Cancer Treatment Information and Resources

Whether a therapeutic technique is the best prostate cancer treatment for a patient depends on various factors. In selecting the treatment, a patient and his doctor should take into consideration the patient's age and expected life span, the stage and grade of the cancer, possible side effects and other health problems that the patient might have.

One of the best prostate cancer treatment techniques, particularly for older men and those who suffer from other serious illnesses, is the expectant management or watchful waiting method. Watchful waiting involves the close monitoring of the cancer through prostate specific antigen testing. It does not involve active treatments like surgery and radiation therapy and is recommended mostly to those who have no symptoms. It is also used when the cancer is contained within one area of the prostate gland and is expected to grow very slowly.

Another option available to prostate cancer patients is surgery. This can be radical retropubic prostatectomy, radical perineal prostatectomy, laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) or transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). In retropubic prostatectomy, the surgeon makes an incision in the lower abdomen to remove the prostate gland. Lymph nodes around the prostate might also be removed depending on whether the cancer has spread to these parts. In perineal prostatectomy, the incision is made in the perineum or the skin between anus and scrotum. This procedure is use less often because the lymph nodes cannot be removed and there is a high probability that the nerves will be affected.

LRP, on the other hand, involves the use of several smaller incisions and specialized instruments. This highly complex procedure is known for its high precision and control. In the hands of experienced surgeons, it becomes an advantageous option compared with retropubic and perineal prostatectomy. TURP, meanwhile, makes use of an instrument called a resectoscope which is passed through the end of the penis into the urethra at the level of the prostate. The electricity that passes through the instrument cuts or vaporizes the issue in the prostate. TURP is done to relieve symptoms and is also used for benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Radiation therapy is the method in which high-energy rays or particles are used to kill cancer cells. This, like surgical procedures, is another example of a highly developed method of dealing with cancer. Radiation therapy is classified into two main types, the external beam radiation therapy (ERBT) and brachytherapy.

In treating localized prostate cancer, a procedure called crysosurgery is sometimes used. It involves the freezing of the tissues using very cold gases. Aside from cryosurgery, hormone therapy and chemotherapy are also options that prostate cancer patients can explore. Hormone therapy does not cure cancer but is primarily used to lower levels of male hormones in a patient's body. Chemotherapy, meanwhile, is a procedure more commonly used in cases when the cancer has spread beyond the prostate gland.

Choosing the best prostate cancer treatment depends on a lot of factors. What is considered appropriate for one patient might not be good for another, that's why options should be discussed in detail with doctors before proceeding to the treatment stage.

In helping patients choose the best prostate cancer treatment, several factors are taken by doctors into consideration. These factors include the patient's age, his health condition, the stage and grade of the cancer, other diseases that the patient might have and possible side effects.

It is a sad reality that even the best prostate cancer treatment can have side effects. For each therapeutic option, there usually exists a corresponding side effect. It is important for every patient and doctor to know the possible ramifications of treatment procedures, be it surgical, radiation-based, chemotherapy, hormonal or cryosurgery.

Surgical procedures for treating prostate cancer include radical retropubic prostatectomy, radical perineal prostatectomy, laparoscopic radical prostatectomy and transurethral resection. The risks associated with radical prostatectomy include anesthetic risks, heart attack, stroke, blood clots in the legs and lungs and infection at the incision site. Major side effects of surgical procedures can also include urinary incontinence, impotence, sterility and lymphadema. Lymphadema is a rare complication characterized by swelling and pain particularly in the legs and the genital area. This is caused by fluid collection due to the removal of lymph nodes.

When it comes to external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), the most notable side effects reported by researchers are bowel problems, bladder problems, incontinence, impotence, and in some cases, fatigue. Lymphadema is also possible after EBRT. Brachytherapy, or internal radiation therapy, carries some of the side effects also associated with EBRT; with bowel problems and frequent urination as the most common. Impotence can also occur although this is not as common with brachytherapy compared with other treatment methods.

The side effects associated with cryosurgery or cryoablation are often worse if the procedure is done on a patient who has already undergone radiation therapy. Men who have had radiation therapy and cryosurgery can sometimes have blood in their urine and experience soreness in the areas where the needles were placed. Swelling of the scrotum and the penis is also possible, and so are impotence and urinary incontinence. In some cases, a fistula or abnormal opening or connection between the rectum and the bladder may occur. This could result to urine leaking into the rectum and may require surgery to repair.

The debate on whether hormone therapy should be started early or used only at the advanced stage has yet to be resolved. The primary problem with the use of hormones is that over time, majority of patients become resistant to this treatment. Aside from this, hormone therapy can also cause impotence, hot flashes and loss of sex drive.

Chemotherapy, just like hormone therapy, is unlikely to result in a cure but is primarily used to slow the growth of the cancer. The main problem with chemotherapy is that it could also damage normal cells. Some of the temporary side effects associated with this procedure include nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, hair loss, mouth sores, increased risk of infection, bleeding or bruising and blood clots.

Side effects can exist even in the best prostate cancer treatment. The best thing for a patient to do is to discuss these possible risks with his doctor before deciding on the type of treatment or maintenance method.