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[P785]Prostate Cancer Alternative Treatment

by Cindy Heller, Cin

For tumors that are still contained within the prostate itself, radiation therapy and radical prostatectomy are common treatment options. Sometimes, no treatment is given until the tumor gets bigger. For the older men who have larger risks of dying from other health problems rather than the prostate cancer, a 'watchful wait' approach is often adopted. The doctor will monitor the tumor's growth by constantly checking the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. If the cancer is not too serious, there will be no further treatment. Once the tumor grows, hormone therapy is usually given. Hormone therapy basically reduces the level of androgens. The androgen male hormone helps in the growth of prostate tumor, hence reducing the level will cause the tumor to shrink over a period of time.

Radiation therapy is another form of prostate cancer treatments. It is divided into two types - external beam and radioactive pellets. External beam is performed using an x-ray type machine, while a radioactive pellet is done by placing high doses of radiation right on the prostate's tumor. Unfortunately, most patients that undergo radiation therapy end up with impotence within two years.

Radical prostatectomy is a surgery to remove the entire prostate gland as well as the nearby lymph nodes. A catheter is put in through the penis into the bladder to remove the urine from the body until the area is properly healed. This method offers the best treatment for prostate cancer, as long as the tumor is totally removed. The potential risks of this surgical procedure are impotence and incontinence.

The latest technique using robotic arms to alleviate the risk associated with surgery. During the surgery, the surgeon's hands are connected to a glove-like device with sensors that allow him to use his hands naturally to operate robotic arms that perform the actual surgery. Tiny camera with magnification gives the surgeon a close-up view from the inside. The instruments used are more slender, which results in smaller holes in the body. The scene magnification and the design of the robot arms allow for more subtle movements than a surgeon could perform on his own. The result is that there is less scarring and faster healing.

Each of these prostate cancer treatments has cons and pros. All are most effective when the cancer is detected early. So it is important to go for regular health screening and to consult a doctor if you have any warning sign of prostate cancer.

At an advanced age, the risks of surgery for prostate cancer or other more radical treatments may actually be worse than the disease. It's estimated that approximately 234,460 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with it this year, and approximately 27,350 will die of the disease. The prostate gland is located directly beneath the bladder and in front of the rectum.

One of the most common symptoms is the inability to urinate at all. Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease are bone pain or tenderness, and abdominal pain. Because symptoms can mimic other diseases or disorders, men who experience any of these symptoms should undergo a thorough work-up to determine the underlying cause of the symptoms.

Some men will experience symptoms that might indicate the presence of prostate cancer. Having one or more cancer symptoms does not necessarily mean that you have prostate cancer. If cancer is caught at its earliest stages, most men will not experience any symptoms.

The decision about whether to pursue a PSA test should be based on a discussion between you and your doctor. A PSA test with a high level can also be from a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. A number of tests may be done to confirm a diagnosis.

There are several potential downsides to PSA testing; for example a high PSA does not always mean a patient has prostate cancer. What is called a free PSA may help tell the difference between BPH (benign prostatic hypertrophy), an enlargement of the prostate gland, and prostate cancer. A prostate biopsy usually confirms the diagnosis.

Be aware that some men chose natural treatment options and forgo any surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. Prostate cancer that has spread (metastasized) may be treated conventionally with drugs to reduce testosterone levels, surgery to remove the testes, chemotherapy or nothing at all. Recent improvements in surgical procedures have made complications occur less often.

Anyone considering surgery should be aware of the benefits, risks and the extent of the procedure. Medicines can be used to adjust the levels of testosterone; called hormonal manipulation. In the early stages, surgery and radiation may be used to remove or attempt to kill the cancer cells or shrink the tumor.

In patients whose health makes the risk of surgery unacceptably high, radiation therapy is often the chosen conventional alternative. Besides hormonal drugs, hormone manipulation may also be done by surgically removing the testes. If chemotherapy is decided upon after the first round of chemotherapy, most men receive further doses on an outpatient basis at a clinic or physician's office.

Other medications used for hormonal therapy, with side effects, include androgen-blocking agents, which prevent testosterone from attaching to prostate cells. Hormone manipulation is mainly used as a treatment to relieve symptoms in men whose cancer has spread. Surgery, called a radical prostatectomy, removes the entire prostate gland and some of the surrounding tissues.

What you can do now is begin to understand what exactly your treatment options are and where you're going to begin. Medications can have many side effects, including hot flashes and loss of sexual desire.

Just about all men with prostate cancer survive at least five years after their diagnosis, 93% survive at least 10 years, and 67% survive more than 15 years.

As new research comes out adjust your treatment options accordingly. Because it's a slow-growing disease, many men with this disease will die from other causes before they die from prostate cancer.

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Both Cindy Heller & Helen Hecker are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Cindy Heller has sinced written about articles on various topics from Network Marketing, Finances and Jewelry. Cindy Heller is a professional writer. To learn more about , please visit. Cindy Heller's top article generates over 368000 views. to your Favourites.

Helen Hecker has sinced written about articles on various topics from Mortgage, Free Credit Report Score and Pimple. For more information on and prostate cancer symptoms go to http://www.BestProstateHealthTips.com Helen Hecker R.N.?s website specia. Helen Hecker's top article generates over 110000 views. to your Favourites.