Alternative Prostate Cancer Treatments
In 2011, an estimated 25,500 Canadian men were diagnosed with prostate cancer. An additional 250,000 men were diagnosed in the U.S. When you learn that you have a disease like prostate cancer, it can be devastating news. It is not, however, the death sentence you may think. In fact, if it is caught in its early stages, the chances of a cure are quite high and a number of prostate cancer treatment options are available.
In its later stages however, once the cancer has grown beyond the prostate gland itself, a cure is unlikely. This is why early detection is so crucial. If you're a man over 50 or if you develop any of these symptoms, see your doctor and get checked:
-Difficulty with starting the flow when you urinate
-You are unable to urinate
-Your urine flow is weak or feeble
-Urination is more frequent, especially at night
-The need to urinate is intense
-Your urine flow is interrupted or stops completely
-You're unable to stop your urine flow if you need to
-You feel that your bladder is not empty after you urinate
-You experience pain urinating
-You have blood your semen or urine
-You feel pain during ejaculation
Treatment Options
When it's time to seek treatment for cancer of the prostate, you need to be informed of your options. After all, it's your body and if there are side effects or the chance of unintended consequences, you have a right to know what to expect.
Your physician will look at your cancer test results to determine your Gleason score. The Gleason score is a scale used to measure the seriousness and advancement of your cancer. It ranges from a score of 2 where the cancer is confined to the prostate gland to a score of 7 or higher, where the cancer has spread into the tissue surrounding the prostate. The treatment recommended by your doctor will depend greatly on how far the cancer has spread as well as other factors like your age and overall health.
Surgery
Your prostate can be completely removed. This surgery requires a number of days in hospital and you must be put under general anesthetic.
Surgery is invasive and, when the cancer is confined only to the prostate gland, it can be curative, although it often results in impotence and moderate to severe urinary incontinence. With advanced age, surgery carries additional risks and recovery time can be extensive.
External Beam Radiotherapy
While radiotherapy is typically done on an out-patient basis and does not require anesthetic, it is most frequently done on a five day per week basis for a period of seven to eight weeks.
It involves focusing a beam of radiation at the prostate. Some complications that can occur are inflammation of the bladder or rectum and may result in impotence. It can also result in damage to the rectal sphincter causing spoiled stools.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment where chemicals toxic to cancer cells are administered. This treatment can slow the growth of cancerous tumors and is used to relieve pain or to control the cancer's growth when a cure is not possible. It may also be used to destroy any microscopic cancer cells remaining after surgery.
Brachytherapy
Brachytherapy involves injecting radioactive seed pellets directly into the prostate gland. It can take up to forty sequential injections and requires that you undergo general anesthetic for about 2 or 3 hours. It is an effective treatment, but the cancer has been known to return.
Cryotherapy
As the name implies, your prostate can be frozen and then thawed. This destroys the cancerous tissue but can result in urinary incontinence, impotence and pelvic pain.
HIFU
HIFU stands for high intensity focused ultrasound. Ultrasound waves are used to heat cancerous cells, destroying them with very little chance of the cancer returning.
As a prostate cancer alternative treatment, HIFU stands alone as one that is not invasive and has the fewest side effects. It is performed as an outpatient procedure lasting 2-3 hours, and recovery is much quicker. Learn about the HIFU prostate cancer treatment and other treatments to make an informed decision about which one is right for you.
In its later stages however, once the cancer has grown beyond the prostate gland itself, a cure is unlikely. This is why early detection is so crucial. If you're a man over 50 or if you develop any of these symptoms, see your doctor and get checked:
-Difficulty with starting the flow when you urinate
-You are unable to urinate
-Your urine flow is weak or feeble
-Urination is more frequent, especially at night
-The need to urinate is intense
-Your urine flow is interrupted or stops completely
-You're unable to stop your urine flow if you need to
-You feel that your bladder is not empty after you urinate
-You experience pain urinating
-You have blood your semen or urine
-You feel pain during ejaculation
Treatment Options
When it's time to seek treatment for cancer of the prostate, you need to be informed of your options. After all, it's your body and if there are side effects or the chance of unintended consequences, you have a right to know what to expect.
Your physician will look at your cancer test results to determine your Gleason score. The Gleason score is a scale used to measure the seriousness and advancement of your cancer. It ranges from a score of 2 where the cancer is confined to the prostate gland to a score of 7 or higher, where the cancer has spread into the tissue surrounding the prostate. The treatment recommended by your doctor will depend greatly on how far the cancer has spread as well as other factors like your age and overall health.
Surgery
Your prostate can be completely removed. This surgery requires a number of days in hospital and you must be put under general anesthetic.
Surgery is invasive and, when the cancer is confined only to the prostate gland, it can be curative, although it often results in impotence and moderate to severe urinary incontinence. With advanced age, surgery carries additional risks and recovery time can be extensive.
External Beam Radiotherapy
While radiotherapy is typically done on an out-patient basis and does not require anesthetic, it is most frequently done on a five day per week basis for a period of seven to eight weeks.
It involves focusing a beam of radiation at the prostate. Some complications that can occur are inflammation of the bladder or rectum and may result in impotence. It can also result in damage to the rectal sphincter causing spoiled stools.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment where chemicals toxic to cancer cells are administered. This treatment can slow the growth of cancerous tumors and is used to relieve pain or to control the cancer's growth when a cure is not possible. It may also be used to destroy any microscopic cancer cells remaining after surgery.
Brachytherapy
Brachytherapy involves injecting radioactive seed pellets directly into the prostate gland. It can take up to forty sequential injections and requires that you undergo general anesthetic for about 2 or 3 hours. It is an effective treatment, but the cancer has been known to return.
Cryotherapy
As the name implies, your prostate can be frozen and then thawed. This destroys the cancerous tissue but can result in urinary incontinence, impotence and pelvic pain.
HIFU
HIFU stands for high intensity focused ultrasound. Ultrasound waves are used to heat cancerous cells, destroying them with very little chance of the cancer returning.
As a prostate cancer alternative treatment, HIFU stands alone as one that is not invasive and has the fewest side effects. It is performed as an outpatient procedure lasting 2-3 hours, and recovery is much quicker. Learn about the HIFU prostate cancer treatment and other treatments to make an informed decision about which one is right for you.
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