Prostate Cancers Treatment Options

Each patient receives a thorough treatment regimen that their doctor individually designs for them. The personalised approach often comprises evidence-based medical treatments and technologies.

The following are some of the most common treatments for prostate cancer. 

Surgery

Surgery is a popular treatment option for prostate cancer that has not progressed beyond the prostate gland. Depending on the cancer's stage and other circumstances, there are several forms of surgery.

The most common prostate cancer surgery is a radical prostatectomy. The surgeon takes out the entire prostate and a portion of the tissue around it.

Problems regulating your pee and having issues obtaining and maintaining an erection are the most frequent adverse consequences after prostate cancer surgery. 

Radiation therapy 

Radiation therapy employs high-energy rays to eliminate cancer cells. A radiation therapy regimen typically consists of a defined number of treatments administered over a set time.

Radiation generally is an option when your cancer is in its early stages or is only in your prostate. You might also have radiation following surgery to remove any cancer cells left behind.

Radiation therapy comes in two varieties:

  • External-beam radiation therapy: A machine outside your body directs rays at the cancer area.
  • Internal radiation therapy: Also known as brachytherapy, the treatment involves placing radioactive seeds into or near the cancer area.

Radiation therapy can have effects such as exhaustion, issues with sexual function, and a frequent need to pee. However, most patients may find that the negative effects subside or go away after treatment.

Hormone therapy

Male sex hormones like testosterone are necessary for the continued growth of prostate cancer cells. Hormone treatment, also known as androgen suppression therapy, employs drugs to counteract the effect of testosterone in promoting cancer cell growth. The drugs either lower your testosterone levels or stop testosterone from getting to cancer cells.

As the testicles create testosterone, another type of hormone therapy necessitates their removal. However, this approach is less popular.

Side effects of hormone therapy may include hot flashes, sweating, weight gain and decreased sexual drive. Some men may also experience depression, memory loss, and heart issues.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the use of medications to kill cancer cells by preventing the growth or production of new cancer cells. The drugs may come in the form of oral pills, intravenous (IV) injections, or perhaps even both.

Common chemotherapy side effects include vomiting, diarrhea, mouth sores, decreased appetite, and hair loss. Due to reduced white blood cell counts during chemotherapy, patients are also more prone to infections.

Making the correct treatment choice for you might be challenging without the right information. To learn more about the possible cancer treatments for your type and stage, speak with your doctor. Your doctor can better describe the risks, advantages, and side effects of each treatment.

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