Many prostate cancers do not need treatment. In fact, most will never go on to become life threatening. At present, there is no way of distinguishing between these cancers.
This is a significant problem, because the side effects of current forms of treatment can be severe in some men and include impotence and incontinence. The goal of research in this area is to develop a test to identify cancers that will develop into aggressive life-threatening disease.
What to expect
Some prostate cancers grow slowly and may not cause clinical problems. In these cases treatment may not be required - however, regular check-ups are important to make sure that the situation does not change.
In other cases there are a variety of treatment options. Your medical team will talk with you to develop the particular combination that is right for you.
A number of factors will be taken into account, including any other medical problems that may be present and the risk and potential side effects. Due to the close association of the prostate with the urethra and the male reproductive system, the side effects from treatment designed to treat cancer in this area can be distressing.
It is important to make sure that you have talked about all the implications of your treatment plan as you make decisions so that you know what to expect.
Surgery
This is a common treatment for early-stage prostate cancer. The characteristics of your particular tumour will determine whether all or part of the prostate is removed. Make sure that you have talked through the implications of the operation with your doctor and that you are aware of the potential side effects.
Surgery to remove the prostate can cause long term problems such as rectal injury or incontinence. It is also possible that in some, temporary or even permanent impotence may occur. If the entire prostate has been removed you will no longer be able to produce semen. This means that you will experience a dry orgasm.
Following the operation, it is likely that you will have to have a catheter for a few days or weeks. You are also likely to feel tired and will need to give yourself time to recover from the rigours of the operation.
Alternatively, the doctor may opt to treat the cancer with a surgical freezing procedure. This method depends on the particular cancer and is usually used in situations where urine flow is blocked. In this case, ultrasound may be used again, to accurately locate the tumour for this procedure.
Radiotherapy
Like surgery, radiation therapy is local in that it affects cancer cells in the treated area only. Radiotherapy uses high-energy X-rays to kill the cancer cells. This form of treatment can be used instead of surgery, or in combination. It can also be given to relieve pain.
| Radiotherapy can be administered in two different ways: Externally where the radiation is directed at the appropriate area of the body from a machine. This treatment can be given to you as an outpatient and usually continues over a number of weeks with a regular intense schedule. Internally tiny radioactive seeds are placed inside or near the tumour. This treatment is known as brachytherapy or implant radiotherapy, because the radiation is implanted into your body. Having this type of radiotherapy means that you may have to stay in hospital for a short time. |
Side effects of this treatment can include diarrhoea, incontinence and impotence.
Hormone therapy
In many cases prostate cancers depend on male hormones for their growth the main concern being testosterone. With an adequate supply of this hormone in the blood stream most prostate cancers can grow but when they are deprived of it, they shrink. Treatment that is able to switch off the supply of male hormone is called hormone therapy.
There are several forms of hormone therapy targeted at testosterone and other male hormones called androgens. Therapy may be targeted at the hormone itself or the glands that produce it.
Hormone therapy may be used on its own or in combination with other treatment regimens.
For more information about how cancer is treated, click here.
02/06/2009