Article Navigation

Back To Main Page


 

More Articles

The Best Prostate Cancer Treatment Alternatives


by: George Anderson

Prostate cancer is a very common problem with men over the age of 80 and it starts becoming frequent with men over 50. By the time they are 80, almost half will have some form of prostate cancer which is not noticeable. Even though it is dangerous, just like any other cancer type, prostate cancer is very seldom the cause of death for the men who have it. Although this is such a common illness, doctors are still uncertain of the precise causes for prostate cancer. Ethnicity is one of the factors that offers some differentiation, with black men the highest risk and Asian men the lowest.

Curing prostate cancer is possible, but the condition has to be detected in the early stages. Many men do not even seek medical advice when the symptoms are present, partly because they are very similar to those of another disease: BPH or benign prostatic hypertrophy. Most men will experience difficulties while urinating, noticing a weak or intermittent flow of urine. Other symptoms include urgent needs to urinate or the need to wake up several times a night to do this. Some patients also observe a dribbling of urine after and even before urinating.

There is no universal treatment that will work the same in individual cases. Doctors have to determine several decisive factors, such as general health condition, age, location of the tumor in the prostate, size of the tumor. The number one option for treatment is surgery. However, the main operation, known as radial prostatectomy, is extremely tiring to the body, so the patient has to be in good condition. Most surgery patients are men between 50 and 70 years of age who do not seem to have extensive cancer damage. There are some side effects involved with this procedure, mostly related to erectile dysfunctions and minor urination problems. However, modern techniques greatly reduce the side effects and the success of surgery is high.

Choosing a hormone therapy is another option. This treatment does not kill the cancer cells but it reduces the size of the prostate tumor of the majority of patients. Most doctors recommend this treatment together with surgery for best effects. Cancer growth is stimulated by testosterone, the male sexual hormone, and hormone therapies reduce its level. By reducing testosterone levels, the prostate becomes less subjected to cancer cell growth. Based on patient medical history and overall health level, doctors may or may not choose to prescribe hormone therapy.

Sometimes, the doctor might suggest an alternative treatment to surgery. Radiotherapy can work by destroying cancer cells through radiation. The method is painless and involves only out-body procedures. However, some side effects like diarrhea and impotence have been noticed. Brachytherapy is the other. It involves the implantation of radioactive elements in the prostate, which are inserted with the patient under anesthesia. In time, the radioactive elements loose their properties, but they also help diminish cancer cell growth.




Latest Cancer News:



FDA panel votes against Xgeva for prostate cancer


A panel of cancer experts voted against a new use for Amgen's Xgeva in prostate cancer on Wednesday, saying the drug's ability to slow the spread of the disease did not translate into meaningful benefits for patients Breast cancer kills older women more often


NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Breast cancer is often considered more deadly among younger women, but a new study shows older women are actually more likely to die of the disease. Researchers found that among women who had been diagnosed with a certain type of breast cancer, those over 75 years old were 63 percent more likely to die of the cancer than women younger than 65. "I suspect it's ... Breast cancer charity chases Komen defectors


As a prominent breast cancer researcher and activist, Susan Love is no stranger to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Love runs a breast cancer research foundation that bears her name, and she organized the Army of Women , more than 360,000 women to whom breast cancer researchers can blast out requests for subjects. But the Komen Foundation is so entrenched in the world of breast cancer fundraising ... Doxil/Caelyx (Ovarian Cancer) - Analysis and Forecasts to 2020


NEW YORK, Feb. 8, 2012  /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue: Doxil/Caelyx (Ovarian Cancer) - Analysis and Forecasts to 2020 http://www.reportlinker.com/p0657184/Doxil/Caelyx-Ovarian-Cancer---Analysis-and-Forecasts-to-2020.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=PathologyDoxil/Caelyx ... A Better Way to Spend Breast Cancer Funds?


We must move breast cancer advocacy to the next level, beyond screening for cancers that are already there, even beyond the cure, to finding the cause, writes Dr. Susan Love. Cancer-hit cricketer Yuvraj vows to return stronger


India's cancer-stricken World Cup hero Yuvraj Singh has vowed to return "stronger than ever" to competitive cricket, saying he was responding well to treatment in the United States. Triple Analysis: Lung Cancer, Angiogenesis and Cancer Vaccines


NEW YORK, Feb. 8, 2012  /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue: Triple Analysis: Lung Cancer, Angiogenesis and Cancer Vaccines http://www.reportlinker.com/p0284988/Triple-Analysis-Lung-Cancer-Angiogenesis-and-Cancer-Vaccines.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=Drug_and_MedicationThis ... Breast Cancer Drug May Weaken Bones, Study Finds


TUESDAY, Feb. 7 (HealthDay News) -- A drug used to prevent breast cancer in women at high risk for the disease appears to cause bone loss in some postmenopausal women, a new study finds. Marian Regional Medical Center Receives CEO Cancer Gold Standard Accreditation


The CEO Roundtable on Cancer recently accredited Marian Regional Medical Center with the CEO Cancer Gold Standard? recognizing the hospital?s efforts to reduce the risk of cancer f Marc Garnick Answers 6 Key Questions about Prostate Cancer


Marc Garnick Answers 6 Key Questions about Prostate Cancer Breast cancer kills older women more often - Fox News


News Image
Daily Mail

News Image
Breast cancer kills older women more often
Fox News
Print Email Share Comments Recommend Tweet Breast cancer is often considered more deadly among younger women, but a new study shows older women are actually more likely to die of the disease. Researchers found that among women who had been diagnosed ...
Breast cancer kills older women more often: studyReuters
Older women at breast cancer death riskTimes of India
Breast cancer screening 'no longer justified' and causes 7000 women a year to ...Daily Mail
ABC News -Tempo
all 100 news articles »
Insight: Komen charity under microscope for funding, science - Reuters


News Image
CBC.ca

News Image
Insight: Komen charity under microscope for funding, science
Reuters
By Sharon Begley and Janet Roberts | NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Susan G. Komen for the Cure charity defines its mission as finding a cure for breast cancer. In recent years, however, it has cut by nearly half the proportion of fund-raising dollars it ...
Golf &Breast Cancer - A Komen UpdateCybergolf National
Komen Board's Wisdom Lost on Scott WalkerHuffington Post (blog)
Komen foundation shouldn't give any money to Planned ParenthoodBaltimore Sun
Los Angeles Times
all 3,872 news articles »
Pa. woman gets probation for fake cancer claims - USA TODAY



News Image
Pa. woman gets probation for fake cancer claims
USA TODAY
(AP) ? A Pennsylvania woman who submitted nearly $100000 worth of fake cancer treatment insurance claims for herself and her husband must repay the money while she serves nearly nine years on probation. The Observer-Reporter of Washington, ...

and more »
FDA panel says Amgen drug did not provide meaningful benefit for prostate ... - Washington Post


News Image
USA TODAY

News Image
FDA panel says Amgen drug did not provide meaningful benefit for prostate ...
Washington Post
WASHINGTON ? A panel of cancer experts voted against a new use for Amgen's Xgeva in prostate cancer on Wednesday, saying the drug's ability to slow the spread of the disease did not translate into meaningful benefits for patients The Food and Drug ...
FDA Panel Votes Against Expanding Use of Amgen Drug XgevaWall Street Journal
Amgen Fails to Win Advisory Panel Backing for Expanded Use of Cancer DrugBloomberg
FDA panel votes against Xgeva for prostate cancerCanadianBusiness.com

all 105 news articles »
program takes cancer patients on Road to Recovery - Chicago Daily Herald



News Image
program takes cancer patients on Road to Recovery
Chicago Daily Herald
By Elisabeth Mistretta Kathy Miller of Arlington Heights sat inside Northwest Community Hospital near her home two years ago, feeling beaten down from radiation and chemotherapy treatments to treat her stage-four throat cancer.
Winter adds to ordeal of cancer patientsSTLtoday.com

all 2 news articles »
Montblanc Announces Unprecedented Partnership With Texas Children's Cancer Center - Sacramento Bee



News Image
Montblanc Announces Unprecedented Partnership With Texas Children's Cancer Center
Sacramento Bee
Montblanc and Texas Children's Cancer Center have joined together to support excellence in patient care, research and education to enhance the health and well being of our nation's children. To show personal commitment to this cause, Montblanc has ...
Texas Children's partners with Montblanc to raise fundsHouston Business Journal

all 8 news articles »
DNA sequencing helps identify cancer cells for immune system attack - Washington University in St. Louis News


News Image
Washington University in St. Louis News

News Image
DNA sequencing helps identify cancer cells for immune system attack
Washington University in St. Louis News
By Michael C. Purdy DNA sequences from tumor cells can be used to direct the immune system to attack cancer, according to scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The research, in mice, appears online Feb. 8 in Nature.

and more »
The Red Devils Angels for Breast Cancer Patients, Stage Feb. Fundraisers for ... - Sacramento Bee



News Image
The Red Devils Angels for Breast Cancer Patients, Stage Feb. Fundraisers for ...
Sacramento Bee
8, 2012 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Breast cancer patients have an angel in the form of The Red Devils, honoring 10 years in 2012 of working to improve the quality-of-life for Maryland patients and their families. February fundraising events allow the general ...

and more »
NH hospital officials blast for-profit cancer center bill - The Union Leader


News Image
StateImpact New Hampshire

News Image
NH hospital officials blast for-profit cancer center bill
The Union Leader
By TED SIEFER CONCORD ? Representatives of the state's major hospitals fought a proposal that could pave the way for a for-profit cancer facility to come to the state at a hearing Tuesday that was notable for the absence of the company that was the ...
Does New Hampshire Need Specialty Cancer Centers?StateImpact New Hampshire
Cancer Center Bill Gets Chilly Reception at StatehousePatch.com
NH considers bending rules for cancer centerBoston.com
Concord Monitor
all 31 news articles »
Breast cancer claims Purdue astronaut Janice Voss, 55 - Journal and Courier


News Image
RedOrbit

News Image
Breast cancer claims Purdue astronaut Janice Voss, 55
Journal and Courier
Astronaut Janice E. Voss, a Purdue University graduate and one of the few women launched into space, died Monday in Scottsdale, Ariz., after a battle with breast cancer. She was 55. Voss was part of five space shuttle missions, spending a total of 49 ...
Cancer Claims Five-Time Shuttle AstronautDiscovery News
Janice Voss, Shuttle Astronaut, Dies of Cancer at 55ThirdAge
NASA Astronaut Janice Voss Loses Battle Against Breast CancerRedOrbit
WIFR -French Tribune -Chicago Tribune
all 191 news articles »

 



Home | Resource Links | Contact Us
Copyright © 2006 CancerAdvice.org