| Prostate cancer is the most common occurring | | | | External beam radiation is another of the |
| cancer in men worldwide, and thus is an | | | | more common prostate cancer treatments, and |
| incredibly serious issue. Prostate cancer is | | | | it is one that is more readily available, and |
| a cancer that occurs in the prostate gland, | | | | in which beams of high-energy radiation are |
| which is part of the male reproductive | | | | directed from outside the body towards a |
| system. The prostate gland is the size of a | | | | target inside of the body. Hormone therapy is |
| large walnut, and it is located just below | | | | yet another of the most popular prostate |
| the bladder and next to the urethra. | | | | cancer treatments, and is actually one of the |
| | | | oldest means of treating prostate cancer as |
| Prostate cancer starts in the glandular | | | | well. |
| tissue of the prostate gland, and although | | | | |
| the exact cause of this cancer is unknown, | | | | Hormone therapy is also known as androgen |
| what is known is that the cancer most often | | | | deprivation therapy, and the point or goal of |
| occurs in men over the age of fifty, with | | | | it is to reduce levels of the male hormones, |
| married men for some reason being at much | | | | or androgens, in the body, as these can |
| higher risk than single men. | | | | actually be responsible for helping the |
| | | | disease to spread. Therefore, lowering the |
| Prostate Cancer Treatments | | | | levels of these androgens will often make the |
| | | | prostate cancer shrink or at least grow more |
| Although as of yet there is no cure for | | | | slowly. |
| prostate cancer, there are various prostate | | | | |
| cancer treatments that are available to help | | | | Hormone therapy is typically used in the |
| you. One of the most common prostate cancer | | | | following situations: if your prostate cancer |
| treatments is surgery, and surgical removal | | | | remains or comes back after treatment with |
| of the prostate, also known as radical | | | | surgery or radiation therapy, as an addition |
| prostatectomy, is available to many men who | | | | to radiation therapy as initial treatment if |
| are suffering from localized prostate cancer. | | | | you are at high risk for cancer recurrence, |
| | | | before surgery or radiation to try and shrink |
| This surgery involves the removal of the | | | | the cancer to make other treatments more |
| prostate and as well the surrounding tissues, | | | | effective, and if you are not able to have |
| a specified portion of the urethra, and the | | | | surgery or radiation treatments. |
| seminal vesicles. During the surgery when the | | | | |
| prostate is being removed, the surgeon will | | | | The particular type of treatment that you |
| attempt to save the nerves that are | | | | should use for your prostate cancer will be |
| surrounding the prostate, those which are | | | | decided by your doctor, and you should never |
| responsible for erections. This however is | | | | attempt getting involved with any method of |
| not guaranteed. | | | | treatment without referral from your |
| | | | physician first. |