How Is Prostate Cancer Treated?
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Watchful Waiting
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Prostate cancer is a male reproductive cancer that affects the gland that produces semen, the fluid that carries sperm cells. According to the National Cancer Institute, 192,280 men in the United States will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2009. Although there are several treatment options available to treat prostate cancer, in some cases, treatment is postponed in favor of careful monitoring. Called "watchful waiting," monitoring is used in the early stages of the disease if your cancer is not particularly large or aggressive.
During watchful waiting, you will have regular blood tests, examinations and biopsies to monitor your condition. If your cancer worsens, treatment begins. Watchful waiting can help men with early stage prostate cancer avoid some of the serious side effects of prostate treatment, such as urinary problems or erectile dysfunction, the inability to achieve or maintain an erection.
Brachytherapy
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During Brachytherapy, tiny radioactive seeds are implanted in the prostate gland. The seeds work by delivering a constant does of radiation to the prostate, killing cancer cells. After the seeds no longer produce radiation, they usually remain in your body without causing any problems. Radiation therapy may be used in combination with hormone therapy. Side effects of brachytherapy may include erectile dysfunction, problems urinating or rectal problems.
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Hormone Therapy
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Hormone therapy uses drugs that work to prevent your body from producing testosterone, the male sex hormone. Stopping testosterone production causes cancer to shrink or grow more slowly. Hormone therapy drugs are taken orally or are injected under your skin or into a muscle. In addition to being used in conjunction with brachytherapy, hormone therapy may also used in combination with surgery. Side effects of hormone therapy may include diarrhea, nausea, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, loss of bone mass and muscle, breast enlargement, weight gain, reduction in sex drive or liver damage.
External Beam Radiation Therapy
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During external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), high doses of targeted X-rays are applied to the prostate gland, killing cancer cells. Treatment may be given 5 days per week for up to 2 months. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, men who receive higher doses of radiation are less likely to experience a recurrence of prostate cancer than men who receive lower doses of radiation. Side effects of EBRT may include scarring of healthy tissue near the treatment site, urinary and rectal problems and sexual problems in the future.
Surgery
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If you and your doctor decide that removal of the prostate gland is the best option, you will have a radical prostatectomy. During the procedure, the gland is removed by making an incision between your scrotum or anus or by making an incision in your abdomen. Using an abdominal incision makes it easier to remove the prostate without damaging the nerves that control sexual function and also makes it possible to remove adjacent lymph nodes for biopsy. After surgery, you may experience problems with bladder control that may last for weeks or months. Erectile dysfunction can occur if nerves are damaged or removed.
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