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.

Diagnosis can be done by medical practitioners by using machines such as MRI and trans rectal ultrasound equipment or by conducting physical checks. It is important to note that these methods are confirmed by getting tissue samples from the prostate gland. After confirming that a patient has this disease, doctors first determine the extent of the disease so as to know if the cancer is localized or not.

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.

When a patient is diagnosed with this disease at advanced stages, more strict measures should be taken as the cancer may have spread to other parts of the body. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy can be used to kill the cancerous cells that have spread to other parts of the body. At this stage a patient needs close monitoring so as to also treat other problems that result from radiation.

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.

This method seeks to freeze cancerous cells and then thaw them. This often results in destruction of the malignant cells. In the event that the cancer has spread, a strict dose of radiation together with chemotherapy is used. At this point, the patient is carefully monitored so as to ensure all the spreading is contained. It is important to note that patients who reach such a point have minimal chances of survival.




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