Prostate Cancer Treatment
September 29, 2009
Prostate Cancer Treatments
Prostate cancer affects more men in America than any other cancer. It grows so slowly that often it is discovered too late. That is the best reason for all men over the age of 40 to get yearly prostate checks.
The treatments for prostate cancer vary and are determined on an individual basis depending on things like age, the stage of the cancer, and lifestyle factors. Some of the treatment options you and your doctor may choose are discussed here.
Brachytherapy
Brachytherapy is a form of radiation treatment known as interstitial, which means that the radiation is applied from inside the tissue. This type of radiation therapy can carry larger amounts of radiation to a concentrated area within the prostate gland.
Radiation
External radiation treatments have been proven very effective and have been used longer than brachytherapy for the treatment of prostate cancer. The purpose of external radiation therapy (often called EBRT) is to administer a specific area with as much radiation as possible without affecting any nearby organs. The reason radiation is such a common treatment for prostate cancer is that the high-energy waves that are applied cause damage to the DNA of the cancer cells.
Hormone Treatment
Prostate cancer is often treated with hormone therapy. The male hormone testosterone is what causes the growth of the prostate gland and other sex organ. This growth continues even after men have passed the age of puberty. Testosterone does not know the difference between healthy cells and cancerous cells, thus it can contribute to the growth of prostate cancer. In this kind of treatment, the testosterone is removed so that it can no longer help the growth of the cancerous cells.
Prostate Surgery
This is one of the oldest prostate cancer treatments and involves removing the prostate gland. It is used most often when it has been determined that the cancer has not spread beyond the prostate.
Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy is a new prostate cancer treatment in which controlled freezing and then thawing are used to destroy the cancerous area. This process destroys the cancer cells through dehydration. Cryotherapy is used mostly on cancer that has proven to be resistant to radiation.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is usually used for prostate cancer that is well advanced and has metastasized to other areas. Chemotherapy is generally not prescribed unless other treatments like surgery or cryotherapy have been tried and have failed. Chemotherapy is effective because it can damage cells badly enough to make them die, however, the damage that it causes is not limited to the cancerous cells.
A website called the Prostate Cancer Treatment Guide and WebMD are good sources of more detailed information about prostate cancer and its treatments.
Cholesterol Drugs May Protect Prostate, Sex Potency, Study Says – Bloomberg
April 26, 2009
 BBC News |
By Marilyn Chase April 26 (Bloomberg) — Cholesterol drugs taken to prevent heart attacks may also lower the risk of prostate cancer and impotence in aging men, researchers said. Men taking any of several different statin drugs for their cardiovascular … Major Statin Study Reveals Several Important Findings For Reducing … Statins link to healthy prostate Cholesterol Drugs May Help in Fight Against Prostate Cancer |
Figures for the prostate cancer rates – Harrogate Today
April 25, 2009
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Figures for the prostate cancer rates
Harrogate Today, UK By Staff Copy I READ with interest an article in the April 3 issue on the subject of prostate cancer numbers in Harrogate being the highest in the county. But only months previously I recall reading a different story in the Advertiser where a study had … |
PSA tests require judgment calls – NewsOK.com
April 24, 2009
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PSA tests require judgment calls
NewsOK.com, OK The test has become a staple for men, as it assesses the possibility of prostate cancer. Why is such a widely used test now considered by some a useless exercise? Most important, if the test is so poor, why has the rate of US deaths from prostate … Mortality Results From A Randomized Prostate-Cancer Screening Trial Guidelines likely to advise PSA test at age 40 |
Honor Flight Fayette Prepares for 4th Flight to DC – Fayette Front Page
April 24, 2009
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Honor Flight Fayette Prepares for 4th Flight to DC
Fayette Front Page, GA One guardian on this flight is Jack Griffeth, MD, Radiation Oncologist, North Georgia Medical Center,who treats patients with prostate cancer. “I have family members who served in World War II including my Dad who served in the Pacific Theater, … |
Varian Medical Systems to Exhibit Full Spectrum of Prostate Cancer … – PR Newswire (press release)
April 24, 2009
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Varian Medical Systems to Exhibit Full Spectrum of Prostate Cancer …
PR Newswire (press release), NY "Varian offers state-of-the-art technology for all five of the commonly-used radiotherapy approaches to treating prostate cancer," said Calvin Huntzinger , MS, senior director, Varian Surgical Sciences. "At the AUA meeting, we'll be exhibiting our … |
Data on New Immunotherapy for Prostate Cancer to be Presented – Newswise (press release)
April 24, 2009
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Data on New Immunotherapy for Prostate Cancer to be Presented
Newswise (press release) WHAT: New data from the Immunotherapy for Prostate AdenoCarcinoma Treatment (IMPACT) study that evaluated sipuleucel-T (Provenge), an investigational therapeutic vaccine for men with advanced prostate cancer. Data will be presented during the AUA's … |
American Cancer Society awards 143 research grants to … – EurekAlert (press release)
April 24, 2009
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American Cancer Society awards 143 research grants to …
EurekAlert (press release), DC This landmark finding is being translated into important new diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic options to overcome many of the current challenges associated with prostate cancer. Roger A. Greenberg, MD, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania School of … Support groups around the region |
Glaxo's Avodart Trial Results Watched By DiagnoCure Too – Wall Street Journal
April 24, 2009
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Glaxo's Avodart Trial Results Watched By DiagnoCure Too
Wall Street Journal Of particular interest to DiagnoCure is that a up to 6800 patients were treated with the company's PCA3 prostate-cancer test as part of a research pact between GlaxoSmithKline and Gen-Probe Inc. (GPRO), DiagnoCure's development partner. … |
MRI Is An Effective Tool For Determining Pathologic Stage of … – RedOrbit
April 24, 2009
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In patients with prostate cancer undergoing prostatectomy, MR imaging plays an important role in determining if the cancer is restricted to the prostate gland or if it has spread beyond the capsule, according to a study performed at the University of … Stress management to perk up mood, quality of life for prostate cancer Prostate cancer link to alcohol |