Guidelines To Treatments For Prostate Cancer

By Daphne Bowen


There are several things to have in mind when suffering from cancer of the prostrate glands. Age is one of them which will assist medical practitioners in selecting the best treatments for prostate cancer that fits you. The extent to which it has spread is another essential factor to be considered too. This type of illness is very life threatening and thorough consultation is needed before decisions are made. The diverse field of medicine has skilled individuals who will help you with this illness.

The first method that can be used in mitigation of this disease is known as expectant management. This is because, normally, the disease takes time to completely weaken the organ. Active surveillance is done to monitor the ailment by use of ultrasound to confirm if it is rapidly growing. The patient is also expected to use observations during the symptoms period to help in determining the degree of spread and this process usually requires clinic visits after every three months.

Another method is preventing and treating it before it spreads to the bones. It usually tends to grow outwards past the tissues towards the bones causing the patient to experience pain in the bones. Preventing it from reaching the bones can be done using Bisphosphonates which are drugs that slow the growth of the sickness. Side effects such as joint pains can be felt after consumption of the drug therefore kidney patients should not use this medicine.

Another treatment procedure is by use of vaccines which are an extraction of white blood cells from the body of the patient mixed with cancer cells. Such combination is usually referred to Sipuleucel T and is meant for mature stages of the disease. This vaccine is usually made in a medical laboratory and the victim is given in a duration of two weeks apart. Side effects that are likely to occur are fever, diarrhea and muscular pains.

Chemotherapy is a treatment procedure in which the patient given anti cancer injections that spread throughout the body thus making it the most recommended procedure. It is mostly used when the disease has is in its advanced stages. The medications have proved to increase the lifespan of a patient. Some of its side-effects include hair and appetite loss, mouth sores and nausea.

Hormone therapy works well for it minimizes the levels of hormones associated with sexuality in the body. For example, men have testosterone hormone which boosts the growth and development of the prostate cancer cell. Whenever these levels are lowered, the affected cell shrinks and the patient is able to have a longer lifespan. The side effects are loss of muscularity and obesity.

Cryosurgery, which is facilitated by the ultrasound technology, can be used to freeze the cancerous cells making them inactive. The procedure involves the use of low temperature gases which are introduced into the organs keenly to avoid distraction of surrounding tissues. Side effects associated with this act are usually similar to those of a typical surgery.

Last but not least, radiation therapy can also be employed in the mitigation of this life threatening disease. Rays with a shorter wavelength are used to kill the affected cell. This procedure is very dangerous and patients are usually advised to adequately consult before undergoing it. Most side-effects are long termed and usually vary from one individual to the other.




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