There are two types of treatment for prostate cancer. One is surgical operation, where the gland is removed totally or partially. Another one is radiotherapy, in which a radiation is used to destroy the tumor part of the gland. For years, these two methods were the only one used to treat prostate cancer. Recently however, modern procedures have emerge resulting from intensive researches carried around the world.
Surgical Treatment
The surgical treatment usually require patient to stay for one day at the hospital, since the operation will be conducted usually early the next morning. An you will be given a proper diet the day before so that no complication will arise due to nutritional factors. Infrequently, some procedures require more days of hospital stay, it all depends on how quick you can recover.
A total prostatectomy is a method where the entire prostate gland is removed surgically. This is regularly done on patients with solitary prostate cancer. Apart from prostate, the organ nearest to the prostate, which is the seminal vesicles is also removed. And due to this fact, impotence becomes one of the most frequent side effect of surgical treatment. Sometimes patient may also suffers post-operative urinary incontinence.
One less invasive procedure is the transurethral resection, where the surgical tool is inserted through the penis. The cauterizer will remove any blockage in the urinary tract and then another tool will be inserted to remove part of the cancerous growth of the prostate. Although this surgical method is less invasive, it may also bring urinary continence as a side effect.
Radiotherapy Treatment
The principle method of radiotherapy treatment is using radioactive emission to destroy cancerous cells and preventing them from spreading further.
EBRT, which stands for External Beam Radiotherapy, utilizes radioactive emission aimed with very high power at the pelvis. The radiation will penetrate the skin but will not damage other soft tissues, since the beam can be aimed with high precision. This high energy radiation will then destroy the tumor. However, this procedure must carried out over several days, since there is a limited amount of radiation that a human body can withstand per day. Therefore, this kind of treatment is usually recommended for out-patients and these patient will regularly visit the hospital for some weeks.
The complications that may arise from this treatment are minimal, but if the radiologist performing the treatment is careless, patient may suffer radiation burns at other organs of the pelvis such as rectum or bladder. Some may even suffers impotency.
Another treatment which also uses external source of radiation is Proton Beam Therapy. However, the beam is not from a radioactive source. The beam is made up of charged ions which can also do the same ionizing damage to the tumor. There has been claims that this method is safer and comes with lower risk of side effect, although it is still not been proven clinically.
Surgical Treatment
The surgical treatment usually require patient to stay for one day at the hospital, since the operation will be conducted usually early the next morning. An you will be given a proper diet the day before so that no complication will arise due to nutritional factors. Infrequently, some procedures require more days of hospital stay, it all depends on how quick you can recover.
A total prostatectomy is a method where the entire prostate gland is removed surgically. This is regularly done on patients with solitary prostate cancer. Apart from prostate, the organ nearest to the prostate, which is the seminal vesicles is also removed. And due to this fact, impotence becomes one of the most frequent side effect of surgical treatment. Sometimes patient may also suffers post-operative urinary incontinence.
One less invasive procedure is the transurethral resection, where the surgical tool is inserted through the penis. The cauterizer will remove any blockage in the urinary tract and then another tool will be inserted to remove part of the cancerous growth of the prostate. Although this surgical method is less invasive, it may also bring urinary continence as a side effect.
Radiotherapy Treatment
The principle method of radiotherapy treatment is using radioactive emission to destroy cancerous cells and preventing them from spreading further.
EBRT, which stands for External Beam Radiotherapy, utilizes radioactive emission aimed with very high power at the pelvis. The radiation will penetrate the skin but will not damage other soft tissues, since the beam can be aimed with high precision. This high energy radiation will then destroy the tumor. However, this procedure must carried out over several days, since there is a limited amount of radiation that a human body can withstand per day. Therefore, this kind of treatment is usually recommended for out-patients and these patient will regularly visit the hospital for some weeks.
The complications that may arise from this treatment are minimal, but if the radiologist performing the treatment is careless, patient may suffer radiation burns at other organs of the pelvis such as rectum or bladder. Some may even suffers impotency.
Another treatment which also uses external source of radiation is Proton Beam Therapy. However, the beam is not from a radioactive source. The beam is made up of charged ions which can also do the same ionizing damage to the tumor. There has been claims that this method is safer and comes with lower risk of side effect, although it is still not been proven clinically.
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