The prostate is a small gland that sits at the bottom of the bladder in males. It is responsible for producing semen and controlling the flow of urine out of the body. When cancer develops, it is usually detected through routine tests like a digital rectal exam of prostate specific antigen test. Symptoms that can be seen with prostate cancer include trouble urinating, frequent urination and blood in the urine. Once it has been diagnosed, there are various ways it can be treated.
Waiting
Watchful waiting is a type of treatment that takes place when the cancer is very small and confined to the prostate, it is not expected to grow very fast and it is not causing symptoms. This is a treatment option when the cancer has been shown to be at an early stage as a result of a PSA test.
Radiation
External beam radiation therapy destroys cancer cells by way of a a high-powered X-ray. The area that needs radiation is mapped out by way of computer imaging software. Beams of radiation are then shot into the precise locations of the cancer in the prostate without any surrounding tissue getting damaged.
Hormone Therapy
Testosterone is the male sex hormone. When it is low, the body can suffer various symptoms. But when it comes to prostate cancer, the growth of cancer cells can actually be stimulated with testosterone production. A treatment option for this is hormone therapy. The idea is to stop hormones from getting into cancer cells and also stop the production of testosterone. Examples of drugs used in this treatment include Lupron, Zoladex, Casodex and Nilandron. These are administered to the body through an injection under your skin or in a muscle.
Seeds
Radioactive seed implants are an outpatient procedure that is done under general anesthesia. Ultrasound-guided needles implant 40 to 100 tiny radioactive seeds into the prostate. These seeds are more radioactive than the external beams, but it is over a longer time frame. They generally have radioactive isotopes in them like palladium and iodine, and they remain in the body after they are done emitting radiation, which is usually a year later.
Removal
When a procedure called "radical prostatectomy" is performed, the prostate is removed along with the nearby lymph nodes. After the surgery, a catheter is inserted into the bladder through the penis to remove urine and the patient usually stays hospitalized for a few days. The advantage of this treatment is that the outcome is certain, but the disadvantage is, sexual function can be compromised, especially in men who are over 70 years old.
Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy is a method that involves the insertion of a tube into the prostate through the skin in between the scrotum and rectum. The prostate is then frozen to kill any cancer cells. This method often results in surrounding tissue damage so it has since been refined with a smaller probe and better methods to monitor the temperature around the prostate.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a method that cannot cure cancer, but it can be an effective measure at treating it. Growing cancer cells are destroyed by taking chemicals orally or through an injection. This treatment is reserved for those who have hormone-resistant cancer that has spread.
