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