative than curative i.e. the treatment will slow down the growth of the cancer and help control the side effects rather than actually curing the disease.

Factors such as your age, general health and what you want to achieve from the treatment will also be taken into consideration. If you are an elderly person, you may decide not to proceed with surgery due to the side effects. In this case, you may prefer not to take drastic measures except to slow down the growth and spread of the disease. Younger men however may prefer to get rid of the cancer completely and hence would prefer to choose surgery. Surgery may also be followed with radiation therapy to kill any remaining cancerous cells.

There are a lot of things to consider when you choose your form of prostate cancer treatment. As such, you should not rush through your decision. Make sure that you have full information before you make a decision.

Early detection helps in your prostate cancer treatment. For more information and practical tips, please visit the site at http://www.Prostate-Cancer-Treatment-Hub.com

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Prostate Cancer Treatment Options - 4 Options for Cancer Patients

It's difficult to refer to anything cancer-related as a "good thing," but one of the relatively good things about prostate cancer is that there are a number of ways to treat it.

If you have prostate cancer, you should understand the different types of prostate cancer treatment and speak to your physician about each option. As with many other types of cancer, doctors often disagree the best treatment options for patients with prostate cancer. The number of treatment options will also vary depending on how advanced/widespread the cancer is in a particular patient.

So again, the best you can do is educate yourself about the various prostate cancer treatment options and seek opinions from more than one specialist in the field.

With that being said, here are some of the most common treatments for prostate cancer.

Treatment Option #1 - Prostate Surgery

Surgery is possibly the most common form of prostate cancer treatment. The goal of such surgery is to remove the entire prostate from the body, thus removing the cancer along with it. But while the goal of prostate surgery is almost always the same, the method of surgery varies.

Current technology enables doctors to perform robotic surgery for prostate removal, which can minimize hospital time and expedite recovery. Robotic prostate surgery, as it is known, uses minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques.

Treatment Option #2 - Radiation Therapy

Current research shows that surgery and radiation therapy have similar success rates, though the two prostate cancer treatments have different side effects.

With radiation therapy, high-energy rays (similar to x-rays) are used to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors within the prostate. The main types of radiation therapy for prostate cancer are (1) external beam radiation and (2) brachytherapy, or internal radiation. Though both options have decent success rates, there is more data and information about external beam radiation -- at least at the time of this writing (August 2007).

Treatment Option #3 - Hormonal Therapy

Hormone therapy, also known as androgen deprivation therapy, is another prostate cancer treatment options.

With hormone therapy, reduce the level of male hormones (androgens) in the body. Androgens such as testosterone are produced in testicles and have been shown to stimulate the growth of prostate cancer cells. Therefore, by lowering androgen levels within the body, doctors can also slow the growth of cancer shells, or even shrink them.

Side note: In a related article on this website, we discuss the possible causes of prostate cancer, and under the dietary section there is a similar mention this link between testosterone and prostate cancer growth.

Currently, doctors disagree on several aspects of hormone therapy as a prostate cancer treatment. The most common points of dispute are the best time to start such therapy, the best time to stop the therapy, and the method of administering the therapy.

Treatment Option #4 - Chemotherapy

Most people are familiar with chemotherapy as a general treatment for most cancers. Chemotherapy is also another form of prostate cancer treatment as well.

With chemotherapy, anti-cancer drugs are introduced into the body. Because of the many different ways to administer these drugs, there are certain oncologists (cancer doctors) who specialize in the proper administration of chemotherapy.

As a treatment for prostate cancer, chemotherapy is usually reserved for advanced cases wherein the cancer cells are not responding to other forms of cancer treatment. One of the most important things to realize about chemotherapy is that the drugs are very strong. Thus, they can make a patient very sick even while reducing or eliminating cancer. Chemo can attack and kill cancer cells, but it can also damage healthy cells as well.

Side effects of chemotherapy depend on the types of drugs used, the dosage and the length of time they are taken. But in general, side effects of chemotherapy include the following:

* hair loss

* loss of appetite

* mouth sores

* nausea and vomiting

* lower resistance to infection (low white blood cell counts)

* easy bruising or bleeding (low blood platelets)

* general tiredness or fatigue (low red blood cells)

Conclusion

When considering your treatment options for prostate cancer, it's important to get multiple opinions from cancer specialists and to educate yourself as much as possible. This article is just an overview of prostate cancer treatment options, therefore we highly recommend you seek other sources of knowledge before making a decision about treatment.

* You may republish this article online if you keep the author's note with active hyperlinks below. Copyright 2007, Prostate Surgery Center.

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Brandon Cornett is the publisher of Prostate Surgery Center, an unbiased guide to prostate cancer and the surgeries associated with it. Learn more by visiting http://www.prostatesurgerycenter.com

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Prostate Cancer Symptoms – Understand What They Mean

Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in American men. It is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men. Over 30,000 men in the United States will die of prostate cancer this year. Although in the early stages there are no prostate cancer symptoms, most of the prostate cancer deaths can be avoided if men paid heed to the early warning signs.

What It Means
Prostate cancer is an abnormal growth of cells that leads to the formation of a tumor in the prostrate. Prostate cancer might spread to other parts of the body, like lymph nodes, bones, and other organs. Prostate cancer is common amongst older men.

Symptoms of the Disease
Prostate cancer symptoms often appear in the late stages of the disease. But this does not mean that prostate cancer cannot be diagnosed in the early stages. Most middle aged and older men suffer from the most common prostate problem called the enlarged prostate or the benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Men with enlarged prostate will show the following symptoms-

• Difficulty in starting urination
• Weak or slow flow of urination
• Need to urinate frequently

It is advisable to go see a doctor, because the doctor will run a complete check to rule out the possibility of the presence of prostrate cancer. If the problem is diagnosed as a simple enlarged prostate , the doctor will prescribe a medication, which will relieve the symptoms. If prostate cancer is diagnosed, it would probably be in its early stage, when it can be cured.

The problem arises when men ignore these symptoms as being a simple case of enlarged prostrate. Later on when they suffer from additional symptoms like:

• Pain in back, hips, and thighs
• Unexplained weight loss
• Feeling of tiredness

At this point of time when they do go to see a doctor, it might be the case that the prostate cancer is at an advanced stage. The treatment of advanced stages of prostate cancer is very hard. That is why doctors advice that when the first signs of prostate problem arise, seek the help of a health specialist.

Click here to understand prostate cancer treatments. Read useful facts on prostate cancer online here. Also learn how to find a help for prostate cancer from the Internet community.

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Prostate Cancer Information

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men, apart from skin cancer. After lung cancer, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death among men.

In this year, around 234,500 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in the US. In 2006, approximately 27,300 men will die from prostate cancer in the US alone. One in every 8 Canadian men will develop the disease, and one in 3 will die from it.

Every man is at risk for prostate cancer. Black men have about a 60% higher incidence rate of prostate cancer than white men, and almost a two-fold higher mortality rate than white men.

Men most at risk include:

- Men over age 40

- North American and European origin

- Diets with a high fat intake

- History of the disease in the family.

The disease takes a long time to develop, and can be easily treated, if detected in its early stages. Prostate cancer can take up to eight to ten years to spread and become life threatening.

There are no specific prostate cancer symptoms, but some potential signs include:

- Frequent, difficult and painful urination

- Blood or pus in the urine

- Pain the in the lower back, pelvic area, or upper thighs

- Painful ejaculation

When speaking about medical options, doctors typically offer patients two choices: radiation therapy or surgery to remove prostate gland.

Studies show that that adding the following to your diet can help reduce the risk of prostate cancer:

- Vitamin E

- Vitamin C

- Tomato juice

- Selenium

- Garlic

Here are 5 foods that can help prevent prostate cancer:

1. Black, pinto, small red and kidney beans.

2. Tomatoes, watermelon and pink grapefruit.

3. Sweet potatoes, carrots and cantaloupe.

4. Broccoli, kale and cauliflower.

5. Soy milk.

Alex Fir shares a wealth of information on his website Prostate Cancer Information. To read latest prostate cancer news visit his site right now.

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Prostate Cancer Treatment Options

Prostate cancer is perhaps one of the most expensive diseases that affect men all over the world, mainly because the treatment takes long and could entail high financial requirement to finish the treatment regimen. Today, people living with prostate cancer have lots of prostate cancer treatment options to choose from.

Watchful waiting is one of the most common and perhaps the cheapest among the prostate cancer treatment options at present. Patients who have not been suffering so much from the symptoms of the disease will have to set aside any medical prostate cancer treatment options.

In watchful waiting, a patient with the help of his doctor monitors his condition. This procedure is mostly recommended to older patients whose malignant tumor is slow-growing. The patient will have to take advantage of the slow development of the cancer cells and can still enjoy a relatively good quality of life. A medical treatment is not introduced just yet because the treatment’s risks may outweigh the benefits.

Radical prostatectomy is one of the most invasive prostate cancer treatment options. This procedure will remove the prostate and the affected lymph nodes. This is to prevent the spread of cancer cells from reaching other parts of the reproductive system. There are three methods of radical prostatectomy: transurethral, transrectal and transperineal. All the methods require the aid of transrectal ultrasound to guide the needle that will be inserted into the patient.

Radical prostatectomy can expose the patient to infections since a cut will be made into the patient’s skin. Nevertheless, the patients will be instructed to take antibiotic prior to the actual procedure.

Radiotherapy is also another prostate cancer treatment alternative. The newest technology uses radioactive implants that will be placed on the prostate and the nearby tissues. The implants will illuminate radioactive light that will kill the cancer cells. The seed implants will be placed via the needle that is inserted through perineum (the area between the anus and the scrotum) with aid of transrectal ultrasound.

The old-fashioned type of radiotherapy is the one which uses a machine that emits radioactive rays like x-rays. The light is directed to the prostate area in killing the cancers cells.

Hormone therapy is employed to inhibit the production of testosterone, which is responsible for the growth of cells including the cancerous ones. Estrogen is injected to decrease the level of testosterone thus cancer cells are prevented from spreading to other parts of the prostate and the nearby tissues and organs.

There are other prostate cancer treatment options but are still in the clinical trial stages. Nonetheless these treatments may soon become the answer to patients' quest for other alternative and safe treatments.

Milos Pesic is an expert in the field of Prostate Cancer and runs a highly popular and comprehensive Prostate Cancer web site. For more articles and resources on Prostate Cancer related topics, treatment options and much more visit his site at:

=>http://prostate.need-to-know.net/

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