| Prostate cancer is the most commonly | | | | Treatment for Prostate Cancer |
| diagnosed cancer of UK men. If it is found | | | | |
| early and is still confined to the gland | | | | Sometimes the best treatment for prostate |
| itself then the chances of survival are | | | | cancer can be to not treat it at all. This is |
| excellent. Modern surgical techniques, | | | | sometimes the case of older men when it is |
| combined with drugs such as Viagra, mean that | | | | judged that surgery or other treatments may |
| an operation to treat prostate cancer does | | | | cause more harm than good. |
| not signal the end of a patient's sex-life. | | | | |
| | | | If the cancer has spread from the prostate, |
| The prostate itself is a small, walnut-sized | | | | or it is believed that it will spread, then |
| gland situated near the bladder in men that | | | | surgery is normally the first course of |
| produces one component of semen. There are a | | | | action to remove it whilst is still possible |
| broad range of prostate cancers, some of | | | | and prevent further spreading. A |
| which are extremely gentle and indolent and | | | | prostatectomy is when the prostate gland is |
| may not cause any significant ill health. | | | | removed, usually along with small parts of |
| However, others have the ability to spread to | | | | the lymphatic system near the gland. However, |
| other parts of the body and cause more | | | | this type of surgery can cause nerve damage |
| significant damage if not treated. This means | | | | which can prevent men from getting an |
| it is important to catch prostate cancer | | | | erection ever again, or maintain complete |
| early and then it is possible to treat it | | | | control over urination. This does not mean |
| using a radiotherapy and surgery. | | | | that a man's sex life is over though as |
| | | | modern "nerve-sparing" surgical techniques, |
| The Symptoms of Prostate Cancer | | | | when combined with drugs such as Viagra, can |
| | | | ensure that the effects on both function and |
| The first sign of prostate cancer can be | | | | quality of life are minimised. |
| noticed when you go to the toilet. You may | | | | |
| find that you are going to the toilet a lot | | | | Other treatment option is radiotherapy which |
| more and that you are unable to maintain a | | | | will be precisely targeted on the pelvic |
| full stream whilst urinating. However, these | | | | area, whilst other doctors are fighting |
| problems are also associated with a number of | | | | prostate cancer by using the body's own |
| medical problems and do not always signal | | | | hormones. In the latter's case, prostate |
| prostate cancer. | | | | cells, including cancerous ones, which are |
| | | | sensitive to levels of certain male hormones, |
| The symptoms of prostate cancer are caused by | | | | can be rendered far less active if levels are |
| the growth of cells, whether malignant or | | | | reduced. However, this can reduce the |
| benign, pushing against the urethra, the thin | | | | sex-drive of the patient. |
| tube which links the bladder to the penis. If | | | | |
| you are suffering from the above symptoms | | | | Advances in Prostate Cancer Surgery |
| then you should also look out for painful | | | | |
| urination or ejaculation, blood in urine or | | | | Advances in prostate cancer surgery mean that |
| semen, and pain in lower back, hips or | | | | surgeons can now successfully remove the |
| thighs. | | | | prostate without causing the problematic |
| | | | nerve damage which has been inevitable in the |
| Again these symptoms could be caused by any | | | | past. In addition, radiotherapy technology |
| number of things, including infection, but it | | | | advances mean that far higher doses can be |
| would be wise to visit your GP to get them | | | | targeted more precisely on the prostate, |
| checked out. There are several ways that a | | | | killing more cancer cells with fewer |
| doctor can check for prostate cancer. The | | | | treatments. |
| simplest way is the digital rectal | | | | |
| examination, in which the doctor insert a | | | | A technique called prostate brachytherapy has |
| gloved finger into the rectum to feel for an | | | | also made some great advances in recent times |
| an enlarged prostate. Following this a blood | | | | and its use is becoming more and more common. |
| test can be conducted to look for any rises | | | | There are two methods of brachytherapy - |
| in any chemicals in the blood, and after this | | | | permanent seed implantation and high dose |
| comes more sophisticated tests, such as | | | | rate (HDR) temporary brachytherapy. |
| ultrasound scans, and x-rays. | | | | |
| | | | Permanent seed implantation involves |
| The Causes of Prostate Cancer | | | | injecting approximately 100 radioactive seeds |
| | | | into the prostate gland, which give off |
| The exact causes of prostate cancer are still | | | | cancer-killing radiation at a low dose rate |
| unclear but there are a number of factors | | | | over several weeks or months, and the seeds |
| which may increase your chances of developing | | | | remain in the prostate gland permanently. |
| it. These include, but are not limited to, a | | | | |
| family history of prostate cancer, and a | | | | HDR temporary brachytherapy involves placing |
| fat-rich diet. | | | | very tiny plastic catheters into the prostate |
| | | | gland, and then giving a series of radiation |
| There have been a number of studies into the | | | | treatments through these catheters. |
| link between prostate cancer and vasectomy | | | | |
| but these have so far proved to be | | | | Another option is High Intensity Focussed |
| inconclusive. | | | | Ultrasound, which uses sound waves to "melt" |
| | | | away the cancer. |