Added: 02/25/2006 |
The Most Common Prostate Cancer TreatmentsProstate cancer is a common cancer detected in men. Not unlike breast cancer in women, prostate cancer risk factors in men may be determined by a family history of this illness in immediate relatives. Many men have reported symptoms such as an inability to urinate, an increased need to urinate, pain during urination, and other urinary tract problems. Prostate cancer treatments are varied, depending on the stage the illness has taken or is believed to take. Additionally, depending on the size of the cancerous growth as well as its location, there are times when a radiation treatment for prostate cancer is the most obvious choice.
For those patients who are contemplating whether or not to undergo radiation treatment for prostate cancer need to know that not all radiation therapy is created equal. For example, one method involves the injection of radioactive pellets into the prostate itself, while another method is the conventional radiation that is received from an external source. The injection is a one-time visit that is aimed directly into the middle of the cancerous growth. External radiation is a process that may take seven to ten weeks to complete, usually five days a week. As you can see, this treatment option is very time consuming.
Other prostate cancer treatments include a radical prostatectomy, which is a medical term for the actual removal of the prostate itself. This may quite possibly be the most certain method to assure that the actual cancer is gone in its entirety on a permanent basis. Unfortunately, this treatment is also fraught with risks and side effects, and the healing process is slow. For some, prostate cancer treatments seem to be too uncomfortable and too risky to pursue. At times, with their doctors' consent, these patients may decide to forego treatment if the cancerous growth is found to be small and slow growing. While in theory this is an acceptable approach for a cancer that is indeed not increasing in size, it is not one of the safe prostate cancer treatments, since it does not actually do away with the tumor or prevent it from spreading. Keep in mind that something that is dormant today may awaken tomorrow and grow with unprecedented speed!
Another one of the prostate cancer treatments that is indicated for patients with advanced cancer is hormone therapy. In the course of this treatment, the male hormone testosterone is evacuated from the body via hormone therapy. It has been proven that testosterone actually allows the tumors to grow and thus by removing the growth agent it is though that the spread of the cancer can be halted. Unfortunately, this is only a short term solution since the cancer will begin enter growth phase again after a couple of years. Once the tumor has again shown growth, treatment options are pretty much eliminated. Therefore, early detection is vital and increases the treatment options that are available to you! So go ahead and schedule your appointment today; don't put it off, you might safe your life!
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