Best treatment for Prostate Cancer: the different
treatment choices after you are diagnosed with prostate cancer;
factors you must consider before narrowing down the treatment
options; and the different treatments available at different cancer
stages.
Prostate is a male reproductive gland and when it develops cancerous
cells; it gets affected by prostate cancer. This article on prostate
cancer will focus on the details about prostate cancer, the protein
called PSA that can be used to diagnose signs of prostate cancer,
the various signs and symptoms exhibited by the patients suffering
from prostate cancer. Besides these details, the article on prostate
cancer will also explain the diagnosis options as well as treatment
measures including the best treatment for prostate cancer to be
taken when you are affected by the destructive disease.
A tube called urethra which carries semen and urine out of the body
of a man, passes through the prostate gland. Thousands of other tiny
glands near the prostate produce fluids that are a part of the male
semen. This liquid produced by the prostate gland also protects the
sperms in the semen. The best treatment for prostate cancer depends
on the stage of the cancer your prostate is in.
Production of PSA (Prostate specific
antigen)
PSA, a protein produced by the epithelial cells in the prostate
gland is responsible to keep the male semen in liquid form. Some PSA
might also escape into the blood of the men. Hence the PSA levels in
a man can be detected by a blood test. In case the PSA levels in a
man are high, it is an alarming indication of prostate cancer or
some kind of abnormal prostate condition. The best treatment for
prostate cancer will also depend on the production amount of PSA.
The production of male hormones also affects the production of PSA
in men. Hence the medications taken for affecting the hormones might
also be responsible for affecting the PSA levels in men.
How prostate cancer is diagnosed?
The following points will make you aware about the diagnosis options
for detecting prostate cancer so that you can chalk out the best
treatment for prostate cancer suitable for you.
Prostate Imaging: MRI and ultrasound are two
basic methods adopted doe prostate imaging.
Biopsy: on suspicion of prostate cancer, a
radiologist or an urologist will obtain tissue samples of the
prostate via the rectum.
Gleason score: these are microscopic features
obtained while examining tissue cells. A higher Gleason score
will portray chances of prostate cancer.
Factors upon which the choice of treatment
depends
The best treatment for prostate cancer will depend on certain
factors:
Risk group of your prostate cancer- cancer
details about your prostate will categorize you in a particular
risk group among: low risk, medium risk and high risk. These
groups depend on the Gleason scores, the tumor stage as well as
the PSA levels
Other health problems- the best treatment for
prostate cancer can only be identified when other problems like
heart diseases, diabetes and others are also kept in mind.
Age- this is an important factor and the best
treatment for prostate cancer heavily depend on this factor.
Types of treatments
The best treatment for prostate cancer can only be identified when
you are aware of the types of treatments available:
Active surveillance- strictly vigilant of any
sign or symptom that the cancer is showing or growing. The
decision of treatment is not done right away, rather you undergo
a series of tests and diagnosis. This is the best treatment for
prostate cancer which is mostly considered in early stages.
Surgery- if you are healthy and initial stages of
your prostate cancer then you can consider surgeries like Open
Prostatectomy, Laparoscopic surgery, Perineal Prostatectomy.
Radiation therapies- high doses of radiation is
given to treat cancer. A radiation therapy called external beam
radiation is done which sends radiations from many directions
once your prostate is located. On the other hand, Brachytherapy
is a radiation process in which the radiation is given from
inside or internally.
Treatments based on stage of prostate
cancer
Stage1: these cancers are small and have lower
Gleason scores. The best treatment for prostate cancer for men in
this stage will be:
Watchful waiting or active surveillance
Removal of prostate through surgery (radical
prostatectomy)
Radiation therapies
Stage 2: if not treated properly at stage 1, these cancers
may spread rapidly and cause other symptoms. The best treatment for
prostate cancer for such men include:
Radical prostatectomy
External beam radiation only
Brachytherapy only
Stage 3: spreading of cancer beyond the prostate but have not
reached other organs. Treatments options include:
External beam radiation plus hormonal therapy
Watchful waiting for older men
Sometimes radical prostatectomy
Stage4: this is the most severe state when the cancer has
spread to other organs too like lymph nodes, rectum, bladder etc.
although not very likely to be curable, the best treatment for
prostate cancer in this stage are:
Hormone therapy
Hormone therapy plus external radiation in
certain cases
Some surgery to relieve other symptoms
Sometimes watchful waiting if symptoms are not
increasing
Along with these treatments, maintaining a balanced and healthy life
and eating a nutritious diet may also help. Taking of
Endosterol and
other supplements which contain natural herbs also ease out and
relieve certain symptoms.