Prostate Cancer Treatments

If someone has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, there are some difficult decisions to be made. There are several prostate cancer treatments available, and all of them should be considered carefully. Your doctor will likely discuss all of these treatment options with you, and make recommendations based on the unique circumstances of your situation. Factors such as your age, the current state or growth of the cancer, and your general level of health, will help choose the right treatment for you. Here you can learn about prostate cancer treatments that will be available to you.

Hormonal Therapy

There are two different forms of testosterone which are believed to be responsible for the growth of the prostate gland and the acceleration of cancerous tumours in the prostate. Hormonal Therapy works by either completely blocking off the release of testosterone, or by blocking the signals in the brain that lead to testosterone creation. This leads to a massive reduction of the size of the prostate. Hormonal therapy is not permanent cure though, and the effects can disappear in as little as six months. For this reason treatments are usually continued over a long period of time until the point where even continued treatments are no longer effective.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a highly effective treatment used to combat most forms of cancer, including prostate cancer. Because of how powerful chemotherapy is, it is not actually recommended for patients who are in the early stages of prostate cancer, since the growth is very limited and there isn’t enough cancerous cells to destroy in such powerful manner.

For advanced cases of prostate cancer though, chemotherapy is a highly effective treatment that can quickly reduce the size of the tumour and kill off many of the cancerous cells. When chemotherapy is used to treat prostate cancer, it is usually administered together with drugs, which can help further lower PSA levels and improve quality of life.

Cryotherapy

This relatively new prostate cancer treatment takes a unique approach to fighting the cancerous cells by actually freezing and killing them. The liquid (usually liquid nitrogen or argon) is inserted directly into the prostate gland where the cancerous cells reside. The verdict is still not available on just how effective this treatment is, and in most cases it is only used for localized cancer cells. This treatment can also cause damage to the urethra and bladder, so this should only be considered after other treatment options have failed.

High Intensity Focused Ultrasound

HIFU is the opposite of cryotherapy – this time the heat is used to destroy the cancerous cells. This is a treatment originally designed for BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia), and has since been adapted for battling prostate cancer. This treatment is not yet FDA approved, as there have not yet been enough studies performed on its effectiveness and side effects .

Alternative Medicine

If you would rather attempt a holistic approach to defeating your prostate cancer, there are several remedies you should look into. These treatments tend to focus on using different dietary and herbal supplements to help fight back the cancer. Some commonly cited herbs that can be effective in treating prostate issues are saw palmetto and red clover. An herbal extract that has also shown great early promise in fighting prostate cancer is Zyflamend, which contains such ingredients as rosemary, turmeric, green tea, oregano, and ginger. In some cases it can reduce the proliferation and spread of cancer in the prostate.

Acupuncture is another alternative treatment option that has a lot of followers, although just as many critics. While many doctors agree that acupuncture can be useful for certain conditions, there is no scientific evidence to show that it is effective in treating cancer.

The Best Defence is a Good Offence

In the best case scenario you’ll never have to experience the prostate cancer treatments described above. Assuming if you haven’t yet been diagnosed with prostate cancer, consider implementing some of these suggestions into your routine. Because prostate cancer can strike older men at a very high rate, the extra effort spent attempting to prevent it could prove to be extremely valuable.

Diet is incredibly important in all aspects of our health, and it’s believed that diet can also play a role in preventing prostate cancer. Eating low-fat meals and avoiding red meat entirely are one good diet choice. Soybeans are also a great choice, as they can slow the amount of testosterone being released into the blood, and this testosterone can help fuel prostate growth and tumours. Tomato products have also been shown to have a positive effect on prostate cancer formation.

Prostate massages is also an extremely useful procedure that can help keep the prostate gland in great condition and slow down the growth process. You should incorporate 2-3 minute long massages into your daily routine for best results. Another must is scheduling regular checkups with your doctor to test for prostate cancer, at least once yearly especially approaching 40. Early detection is the surest way to stop cancer early on its way.

In addition to diet, there are also a few medications (Finasteride and Dutasteride) that have been shown to reduce prostate cancer risk in men when taken long term. These medications decrease the size of the prostate gland, and also relieve the patient of any symptoms associated with BPH. Whichever route you decide to take, the best defence is fighting back, and the stronger your army is the more chances of victory you have.