What is prostate gland? | |||||||||||||||||||||
The prostate is a glandular organ, about size of a walnut, present in males. The prostate is normally about 3 cm long and it lies at the neck of the bladder and in front of the rectum. The prostate gland produces fluid that makes up part of the semen. | |||||||||||||||||||||
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What is prostate cancer? | |||||||||||||||||||||
Prostate cancer is found mainly in older men. As men age, the prostate may get bigger and block the urethra or bladder. This may cause difficulty in urination or can interfere with sexual function. The condition is called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and although it is not cancer, surgery may be needed to correct it. The symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia or of other problems in the prostate may be similar to symptoms of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is often a very slow-growing disease. It can take 10 years or more for a small tumor to spread beyond the gland and pose a serious threat to health. | |||||||||||||||||||||
Cancer occurs when normal cells undergo a transformation in which they grow and multiply without any control. There are four stages of prostate cancer: Stage I - In stage I, cancer is found in the prostate only. It is usually found accidentally during surgery for other reasons, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia. Stage II- In stage II, cancer is more advanced than in stage I, but has not spread outside the prostate. Stage III- In stage III, cancer has spread beyond the outer layer of the prostate to nearby tissues. Cancer may be found in the seminal vesicles. Stage IV- In stage IV, cancer has metastasized (spread) to lymph nodes near or far from the prostate or to other parts of the body, such as the bladder, rectum, bones, liver, or lungs. Metastatic prostate cancer often spreads to the bones. | |||||||||||||||||||||
Stages Of Prostate Cancer | |||||||||||||||||||||
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What are the causes? | |||||||||||||||||||||
The cause of prostate cancer is unknown, but hormonal, genetic, environmental, and dietary factors are thought to play roles. The following risk factors have been linked with development of this condition: | |||||||||||||||||||||
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What are the symptoms? | |||||||||||||||||||||
Prostate cancer can produce many symptoms. Some of them have been listed below. But presence of these symptoms does not necessarily indicate prostate cancer. Other conditions may cause the same symptoms. A doctor should be consulted if any of the following problems occur. Some of the symptoms are: | |||||||||||||||||||||
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How is it diagnosed? | |||||||||||||||||||||
The doctor may perform necessary test to detect and diagnose prostate cancer. The following procedures may be used: | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Digital rectal exam (DRE) | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Transrectal ultrasound showing a series of prostate ultrasound images used to construct a 3-dimesnsional image of the prostate (volume study) and treatment plan. Key: Red line = prostate; Blue line = limit of radiation to be delivered | |||||||||||||||||||||
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If prostate cancer is diagnosed, the other tests( e.g Radionuclide bone scan, MRI. Pelvic lymphadenectomy, Seminal vesicle biopsy) are done to find out if cancer cells have spread within the prostate or to other parts of the body. | |||||||||||||||||||||
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What are the treatment options? | |||||||||||||||||||||
Treatments for prostate cancer are effective in most men. But one should remember that they do cause both short- and long-term side effects that may be difficult to accept. So you and your life partner or family members must discuss the treatment options in detail with their urologist and other physicians. It is essential to understand which treatments are available, how effective each is likely to be, and what side effects can be expected. All these must be weighed carefully before making a decision about which course to pursue. | |||||||||||||||||||||
Surgery | |||||||||||||||||||||
There are different types of treatment for patients with prostate cancer. Patients in good health are usually offered surgery as treatment for prostate cancer. The following types of surgery are used: | |||||||||||||||||||||
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The two types of radical prostatectomy | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Radiation therapy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Instead of removing the entire gland, healthy tissue and all, doctors can use radiation to target and kill the cancer cells. There are two ways to deliver the radiation. In a process called external beam radiation, a machine produces a highly focused beam of energy aimed directly at the tumour. It usually takes about five sessions a week over seven weeks to treat the tumour. Alternatively, a doctor can implant radioactive pellets or "seeds" in the tumour. This is called seed therapy or brachytherapy. Brachytherapy is a technique for treating prostate cancer, using tiny radioactive seeds of Iodine-125 (I125) that are inserted permanently into the prostate gland. 'Brachy' means close and, in this treatment, the radioactivity is inserted directly into the cancerous organ. It's a minor procedure, and most patients go home the same day it is performed. The way the radiation therapy is given depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated. | |||||||||||||||||||||
Cross-sectional diagram of the implant process | |||||||||||||||||||||
Hormone therapy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Hormone therapy is a cancer treatment that removes hormones or blocks their action and stops cancer cells from growing. Hormones are substances produced by glands in the body and circulated in the bloodstream. Some hormones can cause certain cancers to grow. | |||||||||||||||||||||
New types of treatment | |||||||||||||||||||||
There are other new types of treatments that are being tested in clinical trials. These include the following: | |||||||||||||||||||||
Cryosurgery- Cryosurgery is a treatment that uses an instrument to freeze and destroy prostate cancer cells. This type of treatment is also called cryotherapy. Because it is minimally invasive, prostate cancer cryotherapy has fewer complications than surgery. The goals of minimally invasive therapies are:
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Chemotherapy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. When chemotherapy is taken by mouth or injected into a vein or muscle, the drugs enter the bloodstream and can reach cancer cells throughout the body (systemic chemotherapy). When chemotherapy is placed directly into the spinal column, an organ, or a body cavity such as the abdomen, the drugs mainly affect cancer cells in those areas. The way the chemotherapy is given depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated. | |||||||||||||||||||||
Biologic therapy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Biologic therapy is a treatment that uses the patient's immune system to fight cancer. Substances made by the body or made in a laboratory are used to boost, direct, or restore the body's natural defenses against cancer. This type of cancer treatment is also called biotherapy or immunotherapy. | |||||||||||||||||||||
High-intensity focused ultrasound | |||||||||||||||||||||
High-intensity focused ultrasound is a treatment that uses ultrasound (high-energy sound waves) to destroy cancer cells. To treat prostate cancer, an endorectal probe is used to make the sound waves. | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Benefits and drawbacks | |||||||||||||||||||||
Whatever approach your doctor recommends, be sure to ask about the potential risks and benefits. And be sure to stay positive. With so many options available, most patients have a good chance of beating their disease. | |||||||||||||||||||||
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For more information, kindly visit : http://www.aasthahealthcare.com/Prostate-Cancer-Treatment.htm ------------------------------------ | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Monday, September 7, 2009
Prostate Cancer Surgical Treatment | Prostate Gland | Endourology Speciality Treatment | Aastha Healthcare | Super Speciality Center Hospital | India
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