| If you have prostate cancer, are concerned about | | | | spread. Prostate cancer that has spread |
| getting it, or if you're looking out for the health of | | | | (metastasized) may be treated conventionally with |
| someone you love, this article can help. In most men, | | | | drugs to reduce testosterone levels, surgery to |
| prostate cancer grows very slowly: most men will | | | | remove the testes, chemotherapy or nothing at all. |
| never know they have the condition. Prostate cancer | | | | Anyone considering surgery should be aware of the |
| is the third most common cause of death from | | | | benefits, risks and the extent of the procedure. |
| cancer in men of all ages and is the most common | | | | Urinary incontinence can be a possible complication of |
| cause of death from cancer in men over 75 years | | | | surgery. Some drugs with numerous side effects are |
| old. | | | | being used to treat advanced prostate cancer, |
| Prostate cancer is normally a slow growth cancer | | | | blocking the production of testosterone, called |
| that can take years before it becomes deadly. The | | | | chemical castration; it has the same result as surgical |
| most common cancer in American men, excluding skin | | | | removal of the testes. Thoroughly discuss your |
| cancer, is prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the | | | | treatment options and concerns with your doctor |
| second leading cause of cancer deaths among men in | | | | and other health professionals; it never hurts to get a |
| the U.S. | | | | second or even third opinion or more if necessary. |
| Other symptoms might include unintentional weight | | | | Radiation therapy is used primarily to treat prostate |
| loss and lethargy. Additional symptoms that may be | | | | cancers classified as stages A, B, or C. Impotence is |
| associated with this disease are bone pain or | | | | a potential complication after the prostatectomy or |
| tenderness, and abdominal pain. One symptom is a | | | | after radiation therapy. Surgery is usually only |
| need to urinate frequently, especially at night. | | | | recommended after thorough evaluation and |
| If cancer is caught at its earliest stages, most men | | | | discussion of all available treatment options. |
| will not experience any symptoms. One prostate | | | | Medications can have many side effects, including hot |
| cancer symptom is difficulty starting urination or | | | | flashes and loss of sexual desire. Surgery, radiation, |
| holding back urine. Weak or interrupted flow of urine | | | | hormonal therapy and chemotherapy all have |
| and painful or burning urination can be symptoms to | | | | significant side effects; know fully what they are |
| watch out for. | | | | before you proceed. What you can do now is begin |
| One downside to PSA testing is that health care | | | | to understand what exactly your treatment options |
| providers are detecting and treating some very | | | | are and where you're going to begin. |
| early-stage prostate cancers that may never have | | | | If chemotherapy is decided upon after the first round |
| caused the patient any harm. A chest x-ray may be | | | | of chemotherapy, most men receive further doses |
| done to see if there's a spread of cancer. What is | | | | on an outpatient basis at a clinic or physician's office. |
| called a free PSA may help tell the difference | | | | Surgery, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy can |
| between BPH (benign prostatic hypertrophy), an | | | | interfere with libido on a temporary or permanent |
| enlargement of the prostate gland, and prostate | | | | basis. |
| cancer. | | | | The one thing that you should not do however is |
| A prostate biopsy usually confirms the diagnosis. The | | | | rely on any information obtained from the Internet to |
| decision about whether to pursue a PSA test should | | | | make your final decision. With the advent of PSA |
| be based on a discussion between you and your | | | | testing, most prostate cancers are now found |
| doctor. A bone scan can indicate whether the cancer | | | | before they cause any symptoms. In the end, only |
| has spread or not. | | | | you with the help of your doctors, knowing your |
| Hormone manipulation is mainly used as a treatment | | | | individual situation, can determine the best treatment |
| to relieve symptoms in men whose cancer has | | | | program for you. |