| Cancer that grows in the prostate gland is called | | | | outside your body called external beam radiation |
| prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the second | | | | therapy, or you may have material that is radioactive |
| leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the | | | | that is placed in your body near where the cancer is |
| U.S. About one man in six will be diagnosed with | | | | located. This is referred to as internal radiation |
| prostate cancer during his lifetime, but only one man | | | | therapy. |
| in 34 will die of the disease. | | | | A relatively new technique, which is still being |
| In the early stages, surgery and radiation may be | | | | evaluated, is known as cryosurgery. During |
| used to remove or attempt to kill the cancer cells or | | | | cryosurgery, which is carried out under anesthesia, |
| shrink the tumor. Doctors will usually advice you to | | | | cooling probes are guided into the prostate using |
| undergo a surgical operation. You will then be given | | | | ultrasound and the cancer cells are killed by freezing |
| some medications to take. Many studies have shown | | | | them. |
| that this combination reduces the pains experienced | | | | The form of treatment used for early stage cancer |
| by men to a great extent especially if the prostate | | | | is high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). This |
| cancer has spread to the bones. The cancer will not | | | | procedure is carried out under anesthesia (or using a |
| totally disappear nor will you live longer. Seek medical | | | | local spinal anesthetic) and a probe is placed into the |
| advice too and you would be in a better position to | | | | prostate gland through the rectum. A beam of high |
| decide according to your own health and your | | | | intensity focused ultrasound is them used to raise the |
| personal values. Medications can have many side | | | | temperature in the area of focus and thus to kill the |
| effects, including hot flashes and loss of sexual desire. | | | | cancer cells |
| Urinary incontinence can be a possible complication of | | | | For late stage prostate cancer hormone therapy is |
| surgery. | | | | used and this is designed not to attack the cancer |
| Also a form of treatment used for early stage | | | | itself but to target the male hormones (in particular |
| cancer is high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). | | | | testosterone), which the cancer cells need to grow. |
| This procedure is carried out under anesthesia (or | | | | In cases where hormone therapy proves ineffective, |
| using a local spinal anesthetic) and a probe is placed | | | | systematic radiation therapy or chemotherapy may |
| into the prostate gland through the rectum. A beam | | | | be recommended. |
| of high intensity focused ultrasound is them used to | | | | The outcome of prostate cancer varies greatly; |
| raise the temperature in the area of focus and thus | | | | mostly because the disease is found in older men |
| to kill the cancer cells | | | | who may have a variety of other complicating |
| Another prostate cancer treatment option is radiation | | | | diseases or conditions, such as cardiac or respiratory |
| therapy. This prostate cancer treatment includes the | | | | disease, or disabilities that immobilize or greatly |
| use of radiation of high energy from protons, | | | | decrease their activities. Whatever the stage of your |
| neutrons, gamma rays and x-rays, as well as other | | | | cancer it is important to consider all of the options |
| sources to kill the cancerous cells and to shrink any | | | | carefully and weigh the advantages, disadvantages |
| existing tumors. There are two ways that radiation | | | | and risks of each carefully before choosing the |
| therapy can be administered as prostate cancer | | | | treatment that is best for you. |
| treatment. The first is from a machine that is located | | | | |