Prostate Cancer Treatment

There are several prostate cancer treatment methods available for treating prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the abnormal growth of cells in a man’s prostate gland. Prostate gland is the part of male reproductive system which produces seminal fluid required to nourish and transport the sperm.

The abnormal cancerous growth in the prostate cells is the result of mutations. This cancer progresses and spreads to the nearby areas or other parts especially the bones and lymph nodes. This cancer is categorized into three types mainly like the locally advanced prostate cancer, the metastatic and the recurrent type.

Various Prostate Cancer Treatment Methods

Prostate cancer treatment may involve various methods like the surgery, radiation therapy, High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU), chemotherapy, cryosurgery, hormonal therapy, or some combination.

The method of prostate cancer treatment opted depends totally on the stage of the cancer, the PSA level and the Gleason score. Other important factors which need to be considered before proceeding with any prostate cancer treatment method are the age of the man, the overall health condition. A prior discussion of the probable consequences of the treatment is also done.

Generally in case of this cancer several nomograms are performed by the doctors to predict the spread of the disease so that the most suitable method is opted for treating the advanced stage cancer.

If the prostate cancer is found to be localized meaning if it is restricted to the prostate than the treatment will be watchful waiting, HIFU, radiation therapy, cryosurgery, and surgery.

For advanced stage prostate cancer or for the metastatic stage the prostate cancer treatment mostly opted is the hormonal therapy and chemotherapy.

However, in some cases the radiation therapy may also be used if there are advanced tumors. If the cancer spreads due to failure of the initial treatment then the combination of cryotherapy, hormonal therapy, and chemotherapy is offered.

The cryotherapy is a surgical procedure which freezes the prostate with liquid gas and kills the cancer cells.

Treatment for locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer may include hormone therapy, surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and pain medicine. The patients may want to talk with their doctor about entering a clinical trial of new cancer treatment options.

The surgical methods of treating the prostate cancer include laparoscopic prostatectomy where the prostate is removed through smaller incisions. This surgery is restricted to the locally advanced prostate cancer. For metastatic stage cancer the surgery is of two types:

  • To remove blockages that is causing problems (TURP)
  • To remove the testicles and to reduce the supply of testosterone to the cancer (orchiectomy)

The hormone therapy, radiation therapy and the chemotherapy are the other methods of prostate cancer treatments which may be used in combination with the surgery or single. Hormone therapy decreases the amount of testosterone and other male hormones in the body. This helps in away to control the bone pain which is caused by the spread of the cancer.

The radiation therapy is a kind of prostate cancer treatment which uses the high energy rays to destroy the cancer cells. These radiations are restricted to a specific area trying maximum to lessen the affect of radiation on the normal cells.

The chemotherapy uses drugs or medications administered either orally or through the veins. This method of prostate cancer treatment is given in regular doses. The patient will have side effects as a result of these prostate cancer treatments but majority of them are temporary and fade off as time passes by.

But the consequences after treatment faced by patients should be discussed very clearly prior to the treatment as they affect a person both physically and mentally.