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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