subject: Which Prostate Cancer Treatment Is Right For You? [print this page] A patient diagnosed with prostate cancer has a variety of options to choose from when considering treatment. Its important to first decide whether treatment is necessary, and then to decide between choices such as active surveillance, surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, and biologic therapy. In this article, well discuss active surveillance and surgery.
The correct treatment for prostate cancer depends on what stage the cancer is in. If the cancer has spread beyond the prostate to other types of the body, a different approach would be taken than if it were isolated in the prostate alone. Another important question is whether treatment is necessary or prudent in the first place. Prostate cancer is fairly common. About 80% of men over the age of 70 have prostate cancer, whether they know it or not. The majority of those with prostate cancer die from unrelated causes. Its definitely important to consult a doctor when making a choice about how to treat prostate cancer. But its also important to be aware of the serious side effects that accompany every type of prostate cancer treatment and to make a judgment call: opt for treatment and a guaranteed lower quality of life or take the risk of not treating the cancer at all.
Active surveillance: This might be the best form of treatment for prostate cancer in its early stages. Active surveillance involves regular monitoring of the cancer to see how it progresses. This treatment is usually prescribed before surgery to determine if surgery or another form of treatment is necessary. Patients are given biopsies on a regular schedule and no further treatment is given unless symptoms worsen.
Surgery: This is a popular prostate cancer treatment for patients in good health. Common forms of surgery include pelvic lymphadenectomy, radical prostatectomy, and transurethral resection of the prostate. A pelvic lymphadenectomy involves removal of the lymph nodes in the pelvis so that they can be examined for cancer. If cancer is found in the lymph nodes and has already spread, a doctor will not likely remove the prostate. Radical prostatectomy involves removal of the prostate and seminal vesicles in an attempt to prevent the cancer from spreading. A transurethral resection of the prostate is an operation that removes cancerous cells from the prostate through the urethra. Common side effects of surgeries that remove the prostate fully or partially include impotence, decreased sex drive, and urinary problems.
by: prostate cancer
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