Prostate Cancer Treatment

Prostate cancer affects and develops in the prostate gland of the male reproductive system. Malignancy of the Prostate Gland is the most common type of cancer in American Men other than skin cancer. It is also a global problem amongst men ages 40 and above. According to American Cancer Society 33,720 men will die of prostate cancer and 240,890 will be diagnosed as a new case in 2011.

Many experts in this field believe that prostate cancer can be prevented with regular screening especially if man has higher risk factors in developing the disease. Studies show that lifetime risk for White Americans is about 17.6% and 20.6% for African Americans.

It is a known fact that abnormal changes in the prostate cell can lead to prostate carcinoma but the real cause of prostate cancer is yet to be known. Research shows that there are numerous risk factors that can be a contributing factor in developing the disease.

The chance of a person developing the risk increases as he age, specifically 40 years and older. It is rare for a younger man to acquire the disease however if the body is brutally abuse then risk increased four to five times fold.

The mortality rate of prostate cancer has noticeably decline compared 10 years ago. Through extensive research, treatment for prostate carcinoma has greatly improved as a result the survival rate of patients suffering from it increase over time.

Treatment

Powerful combinations of traditional and innovative therapies are available to treat the disease. There are several types of treatment that can be used in conjunction with each other to obtain maximum benefit. The goal of treatment is to eradicate any tumor forming cells and to prevent metastases of cancer cells throughout the entire body.

Radical Prostatectomy is the treatment of choice for prostate cancer. It involves the removal of whole prostate gland plus the surrounding tissues and lymph nodes to avoid malignant cells in spreading on adjacent organs.

There are different methods and techniques involved in Radical Prostatectomy.

Radical retropubic prostatectomy – this is the most common type of surgery use by urologist for patients with early stage of prostate cancer. The surgeon will make an incision in the lower part of the abdomen, exposing the pelvic area. The surgeon then removed the affected prostate carefully avoiding the nerves to prevent further complications. Radical retropubic prostatectomy uses general anesthesia, spinal or epidural anesthesia.

In Radical perineal prostatectomy an incision is made in the peritoneal area (perineum) between the anus and scrotum however due to the site of excision regional lymph nodes cannot be removed. The operation usually takes one to four hours and it uses general or epidural anesthesia depending on surgeon’s assessment.

Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) uses several small incisions using a special device with long slender tube like instrument. The apparatus is inserted into the abdominal cavity to remove the affected prostate gland. One of the instrument contain a small video scope that is use to view the abdominal cavity and to guide the surgeon to accurately locate the organ. The main advantages of this treatment are minimal blood loss, less hospital stay and less pain and infection.

For Robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, this method uses the help of state of the art machine called robotic interface (da Vinci system). The surgeon is the one controlling the robotic arms to perform the surgery by making small incisions in the patient's abdomen. This method is best practice by surgeon who’s committed and well trained to do the operation.

Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) this treatment is usually indicated for patients whose suffering from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). For patient who has extensive prostate cancer with metastases on adjacent organs, TURP is used as a palliative care to relieve the symptoms not as a cure.

Cryosurgery can also be used in treating localized prostate cancer. It freezes and kills the cancer cells using liquid nitrogen, having a temperature of 196 degrees below zero centigrade. This procedure instantly kills the tumor as extreme cold cannot be tolerated by our body. The tumor/Infected skin will fall off like a scab after the area liquefies. Cryosurgery itself is a painless and uncomplicated procedure however the treated area may become distended and painful after it thaws.

To make the treatment more powerful additional procedure is required in conjunction with surgery.

Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing, proliferating on other areas of the body. Two types of radiation therapy can be done to a cancer patient, one is External radiation. It involves the use of a machine outside the body to send radiation toward the cancer site. Before undergoing external radiation simulation using CT scan and precise measurement should be performed for accurate mapping of the tumors.

Second, Internal radiation also known as brachytherapy uses a radioactive implants sealed in needles, seeds, wires, pellets, balloons and tubes that are placed directly into or near the cancer lesion. Radiation therapy is given depending on the type, stage, and severity of the cancer being treated. If a person refuses surgery, radiation Therapy can be given.

Three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) use special device to find the exact location of the affected prostate, the radiation beam targets the prostate in different postion and direction for maximum penetration and has less damage to nearby tissue.

Intensity modulated radiation therapy uses a special computer that moves and circles around the patient’s body to deliver steady radiation on the affected part that’s needed treating.

Conformal proton beam radiation therapy uses proton beams instead of x-ray. It works by delivering more radiation to prostate but with less damage to the surrounding tissues.

Chemotherapy on the other hand consists of introducing drugs into the patient's bloodstream to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing or stopping them from dividing. Chemotherapy can be best taken by mouth, injected into a vein or muscle. These drugs enter the bloodstream targeting the cancer cells throughout the body (systemic chemotherapy). When chemotherapy is placed directly into the cerebrospinal fluid, an organ, or a body cavity, the drugs mainly affect cancer cells in specific areas and are called regional chemotherapy.

Hormone Therapy also known as androgen deprivation therapy or androgen suppression therapy can be achieved by limiting or completely removing the testosterone in the body. We all know that testosterone is the hormone responsible for stimulating the growth of cancerous cells so completely eliminating it might help in the process of removing the cancer. There are two methods that can be use such as castration of the testes called orchiectomy and the other treatment involves taking in medications that negates the function of Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone.

Hormonal therapy is prescribed for patients who’s suffering from late stage prostate cancer with the involvement of regional metastases and also for people who refuse surgery.

There’s also a vaccine available for the treatment of Prostate cancer which is sipuleucel-T marketed as Provenge and has been approved by Food and Drug Administration.

What to Know Before the Procedure

Cancer is an incredibly diverse and resilient disease and each case poses unique challenges to the patient and the oncologist. Each method of surgery and treatment has pros and cons and there is no one “right” combination of treatments. All forms of cancer treatment come with attached risks and side-effects, some of which can have long term implications on quality of life. In order to treat it effectively, it is vital to have candid conversations with your doctor about your medical history, other pre-existing conditions, your lifestyle, and your personal preferences to determine the best course of action.

What to Know After the Procedure

The suggested recovery practices and possible side-effects of cancer treatment vary wildly upon the type of treatment chosen. Your doctor will give you detailed instructions about how to follow through with recovery and ongoing treatment based upon your particular case. Follow these directions and contact your doctor if any questions or complications arise.

If you Need to Travel Outside of your Local Hospital

Cancer treatment is a prolonged, multiple session affair that requires constant communication between the patient and the doctor. This must be considered when determining where to have treatment performed. Ideally, you will want to work with the same doctor and the same team throughout the process to ensure complete understanding and consistency from beginning to end. At the same time, you also want to work with the most highly qualified team available to you. These factors should be the most heavily weighted when deciding whether/where you should travel to have your cancer treated.