For many, the diagnosis of prostate cancer is devastating news. Most often diagnosed in men over the age of seventy, this type of cancer is only found in men, and affects the prostate gland. Located between the bladder and rectum, the prostate is responsible for the production of seminal fluid. Prostate cancer often goes undetected for years at a time due to a lack of symptoms, although when symptoms are present they include:
- difficulty urinating,
- pain, and
- erectile dysfunction
While prostate cancer is something to be taken very seriously, there are prostate cancer treatment options for every stage.
If the cancer has been caught early enough and is still in the prostate gland, then there are two treatment options – radiation therapy and surgery. With radiation therapy, x-rays are used to kill the cancerous cells. The surgical treatment, known as radical prostatectomy, involves removal of the entire prostate, as well as nearby lymph nodes. The lymph nodes are removed in order to be tested for cancer, as lymph nodes are one of the first places metastasized cancer can be found. If the cancer has metastasized, there are different prostate cancer treatment options.
Once prostate cancer has spread, your doctor will likely recommend hormone treatment. In this treatment, androgens are restricted in order to slow the growth of the metastasized tumor. Because androgens such as testosterone are produced in the testes, these are sometimes removed as part of the hormone treatment, in order to further control the effect of androgens on the the tumor. A prostatectomy might be performed as well, but that will depend on both the stage of your cancer, and on the recommendations of your doctor.
In order to choose the best treatment options, it’s important to fully discuss the pros and cons of each with your doctor. You’ll also want to discuss any negative side effects that come with each of the prostate cancer treatment options. If you feel like you doctor is pushing you toward a treatment you are uncomfortable with, don’t hesitate to seek a second opinion. Prostate cancer is a serious condition, and should be treated seriously in a way that makes you, the patient, most comfortable.
The men’s killer ailment is the prostate cancer, counter part of women’s breast cancer. The problem in here is no matter how physically fit a man is, he can’t escape this sickness that easily.
Posted by Cheska from Franchise opportunities on February 19th, 2011.
It is good to know that science has never failed in giving solutions to problems. But we must never forget to consult our family doctor before getting to any of it.
Posted by Sheek from Small business accounting software on March 23rd, 2011.