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Prostate Cancer Treatments Options

When you have consulted with a doctor and have received diagnosis, grade and stage of your prostate cancer, you have to consider several factors before choosing the prostate cancer treatments and doctor to supervise this plan.

Before choosing the prostate cancer treatments, you need to consider your age, expected life span, personal feelings about potential risks and side effects of each treatment option, health history, grade and stage of your prostate cancer as well as the possibility of being cured with each kind of treatment.

Since each prostate cancer treatments will work differently with patients because of these factors, it is best to look for a reliable second opinion about the most appropriate treatment for your condition. This is important because there are several prostate treatments available and weighing the pros and cons of each option can give you an idea of possible risks, side effects and outcomes.

Five Treatment Options for Prostate Cancer

Deciding on the type of prostate cancer treatments depends on the tumor’s level of spreading. For tumors that are inside the prostate, prostatectomy and radiation therapy are used. The “watchful waiting” method is also used, however, they are more commonly used by older men who have larger risks of dying from other health problems other than their cancer of the prostate. On the other hand, tumors that have affected the edges of your prostate cannot be cured by surgery or radiation. Instead, the tumors are treated using hormone therapy.

Radical prostatectomy is a surgical treatments of prostate cancer that removes the entire gland and the lymph nodes nearby. This method offers the most guaranteed treatment of prostate cancer, as long as the entire gland with tumors is taken out. Potential risks of this surgical procedure are impotence and lack of bladder control (or incontinence).

Radiation therapy is another kind of prostate cancer treatments that 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 impotent within two years after the therapy.

Watchful waiting is a kind of treatment wherein doctors supervise the development of slow-growing tumors. With regular medical supervision but without drugs or treatment, the patient and doctor wait for the tumor to grow by constantly checking the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. If it doesn’t, then the patient will have no need for further treatment. On the other hand, once the tumor grows, hormone therapy is usually performed.

The androgen male hormone helps in the growth of prostate tumor. A hormone therapy reduces the level of androgens, causing the tumor to shrink over time. Be aware that each of these prostate cancer treatments has corresponding risks and benefits. Understanding their pros and cons can ensure a longer lasting and healthier life.