What You Need To Know About Prostate Cancer Treatment Options

By Nancy Gardner


Cancer is one of the most feared diseases today as it has no cure and slowly destroys the body in a painful manner. Despite the fact that it has no direct cure, many methods of treatment have been developed to kill the cells and prevent them from spreading to other body parts. Early diagnosis is crucial if one is to survive this deadly disease. Prostate cancer is becoming more common by the day. Although it is mostly common amongst old people, many people today are being diagnosed and it is important to know the available prostate cancer treatment options.

The development of this disease is mostly attributed to exposure to radiation and bad lifestyle habits like the use of tobacco and alcohol. It is important to note that hereditary factors can contribute to increasing the chances of one developing this deadly disease. Many organizations today are focusing on creating worldwide awareness in a bid to get more people screened periodically.

One of the main challenges to the fight against this disease is lack of awareness. Most people never seek medical attention until when it is too late. It is therefore very important for people to have as much information as possible so as to enable early diagnosis.

Advancement in medical technology has made it possible for people with such symptoms to quickly get screened. Some of the methods used to determine if one has the disease include the physical prostrate exam, MRI and biopsy. Quick diagnosis can enable doctors to contain the disease before it spreads. In most cases tissue samples from the prostate glands are taken so that the doctors can do confirmation tests to ensure that their diagnosis is accurate.

It is important to note that the method of treatment will depend on whether the cancerous cells have spread or not. Early detection enables the doctors to deal effectively with the disease in the early stages when it has not spread. At this stage the cancerous prostate gland can be removed through surgical procedures. After this procedure, a patient undergoes radiotherapy to finish off cancerous cells that could have invaded surrounding tissues.

At this point radio therapy can be used to ensure the any cancerous cells in the surrounding tissues are eliminated. Another method that can be used is hormone therapy. When undergoing this treatment method, a patient is given drugs that alter the hormone levels thus slowing down the growth of cancerous cells.

It is important to note that this treatment method is temporary as most people develop resistance over time. This method is often used to prolong the life of a patient who is in the advanced stages. Another method available is the cryotherapy treatment.

Another treatment option available is cryotherapy. During this procedure, the prostate is frozen and later thawed so as to kill the cancerous cells. Also, hormone therapy is used to reduce the growth rate of the cancerous cells. It is important that to note that this method is only temporary and is used to prolong the life of a patient who is at the advanced stages of the disease.




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