Treatments for Prostate Cancer
Treatments for Prostate Cancer
The list of treatments mentioned in various sources
for Prostate Cancer
includes the following list.
Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment
or change in treatment plans.
Prostate Cancer: Is the Diagnosis Correct?
The first step in getting correct treatment is
to get a correct diagnosis.
Differential diagnosis list for Prostate Cancer may include:
Prostate Cancer: Marketplace Products, Discounts & Offers
Products, offers and promotion categories available for Prostate Cancer:
Curable Types of Prostate Cancer
Possibly curable types of Prostate Cancer may include:
- Prostatis induced Prostatic cancer
- Sexually transmitted diseases related Prostatic cancer
- Obesity related prostate cancer
- more curable types...»
Prostate Cancer: Research Doctors & Specialists
- Cancer Specialists:
- Urinary & Bladder Specialists (Urology):
- Kidney Health Specialists (Nephrology):
- more specialists...»
Research all specialists including ratings, affiliations, and sanctions.
Drugs and Medications used to treat Prostate Cancer:
Note:You must always seek professional medical advice about any prescription drug, OTC drug, medication, treatment
or change in treatment plans.
Some of the different medications used in the treatment of Prostate Cancer include:
- Estrogen
- Alora
- C.E.S
- Climacteron
- Climara
- Climestrone
- Congest
- Delestrogen
- Depo-Estradiol
- DV
- Esclim
- Estinyl
- Estrace
- Estraderm
- Estraguard
- Estratab
- Extrovis
- Feminone
- Femogen
- Femogex
- Gynetone
- Gynodiol
- Gynogen LA
- Menest
- Menotab
- Oesclim
- Oestrilin
- Ogen
- PMB
- PMS-Estradiol
- Premarin
- Premphase
- Prempro
- Progynon Pellet
- TACE
- Valergen-10
- Vivelle
- Vivelle-Dot
- White Premarin
- Flutamide
- Apo-Flutamide
- Euflex
- Eulexin
- Flutamex
- Ketoconazole - mainly used to treat advanced cases
- Apo-Ketoconazole - mainly used to treat advanced cases
- Nizoral - mainly used to treat advanced cases
- Nizoral A-D - mainly used to treat advanced cases
- Novo-Ketocon - mainly used to treat advanced cases
- Nu-Ketocon - mainly used to treat advanced cases
- Abarelix
- Plenaxis
- Bevacizumab
- Avastin
- Cisplatin
- Platinol-AQ
- Blastolem
- Tecnoplatin
- Docetaxel
- Taxotere
- Mitoxantrone
- Novantrone
- Mitroxone
- Suramin
- Cosudex
- Fosfestrol
- Honvan
Unlabeled Drugs and Medications to treat Prostate Cancer:
Unlabelled alternative drug treatments for Prostate Cancer include:
- Cyclophosphamide - used as a secondary drug
- Cycloblastin - used as a secondary drug
- Cytoxan - used as a secondary drug
- Neosar - used as a secondary drug
- Procytox - used as a secondary drug
- Medroxyprogesterone - used as part of combination therapy
- Alti-MPA - used as part of combination therapy
- Amen - used as part of combination therapy
- Curretab - used as part of combination therapy
- Cycrin - used as part of combination therapy
- Depo-Provera - used as part of combination therapy
- Premphase - used as part of combination therapy
- Prempro - used as part of combination therapy
- Proclim - used as part of combination therapy
- Provera - used as part of combination therapy
- Riva-Medrone - used as part of combination therapy
Hospital statistics for Prostate Cancer:
These medical statistics relate to hospitals, hospitalization and Prostate Cancer:
- 0.3% (37,718) of hospital consultant episodes were for malignant neoplasm of prostate in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- 90% of hospital consultant episodes for malignant neoplasm of prostate required hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- 100% of hospital consultant episodes for malignant neoplasm of prostate were for men in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- 22% of hospital consultant episodes for malignant neoplasm of prostate required emergency hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- 9.4 days was the mean length of stay in hospitals for malignant neoplasm of prostate in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- more hospital information...»
Hospitals & Medical Clinics: Prostate Cancer
Research quality ratings and patient incidents/safety measures
for hospitals and medical facilities in specialties related to Prostate Cancer:
Hospital & Clinic quality ratings » »
Choosing the Best Treatment Hospital:
More general information, not necessarily in relation to Prostate Cancer,
on hospital and medical facility performance and surgical care quality:
Medical news summaries about treatments for Prostate Cancer:
The following medical news items
are relevant to treatment of Prostate Cancer:
Discussion of treatments for Prostate Cancer:
Prostate Problems - Age Page - Health Information: NIA (Excerpt)
Doctors have
several ways to treat prostate cancer. The choice depends on many
factors, such as whether or not the cancer has spread beyond the
prostate, the patient’s age and general health, and how the patient
feels about the treatment options and their side effects. Approaches
to treatment include:
Watchful waiting. Some men
decide not to have treatment immediately if the cancer is growing
slowly and not causing symptoms. Instead, they have regular checkups
so they can be closely monitored by their doctor. Men who are older
or have another serious illness may choose this option.
Surgery usually removes the entire prostate and
surrounding tissues. This operation is called a radical
prostatectomy. In the past, impotence was a side effect for nearly
all men undergoing radical prostatectomy. But now, doctors can
preserve the nerves going to the penis so that men can have
erections after prostate removal.
Incontinence, the
inability to hold urine, is common for a time after radical surgery
for cancer. Most men regain urinary control within several weeks. A
few continue to have problems that require them to wear a device to
collect urine.
Another kind of surgery is a
transurethral resection, which cuts cancer from the
prostate but does not take out the entire prostate. This operation
is sometimes done to relieve symptoms caused by the tumor before
other treatment or in men who cannot have a radical prostatectomy.
Radiation therapy uses high energy rays to kill
cancer cells and shrink tumors. It is often used when cancer cells
are found in more than one area. Impotence may occur in men treated
with radiation therapy.
Hormone therapy uses
various hormones to stop cancer cells from growing. It is used for
prostate cancer that has spread to distant parts of the body. Growth
of breast tissue is a common side effect of hormone therapy. (Source: excerpt from Prostate Problems - Age Page - Health Information: NIA)
What You Need To Know About Prostate Cancer: NCI (Excerpt)
If the physical exam and test results do not suggest
cancer, the doctor may recommend medicineto reduce the
symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate. Surgery is another
way to relieve these symptoms. The surgery most often used in
such cases is called transurethral
resection of the prostate (TURP or TUR). In TURP, an
instrument is inserted through the urethra to remove prostate
tissue that is pressing against the upper part of the urethra
and restricting the flow of urine. (Patients may want to ask
whether other procedures might be appropriate.) (Source: excerpt from What You Need To Know About Prostate Cancer: NCI)
What You Need To Know About Prostate Cancer: NCI (Excerpt)
Treatment for prostate cancer may involve watchful waiting,
surgery, radiation therapy, or hormonal therapy. Some patients
receive a combination of therapies. In addition, doctors are
studying other methods of treatment to find out whether they
are effective against this disease. (The "Promise
of Cancer Research " section has information about research
studies.)
Watchful waiting may be suggested for some men who
have prostate cancer that is found at an early stage and
appears to be slow growing. Also, watchful waiting may be
advised for older men or men with other serious medical
problems. For these men, the risks and possible side effects
of surgery, radiation therapy, or hormonal therapy may
outweigh the possible benefits. Men with early stage prostate
cancer are taking part in a study to determine when or whether
treatment may be necessary and effective. (Source: excerpt from What You Need To Know About Prostate Cancer: NCI)
What You Need To Know About Prostate Cancer: NCI (Excerpt)
Surgery is a common treatment for early stage
prostate cancer. The doctor may remove all of the prostate (a
type of surgery called radical prostatectomy )
or only part of it. In some cases, the doctor can use a new
technique known as nerve-sparing surgery. This type of surgery
may save the nerves that control erection. However, men with
large tumors or tumors that are very close to the nerves may
not be able to have this surgery.
The doctor can describe the types of surgery and can
discuss and compare their benefits and risks.
-
In radical retropubic prostatectomy, the doctor removes
the entire prostate and nearby lymph nodes through an incision
in the abdomen .
-
In radical perineal prostatectomy, the doctor removes the
entire prostate through an incision between the scrotum
and the anus .
Nearby lymph nodes are sometimes removed through a separate
incision in the abdomen.
-
In transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), the
doctor removes part of the prostate with an instrument that
is inserted through the urethra. The cancer is cut from the
prostate by electricity passing through a small wire loop on
the end of the instrument. This method is used mainly to
remove tissue that blocks urine flow.
If the pathologist finds cancer cells in the lymph nodes,
it is likely that the disease has spread to other parts of the
body. Sometimes, the doctor removes the lymph nodes before
doing a prostatectomy. If the prostate cancer has not spread
to the lymph nodes, the doctor then removes the prostate. But
if cancer has spread to the nodes, the doctor usually does not
remove the prostate, but may suggest other treatment.
|
These are some questions a patient may want to ask
the doctor before having surgery:
-
What kind of operation will I have?
-
How will I feel after the operation?
-
If I have pain, how will you help?
-
How long will I be in the hospital?
-
When can I get back to my normal activities?
-
Will I have any lasting side effects?
-
What is my chance of a full
recovery? |
Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) uses
high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells. Like surgery,
radiation therapy is local
therapy ; it can affect cancer cells only in the
treated area. In early stage prostate cancer, radiation can be
used instead of surgery, or it may be used after surgery to
destroy any cancer cells that may remain in the area. In
advanced stages, it may be given to relieve pain or other
problems.
Radiation may be directed at the body by a machine (external
radiation ), or it may come from tiny radioactive seeds
placed inside or near the tumor (internal
or implant
radiation , or brachytherapy ).
Men who receive radioactive seeds alone usually have small
tumors. Some men with prostate cancer receive both kinds of
radiation therapy.
For external radiation therapy, patients go to the hospital
or clinic, usually 5 days a week for several weeks. Patients
may stay in the hospital for a short time for implant
radiation.
Hormonal therapy keeps cancer cells from getting the
male hormones they need to grow. It is called systemic
therapy because it can affect cancer cells throughout
the body. Systemic therapy is used to treat cancer that has
spread. Sometimes this type of therapy is used to try to
prevent the cancer from coming back after surgery or radiation
treatment.
There are several forms of hormonal therapy:
-
Orchiectomy
is surgery to remove the testicles, which are the main
source of male hormones.
-
Drugs known as luteinizing
hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) agonists can
prevent the testicles from producing testosterone. Examples
are leuprolide ,
goserelin ,
and buserelin .
-
Drugs known as antiandrogens
can block the action of androgens. Two examples are flutamide
and bicalutamide .
-
Drugs that can prevent the adrenal
glands from making androgens include ketoconazole
and aminoglutethimide .
After orchiectomy or treatment with an LH-RH agonist, the
body no longer gets testosterone from the testicles. However,
the adrenal glands still produce small amounts of male
hormones. Sometimes, the patient is also given an
antiandrogen, which blocks the effect of any remaining male
hormones. This combination of treatments is known as total
androgen blockade . Doctors do not know for sure
whether total androgen blockade is more effective than
orchiectomy or LH-RH agonist alone.
Prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body
usually can be controlled with hormonal therapy for a period
of time, often several years. Eventually, however, most
prostate cancers are able to grow with very little or no male
hormones. When this happens, hormonal therapy is no longer
effective, and the doctor may suggest other forms of treatment
that are under study. (Source: excerpt from What You Need To Know About Prostate Cancer: NCI)
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Book Excerpts: Treatment of Prostate Cancer
Treatments of Prostate Cancer: Online Medical Books
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Prostatic cancer:
Treatment
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Management of prostatic cancer depends on clinical assessment, tolerance of therapy, expected life span, and the stage of the disease. Treatment must be chosen carefully, because prostatic cancer usually affects older men, who commonly have coexisting disorders, such as hypertension, diabetes, or cardiac disease.
Therapy varies with each stage of the disease and generally includes radiation, prostatectomy, orchiectomy to reduce androgen production, and hormone therapy with synthetic estrogen (diethylstilbestrol [DES]) and antiandrogens, such as cyproterone, megestrol, and flutamide. Radical prostatectomy is usually effective for localized lesions.
Radiation therapy is used to cure some locally invasive lesions and to relieve pain from metastatic bone involvement. A single injection of the radionuclide strontium 89 is also used to treat pain caused by bone metastasis.
If hormone therapy, surgery, and radiation therapy aren't feasible or successful, chemotherapy (using combinations of mitoxantrone with prednisone, estramustine, docetaxel, and paclitaxel) may be tried. However, current drug therapy offers limited benefit. Combining several treatment methods may be most effective.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Benign prostatic hyperplasia:
Treatment
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Conservative therapy includes prostate massages, sitz baths, fluid restriction for bladder distention, and antimicrobials for infection. If symptoms are mild, methods for relief may include avoiding alcohol and caffeine, especially after dinner; urinating when the urge is initially felt; avoiding over-the-counter cold and sinus medications that contain decongestants or antihistamines because they can increase BPH symptoms; keeping warm and exercising regularly as cold weather and lack of physical activity may worsen symptoms; performing pelvic strengthening exercises (Kegel exercises); reducing stress because nervousness and tension can lead to more frequent urination. Some males have had success taking extracts of saw palmetto berries, an herb that has been used to ease prostate symptoms. Fat-soluble saw palmetto extract that has been standardized to contain 85% to 95% fatty acids and sterols is more effective. Regular ejaculation may help relieve prostatic congestion.
Urine flow rates can be improved with alpha1-adrenergic blockers, which relieve bladder outlet obstruction by preventing contractions of the prostatic capsule and bladder neck. Finasteride lowers levels of hormones produced by the prostate, reduces the size of the prostate gland, increases urine flow rate, and decreases symptoms of BPH. It may take 3 to 6 months before a significant improvement in symptoms occurs. Potential adverse effects related to finasteride include decreased sex drive and impotence.
Surgery is the only effective therapy to relieve acute urine retention, hydronephrosis, severe hematuria, recurrent UTIs, and other intolerable symptoms. A transurethral resection may be performed if the prostate weighs less than 2 oz (56.7 g). In this procedure, a resectoscope removes tissue with a wire loop and electric current. In high-risk patients, continuous drainage with an indwelling urinary catheter alleviates urine retention. Transurethral needle ablation may be used to heat and destroy prostate tissue by radiofrequency; this helps spare surrounding tissue.
The following procedures involve open surgical removal:
❑ suprapubic (transvesical) resection: most common and useful when prostatic enlargement remains within the bladder
❑ retropubic (extravesical) resection: allows direct visualization; potency and continence are usually maintained.
Balloon dilatation of the prostate is still being investigated. Balloon dilatation or balloon urethroplasty involves passing a flexible balloon catheter through the urethra at the level of the prostate while being guided by fluoroscope. The balloon is inflated for a short time to distend the prostatic urethra.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Prostatitis:
Treatment
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Systemic antibiotic therapy chosen according to the infecting organism is the treatment of choice for acute prostatitis. If sepsis is likely, I.V. antibiotics may be given until sensitivity test results are known. If test results and clinical response are favorable, parenteral therapy continues for 48 hours to 1 week, after which an oral agent is substituted for 30 days. For infections caused by a sexually transmitted disease, injection of ceftriaxone followed by a 10-day course of doxycycline or floxacin is effective.
Supportive therapy includes bed rest, adequate hydration, and administration of analgesics, antipyretics, sitz baths, and stool softeners as necessary. Diet therapy includes avoiding substances that irritate the bladder, such as alcohol, caffeinated food and beverages, citrus juices, and hot or spicy foods. Increasing the intake of fluids (1,893 to 3,785 ml/day) encourages frequent urination that will help flush the bacteria from the bladder. In symptomatic chronic prostatitis, regular massage of the prostate is most effective. Regular ejaculation may help promote drainage of prostatic secretions. Anticholinergics and analgesics may help relieve nonbacterial prostatitis symptoms.
If drug therapy is unsuccessful, treatment may include transurethral resection of the prostate, which requires removal of all infected tissue. However, this procedure usually isn’t performed on young adults because it may cause retrograde ejaculation and sterility. Total prostatectomy is curative but may cause impotence and incontinence.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Malignant spinal neoplasms:
Treatment
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Treatment of spinal cord tumors generally includes decompression or radiation. Laminectomy is indicated for primary tumors that produce spinal cord or cauda equina compression; it isn't usually indicated for metastatic tumors. If the tumor is slowly progressive or if it's treated before the cord degenerates from compression, symptoms are likely to disappear, and complete restoration of function is possible. In a patient with metastatic carcinoma or lymphoma who suddenly experiences complete transverse myelitis with spinal shock, functional improvement is unlikely, even with treatment, and his outlook is ominous. If the patient has incomplete paraplegia of rapid onset, emergency surgical decompression may save cord function. Steroid therapy with dexamethasone minimizes cord edema and temporarily relieves symptoms until surgery can be performed. Partial removal of intramedullary gliomas, followed by radiation, may alleviate symptoms for a short time. Metastatic extradural tumors can be controlled with radiation, analgesics and, in the case of hormone-mediated tumors (breast and prostate), appropriate hormone therapy. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) may control radicular pain from spinal cord tumors and is a useful alternative to opioid analgesics. In TENS, an electrical charge is applied to the skin to stimulate large-diameter nerve fibers and thereby inhibit transmission of pain impulses through small-diameter nerve fibers. Chemotherapy generally hasn't proven effective against most spinal tumors, but may be recommended in some cases.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Prostatic cancer:
Treatment
(Handbook of Diseases)
Management of prostatic cancer depends on clinical assessment, tolerance of therapy, expected life span, and the stage of the disease. Treatment must be chosen carefully because prostatic cancer usually affects older men, who commonly have coexisting disorders, such as hypertension, diabetes, or cardiac disease. If the patient is younger than age 70, a radical prostatectomy is commonly performed. If the patient is age 70 or older, radiation (including implants) or cryosurgery may be performed to ablate the cancer.
Therapy varies with each stage of the disease and generally includes radiation, prostatectomy, orchiectomy to reduce androgen production, and hormone therapy with synthetic estrogen (diethylstilbestrol [DES]) and antiandrogens, such as cyproterone, meges-trol, and flutamide. Radical prostatectomy is usually effective for localized lesions.
Radiation therapy is used to cure some locally invasive lesions and to relieve pain from metastatic bone involvement. A single injection of the radionuclide strontium-89 is also used to treat pain caused by bone metastasis.
If hormone therapy, surgery, and radiation therapy aren’t feasible or successful, chemotherapy (using combinations of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, fluorouracil, cisplatin, etoposide, and vindesine) may be tried. However, current drug therapy offers little benefit. Combining several treatment methods may be most effective.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Benign prostatic hyperplasia:
Treatment
(Handbook of Diseases)
Treatment depends on the cause, severity of the obstruction and the status of the patient. Conservative therapy includes prostate massages, sitz baths, fluid restriction for bladder distention, and an antimicrobial for infection. Regular ejaculation may help relieve prostatic congestion.
Urine flow rates can be improved with alpha-adrenergic blockers, such as terazosin, tamsulosin, and prazosin. These drugs relieve bladder outlet obstruction by preventing contractions of the prostatic capsule and bladder neck. Finasteride may also reduce the size of the prostate in some patients.
Surgery is the only effective therapy to relieve acute urine retention, hydronephrosis, severe hematuria, recurrent urinary tract infections, and other intolerable signs and symptoms. (See Combating septic shock after prostate surgery.)
A transurethral resection may be performed if the prostate weighs less than 2 oz (57.2 g). In this procedure, a resectoscope removes tissue with a wire loop and electric current. In high-risk patients, continuous drainage with an indwelling urinary catheter alleviates urine retention.
Alternatively, large prostates can be removed by one of two surgical approaches:
❑ suprapubic (transvesical) resection: most common and useful when prostatic enlargement remains within the bladder
❑ retropubic (extravesical) resection: allows direct visualization; potency and continence are usually maintained.
Balloon dilatation of the prostate is ineffective. Transurethral microwaves (heat therapy) are now being used in some patients. Their efficacy lies between that of the use of an alpha1-adrenergic blocker and surgery.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Prostatitis:
Treatment
(Handbook of Diseases)
Appropriate treatment includes drug therapy and supportive measures. Surgery may be necessary if drug therapy is unsuccessful.
Drug therapy
Systemic antibiotic therapy is the treatment of choice for acute prostatitis. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, fluoroquinolones, and tetracycline derivatives are used most commonly. If prostatitis is due to a sexually transmitted disease, ceftriaxone and doxycycline or floxacin are used.
If test results and clinical response are favorable, parenteral therapy continues for 48 hours to 1 week; then an oral agent is substituted for 30 more days.
Support measures
Supportive therapy includes bed rest, adequate hydration, and administration of analgesics, antipyretics, sitz baths, and stool softeners as necessary. In symptomatic chronic prostatitis, regular massage of the prostate is most effective. Regular ejaculation may help promote drainage of prostatic secretions. Anticholinergics and analgesics may help relieve nonbacterial prostatitis symptoms. Alpha-adrenergic blockers and muscle relaxants may relieve prostatodynia. Antispasmolytics may be administered for bladder spasms.
Surgery
If drug therapy is unsuccessful, treatment may include transurethral resection of the prostate, which requires removal of all infected tissue. However, this procedure usually isn’t performed on young adults, because it may cause retrograde ejaculation and sterility. Total prostatectomy is curative but may cause impotence and incontinence.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
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