Thursday, December 13, 2012

Effective Treatment of Prostate Cancer

Despite the fact that prostate cancer is slow to grow and is one of the least deadly forms of the disease, effective prostate cancer treatments may alleviate bothersome symptoms. A new method is always on the horizon to use as a treatment of prostate cancer. For example, instead of performing an invasive procedure, robotics is being used in the operating room to make more precise incisions when removing the prostate. This will lead to less chance of complications and infection during recovery. When a patient is not dealing with a large wound, healing time is faster and scarring is kept to a minimum.
Cryosurgery is also a new technique being used as a treatment of prostate cancer. This destroys cancer cells by freezing and thawing them. This treatment has been noted to cause negative side effects on the body including bladder problems or impotence. It is one of the newest treatments being studied to develop research about long term results.
Another treatment called high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) kills cancer cells with heat created by focused ultrasonic beams. This treatment is often used in other countries. Currently it is only available through clinical trials in the United States. Studies are being done to determine if it is safe and effective.
Finally, for men with hormone resistant metastatic cancer, Provenge is being utilized. This is a therapy which takes out the patient's white blood cells by separating them from the liquid part of the blood. The cells are specially treated and placed back into the body. This treatment has been proven to extend a patient's survival by at least four months.
It is always best to begin treatment after early detection. Treating cancer while it is at an early stage will prevent it from spreading to other parts of the body. It will also mean that the cancer may be small in size and easier to eliminate. A man should be tested for prostate cancer on a regular basis, especially if there is a family history of the disease.
There are many ways to treat prostate cancer. Traditional means included drugs, chemotherapy, radiation, or invasive surgery. There are constantly new innovations on the horizon that are meant to improve recovery and raise survival rates. The above procedures are just a few of the latest prostate cancer treatments being used. It is always best to consult a doctor about which treatment will be best.

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