Prostate cancer is a common malignancy in men and the second most common cause of male death from cancer after lung cancer. It is also one of the leading causes of morbidity among older men, with an estimated 1.3 million new cases diagnosed worldwide every year.
The incidence of prostate cancer has been increasing steadily over the past few decades. In the United States alone, it is expected to affect more than 200,000 men this year and will be responsible for approximately 30,000 deaths.
Although many patients have localized disease at diagnosis, prostate cancer tends to progress slowly, which is why prostate cancer tends to go undetected in many individuals. Because there are many ways that prostate cancer can impact the body depending on the severity, there is a range of treatment methods.
In turn, the professional approach to treating prostate cancer is multidisciplinary. This is because it can be one of the more challenging conditions to detect and treat over time. These are the main types of prostate cancer treatment, and how they can prevent the spread of cancer cells within the body.
Surgery
Firstly, some cases of prostate cancer that have not spread to other areas of the body can be treated with surgeries. Removing some or all of the prostate is known as radical prostatectomy, and it can be an effective way of eliminating cancer from the body.
Of course, this does not come without risks. It is incredibly invasive and contributes to fertility problems later in life. For more detail, check out https://www.withpower.com.
Radiation
Radiation is usually one of the most widely used methods of treating different cancers. This is because it is highly effective at preventing cancer cell growth throughout the body, which can reduce the spread.
Prostate cancer surgery is normally followed by some form of radiation therapy. This can prevent cancer cells from returning in the future. Brachytherapy is the name of radiation therapy that is administered inside the prostate, and it is one of the most focused uses of radiation out there.
Surveillance
In less extreme cases of prostate cancer which are considered to be under control, close surveillance on a regular basis is recommended. This can be ideal to track any growth and decide whether a particular treatment method is working how it should be.
There are different methods of surveillance, depending on the severity. These range from ultrasound to full-body scanning and provide professionals with a more comprehensive picture of how the body is responding to certain cancer treatments over time.
Hormone Therapy
Prostate cancer affects the male body, and it impacts the production of male hormones known as androgens. In some cases, hormone therapy which reduces the production of these can slow cancer growth.
The most common male hormone is testosterone. Unfortunately, the most common way of reducing the production of this in the male body is through castration or medication that inhibits the function of the testicles.
Another way that testosterone production can be slowed down is by taking androgen axis inhibiting medication. Of course, there are significant side effects of hormone therapy including loss of libido, increased risk of depression, weight gain, and loss of muscle mass.
Make sure that you have discussed the pros and cons of hormone therapy beforehand in order to appreciate all the potential risks.
Chemotherapy
This is the name given to a therapy method that works by destroying existing cancer cells. It is normally administered directly into the bloodstream through IV lines.
An expert usually discusses the recommended treatment schedule ahead of time, and patients will receive a specified number of sessions depending on the type of cancer cells which have been found in their body.
The potential side effects of chemotherapy include hair loss, nausea, sores in the mouth, fatigue, and nervous system effects. However, these depend on the number of chemotherapy sessions received, as well as your health in general, and the strength of the dose administered.
Summary
There are many ways that prostate cancer can be treated, which is why it is known as a multidisciplinary approach. Professionals work together to understand the way that the body is affected by the cancer cells, and to determine how much it has spread to other parts of the body.
Prostate cancer can be debilitating and, in more serious cases, fatal. It is therefore critical that research into the uses of each treatment method continues. Keeping patients fully informed allows them to understand why certain approaches are necessary and make sure that they are following the recommended guidelines.
