Effective Treatment Options for Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is cancer of the prostate gland,
which is situated located below the bladder, directly in front of the
rectum. Considered the most prevalent form of cancer in American men
with roughly 162,000 new cases diagnosed each year, However, prostate
cancer is quite treatable, particularly if caught early. Of course, as
with any cancer, treatment course for prostate cancer will depend on the
tumor size, cancer stage, as well as the overall health of the patient.
Here are the most common treatment options for prostate cancer:
1. Watch and wait
low-risk prostate cancers that are diagnosed early may not require treatment at all. In fact, many doctors opt to “watch and wait”, which refers to surveilling the cancer progression regularly with regular rectal exams, blood tests, and biopsies before more invasive steps (i.e., surgery) are taken. This is common in cases where cancer is located in a small area and patients of older age aren’t experiencing any symptoms.
2. Surgery
Surgery for prostate cancer is known as a radical prostatectomy, which consists of removing the prostate gland. Radical prostatectomy is rather “radical” indeed, as doctors perform the surgery using a hand controlled console that guides a mechanical robot to make a precise incision in the patient’s abdomen to remove the prostate gland. Radical prostatectomy does carry a risk of erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction following surgery.
3. Hormone therapy
Hormone therapy can be used as as effective way to prevent the body from producing testosterone, which can kill or slow the further growth of prostate cancer cells. Hormone therapy is commonly used in early stage prostate cancer cases to shrink tumors prior to other treatments, or to shrink later stage cancers. This therapy calls on luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (or LH-RH) agonists to stop the testicles from producing testosterone, or anti-androgens to block testosterone from reaching
cancerous cells.
4. Biological therapy
Biological therapy is a form of immunotherapy that genetically engineers the patient’s own immune cells to kill their prostate cancer. The cells are lab engineered then injected back into the body to improve and decrease the cancer.
5. Radiation and chemo
Radiation therapy aims high-powered radiation rays directly at cancer cells in order to destroy them. Chemotherapy, is often used via an injection to stop the spread of rapidly growing cancer cells that have metastasized to other areas of the body.
6. Cryosurgery
Also known as cryoablation, this prostate cancer treatment involves freezing prostate tissue in order to kill cancer cells. Cryosurgery inserts a series of tiny needles are inserted into the prostate and emits a cold gas to freeze cancer cells and surrounding tissues. Next, a heated gas is emitted to reheat the same tissues.
Here are the most common treatment options for prostate cancer:
1. Watch and wait
low-risk prostate cancers that are diagnosed early may not require treatment at all. In fact, many doctors opt to “watch and wait”, which refers to surveilling the cancer progression regularly with regular rectal exams, blood tests, and biopsies before more invasive steps (i.e., surgery) are taken. This is common in cases where cancer is located in a small area and patients of older age aren’t experiencing any symptoms.
2. Surgery
Surgery for prostate cancer is known as a radical prostatectomy, which consists of removing the prostate gland. Radical prostatectomy is rather “radical” indeed, as doctors perform the surgery using a hand controlled console that guides a mechanical robot to make a precise incision in the patient’s abdomen to remove the prostate gland. Radical prostatectomy does carry a risk of erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction following surgery.
3. Hormone therapy
Hormone therapy can be used as as effective way to prevent the body from producing testosterone, which can kill or slow the further growth of prostate cancer cells. Hormone therapy is commonly used in early stage prostate cancer cases to shrink tumors prior to other treatments, or to shrink later stage cancers. This therapy calls on luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (or LH-RH) agonists to stop the testicles from producing testosterone, or anti-androgens to block testosterone from reaching
cancerous cells.
4. Biological therapy
Biological therapy is a form of immunotherapy that genetically engineers the patient’s own immune cells to kill their prostate cancer. The cells are lab engineered then injected back into the body to improve and decrease the cancer.
5. Radiation and chemo
Radiation therapy aims high-powered radiation rays directly at cancer cells in order to destroy them. Chemotherapy, is often used via an injection to stop the spread of rapidly growing cancer cells that have metastasized to other areas of the body.
6. Cryosurgery
Also known as cryoablation, this prostate cancer treatment involves freezing prostate tissue in order to kill cancer cells. Cryosurgery inserts a series of tiny needles are inserted into the prostate and emits a cold gas to freeze cancer cells and surrounding tissues. Next, a heated gas is emitted to reheat the same tissues.
7. Proton Beam Radiation
This special kind of radiation therapy uses very small particles to attack and kill cancer cells that haven't spread.8.Immunotherapy
This treatment works with your immune system to fight the disease. It’s used to treat advanced prostate cancer.9. Bisphosphonate Therapy
If the disease reaches your bones, these drugs can ease pain and prevent fractures.10. High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound
This device produces sound waves that deliver heat energy to kill cancer cells. It’s unclear how well it works, as it hasn’t yet been compared with other standard prostate cancer treatments.11. Prostate Cancer Vaccine
Most work by boosting your body's defenses so it can fight an infection. The prostate cancer vaccine gets your immune system to attack cancer cells. This treatment works best if you’ve tried hormone therapy and it isn't working anymore. The vaccine is custom-made for you. Scientists don’t know if it stops or slows down the cancer’s growth, but it does seem to help men live longer with prostate cancer.Are There Side Effects?
The treatments for prostate cancer also can affect your body in other ways. Side effects can include:- Bowel problems
- Lower sex drive
-
Erectile dysfunction
- Loss of your ability to get a woman pregnant
- Leaky bladder or loss of bladder control. You might also need to pee a lot more often.
What Else Should You Consider?
Remember, you have options, and it’s important to choose the one that works best for you. When choosing a treatment, think about:- The risks. Talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of each type of therapy.
- The side effects. Consider whether or not you’re willing to deal with how the treatment might make you feel.
- Whether or not you need it. Not all men with prostate cancer need to be treated right away.
- Your age and overall health. For older men or those with other serious health conditions, treatment may be less appealing than watchful waiting.