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