| Prostate exams are a simple and straightforward | | | | Brachytherapy is another form of radiation therapy, |
| procedure and can be conducted in a doctors office | | | | albeit one that involves actually inserting objects into |
| without any need for medical equipment or urine or | | | | the body. Radioactive pellets or seeds are injected |
| blood testing. Since every year an average of two | | | | into the prostate, and the radiation that they emit |
| hundred fifty thousand men are diagnosed with | | | | kills the cancer-infected cells. After a period of time, |
| prostate cancer, it is very important that all men | | | | the radioactivity of these seeds fades, and the |
| receive regular prostate exams. The necessity of | | | | leftover pellets are completely harmless. |
| receiving prostate exams also increases as one ages. | | | | Another prostate cancer treatment is called hormone |
| This first form of prostate cancer treatment is called | | | | therapy, and involves restricting the amount of |
| Active Surveillance. It is the medical term for | | | | testosterone that the body produces or that is |
| watching a patients cancer, but not taking action until | | | | directed to help the prostate gland grow. The most |
| the condition worsens or expands. Active Surveillance | | | | extreme version of this procedure is called |
| is used when a patient may not be able to undergo | | | | orchiectomy, and involves actually removing the |
| treatment because of complications from other | | | | testicles. Since they produce ninety-percent of the |
| conditions, or is otherwise unable to receive cancer | | | | bodys testosterone, this method is very effective, |
| treatment. | | | | but considering that the testicles must be removed, |
| The most direct route form of prostate cancer | | | | most men opt for another procedure. There are also |
| treatment is to remove the entire prostate, a | | | | drugs that halt production of testosterone |
| procedure known as a prostatectomy. An incision is | | | | derivatives, but these are not as effective as an |
| made behind the pubic bone and a portion of the | | | | orchiectomy, and some may have to be administered |
| prostate or the entire gland itself is removed. The | | | | in frequent injections. |
| urethra is then connected directly to the bladder, but | | | | As with other forms of cancer, chemotherapy is also |
| a catheter is often necessary in order to allow the | | | | an option. However, up until fairly recently, |
| patients body time to adapt to the new setup of its | | | | chemotherapy was considered only as an option for |
| urinary system. | | | | men who have stopped responding to other prostate |
| Another form of prostate cancer treatment is | | | | cancer treatments. New studies are being conducted |
| radiation therapy, which can treat prostate cancer | | | | using chemotherapy drugs. These drugs have been |
| from the outside. An MRI or CAT scan is used to | | | | approved by the Food and Drug Administration. This |
| plot the exact location of the tumor or affected cells, | | | | new form of chemotherapy is used specifically to |
| and intense bursts of x-rays are used to destroy | | | | fight prostate cancer. |
| these cells. Intensity modulated radiation therapy, or | | | | Being diagnosed with prostate cancer is by no means |
| IMRT, is a form of radiation that can be used to full | | | | a small matter, but with modern prostate cancer |
| effect on the majority of the cancer cells, but can | | | | treatments, there are many different options, and |
| be toned back to lessen the danger to cells in | | | | ones chances for survival are extremely high. |
| proximity to the bladder or rectum. | | | | |