vendredi 28 août 2015

General Facts About Prostate Cancer Treatment Options

By Nancy Gardner


The number of people diagnosed with cancer has been on the rise over the years. This can be mostly attributed to the fact that most people are embracing a certain lifestyle that is likely to increase chances of one getting the disease. One of the common kinds of this disease today is cancer of the prostate gland. It is important to note that this ailment is mostly common among the older people within the society. Early diagnosis and quick access to treatment can save a life thus it is important to know about prostate cancer treatment options.

The main causes of this disease include exposure to radiation and carcinogenic substances. Recent research shows that hereditary factors in some cases can increase the chances of one developing the disease. It has been noted that the increased use of highly processed foods, tobacco, alcohol and lack of physical activity can contribute to development of the disease. It is important for people to make the necessary lifestyle changes so as to reduce their chances of developing the disease.

A lot of money has been put into research and awareness so as to ensure that many people stay healthy and reduce their chances of developing this vicious disease. Over the years, it has been discovered that increased intake of tobacco, alcohol and processed foods can increase your chances of developing a particular kind of disease. Also, people are encouraged to frequently indulge in physical activities so as to reduce the chances of getting this disease.

Symptoms of this ailment include weak urine flow, pain in back and pelvis that is prolonged, dizziness and prolonged feeling of tiredness. Also, patients may experience burning sensation when urinating. With such symptoms, one is meant to see a doctor immediately before they reach the terminal stage of the disease.

After confirming that one has this disease, the next step in treatment is to determine if it is localized or if it has spread. This is a very crucial stage as this actually determines the choice of treatment methods to be used. IF the diagnosis is made early before the cancerous cells have spread, the prostate gland is surgically removed to prevent spreading of the malignant cells to other parts of the body.

At this point radio therapy can be used to ensure the any cancerous cells in the surrounding tissues are eliminated. Another method that can be used is hormone therapy. When undergoing this treatment method, a patient is given drugs that alter the hormone levels thus slowing down the growth of cancerous cells.

In the event that the cancer has spread to other body parts, drastic measures are taken to try to manage the cancer as the patient is at a critical stage. At this point a patient may undergo both radiotherapy and chemotherapy so at to deal with the cells that have spread to other body parts. In order to increase the chances of survival of a patient, strict doses of radiation and other medication can be administered to reduce spreading of the disease.

Another treatment option available is cryotherapy. During this procedure, the prostate is frozen and later thawed so as to kill the cancerous cells. Also, hormone therapy is used to reduce the growth rate of the cancerous cells. It is important that to note that this method is only temporary and is used to prolong the life of a patient who is at the advanced stages of the disease.




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