Prostate cancer is a common disease in men, making up 70 percent of all cancers in males. According to 2007 information from the American Urological Association, annually, almost 200,000 cases are diagnosed and 30,000 men die from this disease. Early detection and intervention can prolong life in men with prostate cancer; however, screening tests are sometimes inaccurate. Treatments can vary from watchful waiting to complete removal of the prostate; radiation and chemotherapy are also used to treat the disease. It is important to discuss the risks and benefits of screening and treatment with your physician.
Surgery
For younger patients without other medical problems, complete removal of the prostate, also called a radical prostatectomy, is the suggested option for cancer that has not spread anywhere else. Because the prostate is wrapped around the urethra, removal of that tissue can cause difficulty with urination and achieving and/or maintaining an erection after the surgery. According to the MD Consult website, radical prostatectomy has been proven to decrease the death rate when the tumor has not spread outside the prostate.
Radiation
There are two forms of radiation that are used for prostate cancer: External beam radiation is radiation provided by a machine outside the body that is targeted towards the prostate. Radiation can affect other organs near the prostate such as the colon, bladder and urethra and may cause scarring. External radiation prolongs life in men with prostate cancer, but is not as effective as surgery. Brachytherapy is another form of radiation involving seeds of radioactive material. These are inserted into the prostate through the rectum and are less likely to damage other organs than external beam radiation. This is a relatively new method of targeting tumors in the prostate and has not been as well studied when compared to other treatments. Preliminary studies, according to the MD Consult website, indicate that it is effective for treating prostate cancer.
Hormones
For patients with multiple medical problems who may not be candidates for surgery, hormones such as leuprolide can be used to prevent some prostate cancers from growing. They also can be used in combination with radiation if the cancer has not spread outside of the prostate. Hormones work by stopping production of cancer growth factors elsewhere in the body. They have been shown to help prevent prostate cancer from worsening, states the MD Consult website.
References
- MD Consult; Prostate Cancer; Philip J. Aliotta, MD, MHA, FACS et al.; May 1, 2010
- Medical Oncology; Chapter 26. The Management of Prostate Cancer; Christopher Logothetis;
- American Urological Association; Guideline for the Management of Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer: 2007 Update; American Urological Association; 2007
