Treatment Options for Prostate Cancer Explained
1 in 7 males
will have prostate cancer so it's no surprise if you have already been
diagnosed (It’s pretty common.) The next step forward is to decide what
treatment options are right for your particular case. Let’s go over a few of
them and hopefully by the end you will have a better sense of direction.
Hormonal Treatment / What is it?
Drugs such as
leuprolide, goserlin, triporelin, and histrelin; are all LHRH analogs. LHRH
analog’s purpose is to lower male hormone levels. These male hormones are
called androgens, which include testosterone. Androgens are linked to the
growth of prostate cancer cells. By lowering your androgens, you can stunt the
growth of prostate cancer. These drugs are administered via shot by placing
tiny pellets underneath the skin. Treatments range from once a month to once a
year. However, this is not a curing option.
Orchiectomy
(For lack of a better term) is a surgical castration. This treatment option is
mostly used in older men with prostate cancer who don’t want surgery or forms
of XRT (External Radiation Treatment) but also don’t want to watch and wait for
results. Note that this is not a cure, but it stops the growth of prostate
cancer cells that react to hormones
Advantages
What’s great
about an Orchiectomy is it’s a one time procedure. It avoids the need for any
shots and the procedure drops the testosterone to zero and is permanent.
Disadvantages
This
procedure is a permanent outpatient procedure that involves minor surgery. With
this comes the risk of bleeding, infection, and pain.
Surgery (Radical Prostatectomy)
This is an
operation in which the entire gland of the prostate is removed along with the
tissue around it. This only works if the lymph nodes around the prostate have not
been infected with cancer yet. If they are, the surgeon may no longer continue
with the surgery because it is not likely that the cancer can be cured with
surgery. Common side effects of a radical prostatectomy include urinary incontinence
and impotence.
External Beam Radiation Therapy ((EBRT)
This
procedure is just like it sounds. A laser beam of concentrated radiation is
sent to a specific area of the prostate to kill cancerous cells without major
surgery. EBRT is a cancer curing option.
Advantages
For one, you
can avoid major surgery and it is also a great option if your prostate cancer
is at an early stage. There is less complications post treatment than many
other treatment options; incontinence and impotence are noticeably lower.
Disadvantages
You also run
the risk of rectal bleeding, proctitis, and abnormal urinary and bowel
function. Make sure you have the time to undertake this type of treatment
because it requires you to receive treatments 5 days a week for 6 to 7 weeks.
Brachytherapy
Brachytherapy
is a procedure in which radioactive seeds are strategically inserted through
the perineum (between the rectum and the testes) in order to emit radiation to
a targeted area to destroy cancer cells in the prostate.
Advantages
It is
minimally invasive and you can expect a quick recovery in most cases. There are
also no transfusions.
Disadvantages
If you are
suffering from high grade cancer (Gleason score is greater than 7) this may not
be for you as larger glands can be more difficult. The chance of impotence or
pain during ejaculation ranges from 25-60% in males as well. There is also a
chance of rectal irritation, pain, or burning.
There are
other options available that are not listed here, but I hope this gives you a
better understanding. Talk to your physician about your unique case in order to
determine what is right for you.
No comments:
Post a Comment