The prostate, which is a small gland located at the base of the penis, is responsible for making the fluid component of semen. When these cells begin to grow abnormally quickly, they can turn into prostate cancer. Prostate cancer affects many men but also tends to be less aggressive than other forms of cancer, allowing for more treatment options.
Size and Spread
One important factor in the treatment of prostate cancer is the size of the prostate tumor as well as how far it has spread throughout the body. The Mayo Clinic explains that an ultrasound is often done to determine how large the primary tumor is. If the physician is concerned that the cancer may have spread to other tissues, a bone scan as well as other imaging techniques (such as an MRI or a CT scan) can be used to determine if the cancer has spread beyond the prostate. For many men, however, this will not be necessary.
Grading
The aggressiveness of the cancer also factors into the patient's treatment options. This is done by taking a sample of the cancerous tissue and evaluating it under a microscope. Most cases of prostate cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute, are evaluated using the Gleason score. This test evaluates the tumor cells based on how different they appear compared to normal prostate cells. Gleason scores range from two to 10, with higher scores indicating more abnormal and potentially more aggressive cancerous cells.
Treatment Factors
The decision as to whether a patient should undergo treatment, according to the American Cancer Society, depends on a number of factors. Many cases of prostate cancer grow slowly, which means they may never need to be treated, particularly in older patients with other health problems. If treatment is not deemed necessary, the growth of the cancer can be carefully monitored to ensure it does not begin to spread.
Surgical Treatment
Surgical treatment of a tumor in the prostate is often used to attempt to rid the body of all the cancerous cells. This type of surgery can be done via an incision in the abdomen or in the area between the anus and scrotum, according to the Mayo Clinic. Laparoscopic surgery, when available, allows for the removal of the cancerous tissue using several smaller incisions. Other surgical options include cryosurgery, in which very small needles are placed in the cancer, which is then frozen using an extremely cold gas.
Other Treatments
Chemotherapy is one form of treatment that can also be used to treat prostate cancer. Chemotherapy uses compounds that poison the cancer cells, either by slowing replication or by damaging their DNA. Hormonal therapy makes use of the fact that prostate cells typically grow in response to testosterone. Thus, removing or blocking the effects of testosterone can slow the growth of prostate cancer cells. Finally, radiation treatment uses high-energy X-rays that can damage cancerous cells, causing the tumor cells to die.
