Prostate cancer: what you should know

2007-03-08 10:33:40

( Pharmeceutical-Medical )



Prostate cancer happens when cells in the prostate grow out of control and invade nearby tissues or spread throughout the body. Most men with this disease are over 50 years old and show no symptoms. Up until now, the exact cause of prostate cancer has not been determined. There are however factors involved, which make it more likely for a man to get prostate cancer. Prostate cancer grows very slowly which makes the risk of prostate cancer increase with age. Other risk factors include race or genetics, diet and the environment.

There are various prostate cancer treatment options available for those suffering from this disease. Most patients consult a multitude of doctors before making a decision on prostate cancer treatment. Based on your health, personal values, wishes and side effects you wish to avoid, your medical specialist will discuss with you the advantages and disadvantages to each prostate cancer treatment.

The most common prostate cancer treatment is surgery, which involves taking out the entire prostate. Surgery is most suitable for early stage prostate cancer and is sometimes done to relieve pain in advance stage prostate cancer.

Chemotherapy treatments for prostate cancer involve the use of anti-cancer drugs in combinations, throughout the body. Chemotherapy is usally reserved for advance stage cancers.

Hormone therapy for prostate cancer is a treatment for prostate cancer which is no longer limited to the prostate gland but has spread to the lymph nodes, bones or other vital organs. It reduces testosterone blood levels and slows the growth of prostate cancer cells by decreasing the production of androgens or male hormones. Hormone therapy for prostate cancer is not a cure but uses surgery and drugs to control the growth of prostate cancer cells.

Radiation treatment for prostate cancer or radiotherapy involves high-energy rays which are used to kill cancer cells. In the early stages of prostate cancer, it is used after surgery to kill remaining cancer cells. In advance stages, it is used to help relieve pain. There are two types of radiation treatment: external and internal. The external radiation is sourced from a machine while internal radiation comes from radioactive material put in seeds, thin plastic tubes or needles placed directly in tissue.

Medical experts agree that increased awareness and early detection are keys to successfully treating prostate cancer. Prostate cancer information resources are now readily available to help patients and their loved ones cope with this disease.


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