General Facts About Prostate Cancer Treatment Options

By Nancy Gardner


Cancer is one of the most common killers of today as most of the people who get diagnosed often eventually succumb to it. Knowing about this disease is important as this can lead to early diagnosis and prompt medication. It is important to note that cancer treatment at the advanced stages is almost impossible thus it is very important that people get to know about the various prostate cancer treatment options.

The main causes of this disease include exposure to radiation and carcinogenic substances. Recent research shows that hereditary factors in some cases can increase the chances of one developing the disease. It has been noted that the increased use of highly processed foods, tobacco, alcohol and lack of physical activity can contribute to development of the disease. It is important for people to make the necessary lifestyle changes so as to reduce their chances of developing the disease.

One of the main challenges to the fight against this disease is lack of awareness. Most people never seek medical attention until when it is too late. It is therefore very important for people to have as much information as possible so as to enable early diagnosis.

Advancement in medical technology has made it possible for people with such symptoms to quickly get screened. Some of the methods used to determine if one has the disease include the physical prostrate exam, MRI and biopsy. Quick diagnosis can enable doctors to contain the disease before it spreads. In most cases tissue samples from the prostate glands are taken so that the doctors can do confirmation tests to ensure that their diagnosis is accurate.

After confirming that one has this disease, the next step in treatment is to determine if it is localized or if it has spread. This is a very crucial stage as this actually determines the choice of treatment methods to be used. IF the diagnosis is made early before the cancerous cells have spread, the prostate gland is surgically removed to prevent spreading of the malignant cells to other parts of the body.

When a patient is diagnosed with this disease at advanced stages, more strict measures should be taken as the cancer may have spread to other parts of the body. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy can be used to kill the cancerous cells that have spread to other parts of the body. At this stage a patient needs close monitoring so as to also treat other problems that result from radiation.

It is important to note that this treatment method is temporary as most people develop resistance over time. This method is often used to prolong the life of a patient who is in the advanced stages. Another method available is the cryotherapy treatment.

Another treatment option available is cryotherapy. During this procedure, the prostate is frozen and later thawed so as to kill the cancerous cells. Also, hormone therapy is used to reduce the growth rate of the cancerous cells. It is important that to note that this method is only temporary and is used to prolong the life of a patient who is at the advanced stages of the disease.




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