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Watchful Waiting

For watching waiting, the prostate is carefully monitored, but it is not treated right away.  It’s not exactly ignoring prostate cancer, but waiting to see what the next step will be.  In some cases, a man will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, but the cancer will grow so slowly that it will not affect a man over his entire lifetime.  If symptoms spread and cancer becomes more intense, there are other options that will be implemented.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation is meant to kill fast-growing cancer cells.  It can be performed externally or internally.  External radiation therapy is when a beam is sent from outside of the body toward the tumor.  It’s performed at a hospital or a treatment center.  It’s typically performed five days a week for several weeks.  It is painless, but may produce unpleasant side effects, such as tiredness, nausea, hair loss, skin soreness and loss of appetite.

Brachytherapy is a kind of internal radiation therapy where radioactive seeds or pellets are surgically implanted into the prostate with the use of needles.  An ultrasound picture guides the physician in placing the seeds or pellets.  Medication can be used to block any pain or discomfort which may be involved.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is when chemicals are used to kill the cancer cells.  Chemotherapy is only implemented when the cancer has spread beyond the prostate.  It is not used in the early stages of prostate cancer.

Cryotherapy

This is a procedure in which an ultrasound probe is inserted into the rectum to produce a picture that the physician will watch on a monitor.  The physician inserts probes into the prostate through small incisions between the rectum and the scrotum.  The probes release liquid nitrogen to the prostate, freezing the tissue and killing the cancer cells.

Hormone Therapy

Prostate cancer feeds on the male hormone testosterone.  Sometimes a reduction in testosterone will slow the growth of cancer.

Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists (LH-RH agonists) are drugs that reduce the production of testosterone, but without the same side effects of estrogen.  They are often times used in conjunction with hormones called antiandrogens.

Sometimes the testicles are removed in order to prevent the production of testosterone.  This procedure is referred to as orchiectomy.

Prostate Removal

When the cancer hasn’t spread beyond the prostate, prostate removal may be an option.  It is not always a cancer cure, however, and time will have to go by before doctors can be sure.

TURP

Transurethral resection of the prostate (also known as TURP) is when only a portion of the prostate is removed.  It’s removed with an instrument that is inserted through the urethra.  The cancer is then removed when electricity is passed through the end of the instrument.

Suggested Reading

• Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP)
• Prostate Health: What medications are available?