| If you've been told that you have prostate cancer, | | | | cancer has dangerously spread beyond the prostate |
| then you've probably had The Prostate-Specific | | | | gland of victims. The major benefit of this radiation |
| Antigen (PSA) Test, been physically checked and | | | | treatment strategy is that it will help to spare healthy |
| probably have already had a biopsy performed. Once | | | | nearby tissues. This in turn will limit the side effects |
| all this has established your condition, your cancer is | | | | experienced. |
| then assigned a score. | | | | This type of treatment plan is not available in all |
| These scores determine what stage your cancer has | | | | hospitals. Most larger towns and cities however have |
| progressed. During the biopsy, the lab will assign | | | | nuclear medicine options available. Given the high |
| what's called a Gleason score helps the doctor in | | | | success rate of this prostate cancer treatment, it's |
| determining what stage your prostate cancer is | | | | well worth your time to locate health resources that |
| currently in. The appropriateness of any treatment is | | | | specialize in this type of program |
| dependant on the advancement of your prostate | | | | Remember that just because you have been |
| cancer. Staging and the Gleason score will help | | | | diagnosed with prostate cancer, it's not a death |
| determine which treatment program is right for you. | | | | sentence. Many people with prostate cancer have |
| While a prostate cancer is considered serious, don't | | | | followed their doctors advice and went with a |
| forget that it's typically very slow growing. If your | | | | treatment known simply as watchful waiting. As the |
| cancer has progressed to the stage where | | | | name implies, watchful waiting is a situation where no |
| intervention is necessary, a procedure known as | | | | direct action is taken to treat the prostate cancer. |
| Brachytherapy may be in order. | | | | The reason for this is to maintain the quality of life |
| Simply put, radioactive material is sealed in small | | | | for as long as possible. Direct intervention plans such |
| seeds or pellets that are placed directly around a | | | | as Brachytherapy are not without their risks and side |
| prostate tumor. It is also called an internal radiation or | | | | effects. |
| implant radiation. There's no question that this | | | | Watchful waiting may be an appropriate course of |
| treatment program is effective and does a good job | | | | action for your prostate cancer depending on your |
| in controlling prostate cancer | | | | age and other factors. Only you and your doctor can |
| Internal radiotherapy or Brachytherapy is usually the | | | | determine what treatment program is right for you. |
| recommended prostate cancer treatment when the | | | | |