Tuesday, March 17, 2009
By Thomas Parker
Prostate cancer is one of the most prevalent cancer amongst men, particularly men who are aged 50 and over. It is not known exactly what causes this type of cancer but it develops when the cell division process in the prostate gland goes wrong and the cells start to multiply in a rapid and out of control way. This ultimately causes a prostate tumour to form which then starts to destroy the surrounding cells and can spread to other areas of the body. Whilst in the worst cases prostate cancer can prove fatal there are a number of treatment options available and in this article I will be discussing four of these.
1) BRACHYTHERAPY:- This treatment involves radioactive seeds being placed inside your prostate gland. Once they have been inserted in to your prostate they stay there for the rest of your life but they become less and less radioactive as time passes by. Brachytherapy is thought to be as effective as surgery for treating prostate cancer but it does come with some unpleasant side effects. First, this type of treatment can cause a temporary burning sensation when urinating. It can also lead to impotence with approximately 30% of men made impotent by brachytherapy.
2) HORMONE THERAPY:- This type of treatment involves using drugs to regulate the production of testosterone in your body. Prostate cancer relies on testosterone for growth so by stopping the body producing this hormone you can slow the cancer's growth. Hormone therapy is not an effective treatment for all prostate cancers but it can help reduce many of the undesirable symptoms associated with this disease.
3) SURGERY:- Surgery is one of the most effective treatments available for this type of cancer. The most common type of surgery used to treat this disease is radical prostatectomy which involves the whole prostate being removed. Although surgery is very effective you are likely to experience side effects following this type of treatment. Approximately 70% of men experience some kind of erectile dysfunction post surgery whilst 40% experience minor incontinence and 2% experience major incontinence.
4) CHEMOTHERAPY:- This type of treatment involves using medications that kill or shrink cancerous cells. Chemotherapy is generally not as effective as the above treatments and is most commonly used before surgery (to shrink any cancer cells and make the surgery easier to perform) or after surgery (to kill of any remaining cancer cells and reduce the risk of the prostate cancer coming back). Many people who participate in chemotherapy experience a number of unpleasant side effects including hair loss and a small appetite. However, these side effects usually disappear when the course of treatment ends.
Prostate cancer is one of the most widespread forms of cancer amongst men. However, it can be treated. I hope this article has given you a good summary of the different treatment types available. If you are considering getting treatment then speak to your doctor first. They will be able to provide you with a qualified, professional opinion and choose the treatment that is right for you.
Whilst every intention has been made to make this article accurate and informative, it is intended for general information only. Prostate cancer is a very serious, life threatening condition and you should discuss any concerns, treatments or lifestyle changes fully with your doctor.
Tom Parker owns and operates a number of useful fitness resources and websites. You can learn more about prostate cancer treatments and how improving your fitness can help you prevent cancer by visiting his Free Fitness Tips Blog
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