Cancer of Prostate

What are the Treatments for Prostate Cancer once it has been diagnosed? The cancer is said to be present once the diagnosis shows malignant cells in the prostate gland. The gland is situated  in the male reproductive organ just below the bladder and in front of the rectum

Watchful Waiting:
Diagnosis may take a long while as many tests are taken using the waiting method of treatment. Growth of the tumor is normally very slow and indeed the disease may be present without showing any symptoms. Careful monitoring is key with this method and in many cases with this treatment patients can have the cancer and live fairly comfortably with it and not necessarily die from it.

Surgery or Prostatectomy
This is the surgical removal of the prostate either in part or completely (radical prostatectomy ). This is the most effective of the Treatments for Prostate Cancer as all the malignant cells are removed. It is a delicate procedure and if properly done the disease will not recur.

Radiation Therapy
This is often applied for initial treatment, and it is the best method for treatment of advanced ( where the tumor has spread to tissue outside of the gland), or recurrent forms of this cancer.

• External beam therapy : a radiation beam is directed from the outside to the affected area and the course runs 5 days a week over a 7 week period.

• Seed therapy : small radioactive pellets are inserted into the gland and over the course of several months these give off radiation to the area, killing the offending cells.

Hormone Therapy:
This is also one of the treatments of prostate cancer advanced especially for older men. The cells thrive on the male hormone testosterone and therapy involves its removal. Most cells respond to this and die off this way so causing the tumor to shrink. But some cells remain unaffected as they are independent of testosterone and continue to thrive, making this method less and less effective over time.

Cryotherapy:
This involves a process of freezing the prostate, a method needing more research whose short-term results are encouraging but success rates are much lower than surgery or radiation. The rate of impotence is 90%, higher than any other method.

Treatments for Prostate Cancer basically fall under these mentioned above. Remember that their success and the successful cure of this disease depends on early diagnosis. About 40% of cases are alredy advanced at the time of diagnosis.