Age is a factor when it comes to the topic of prostate cancer treatment options. Two other important factors are the age of the patient and whether the tumor has spread or not. Radiation therapy is designed for growths that are still in the gland. This treatment kills the cells. A prostatectomy (removal of prostate) is another common method of treatment. In an older male, it might be wise to adopt a wait and see strategy. This is because there may other factors that can kill the patient.
Prostate Cancer Treatment Options Photo by Jakob Montrasio via Flickr
Growths that extend beyond the edge of the gland are normally unable to be cured by surgery or radiation. Hormone therapy may work to retard the growth of the tumor.
Surgery that involves removing the entire prostate gland is referred to as a radical prostatectomy. Lymph nodes that are nearby are also removed. Once the gland has been removed, a narrow tube known as a catheter is inserted into the penis into the bladder. This is done so that urine can be transported out of the body until healing has taken place.
There are other less invasive types of surgery to the gland. Rates of recovery and risks vary depending on which kind of surgery is used. The doctor will be best placed to advise the patient on the correct option for the patient.
A laparoscopy enables the doctor to see the insides of the body via a tube with a camera attached to the tube. The growth is then removed with the use of thin tools and by the surgeon making thin cuts on the growth. Surrounding tissue is also removed as well. In some hospitals, there are robots that are used to assist with the surgery. The doctor with the aid of a computer operates the robot arm.
The doctor will inform the patient about which kind of anesthesia will be used for the operation. General anesthesia puts the patient to sleep. An epidural is an injection into the spine, which blocks nerve routes from the spine and this numbs the designated area. With this option, the patient is fully awake.
Younger males that are in good health aside from the tumor, the risks are generally low. One would be in hospital for about two to three days. The catheter would remain for up to three weeks and generally not less than fourteen days. Work can be resumed after about thirty days. Severe pain should not be experienced with this type of surgery. Resumption of bladder control can be anything from a number of weeks to several months.
The best cure for prostate cancer is surgery. Surgery of this nature offers the most definitive treatment of this nature. This is provided the entire growth is removed during surgery. At surgery the doctor is able to see just how advanced the growth is. There are risks associated with surgery. The main one for prostatectomy is losing control of the bladder. The sex life may also be affected as often men are unable to hold an erection long enough to have sex. These are some of the facts associated with prostate cancer treatment options.
