Treatment for Prostate Cancer

Prostate is a form of cancer that originates in the prostate. The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system. Metastasis can occur from the malignant tumor in the prostate to other parts of the body, most commonly the bones and lymph nodes. The symptoms brought about by the cancer are pain in the pelvic part of the body, difficulty in urinating, problems during sexual contact, or erectile dysfunction. Other symptoms may develop as the disease progresses.

Conventional treatment for prostate cancer is available in varied options. Surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy are three common treatment forms. The extent of the prostate cancer, the general state of the patient, and all influential factors assist in determining the most appropriate treatment combination.

Surgical oncology is a treatment for prostate cancer which is the oldest form of treating cancer. Surgery plays an important role in diagnosing and staging cancer and may be done for many other reasons. It may be preventative or prophylactic surgery, curative surgery, debulking or cytoreductive surgery, palliative surgery, supportive surgery, and restorative or reconstructive surgery.

Chemotherapy as a treatment for prostate cancer treats the disease with the use of drugs (anticancer drugs) that can kill prostate cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be administered intravenously, by injection, or by mouth. Chemotherapy may be used alone, or in combination with radiation therapy or surgery. New approaches have been developed to reduce side effects such as nausea, vomiting, hair loss, and mouth sores.

Radiation is a treatment for prostate cancer used to treat the cancer and provide relief for symptoms as well. Advanced radiation techniques are available such as high dose rate (HDR) Brachytherapy and intensity modulation radiation therapy (IMRT) that aid in the patient’s fight against prostate cancer. Three-dimensional conformal radiation is an innovative radiation technique that uses computed tomography (CT) to expose an exact contoured area to radiation allowing normal tissue to be spared in the process. The external beam radiation technique involves directing radiation beams from outside the body, focusing on cancerous internal organ or tissue within the body.

Biotherapy or immunotherapy is a treatment for prostate cancer which uses the body’s immune system to fight prostate cancer or lessen side effects caused by other cancer treatments.

Non-conventional therapy or complementary and alternative medicine covers a wide range of healing and treating approaches. Most non-conventional treatment alternatives complement conventional cancer therapies such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.

Nutritional therapy is a treatment for prostate cancer that is possible through proper assessment of a patient’s risk for malnutrition where an individual nutrition plan is implemented. Pain management is a treatment with the goal of providing relief from pain and maintaining a normal quality of life. Naturopathic medicine is a form of treatment that assists in maintaining physical well being and helps avoid physical weakness. Mind-body medicine or psychoneuroimmunology refers to management of a patient’s way of thinking, emotions, and mood states. Physical therapy ensures that the patient maintains a corresponding level of physical activity. Therapies involving spiritual support inspire and motivate patients in connection to their treatment methods to fight cancer.