Prostate Cancer Treatments

Prostate Cancer Treatments

Dr. Geo Espinosa  

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men, but today’s patients benefit from both traditional and cutting-edge therapies to suit every situation. If you are diagnosed with this disease, remain calm and discuss treatment options with your healthcare practitioner.

Men over 65 are most likely to develop prostate cancer, but it can occur in men of any age. Genetics and environment both influence a man’s likelihood to develop the disease, as does his attention to receiving regular medical care. Other risk factors for prostate cancer can include diet, general health (obesity can contribute), lifestyle, exercise, exposure to chemicals and hormone levels.

You should report signs that could indicate prostate cancer to your doctor upon discovery. These can include problems with urination (inability to pass urine, difficulty starting, urgency, weak flow, burning or pain). Sexual difficulties, bloody discharges and pain in the hips or back can also be associated with prostate problems. However, prostate cancer victims may never notice symptoms; so doctors routinely screen for this condition during physical examinations. Your doctor may perform a physical exam, but he will start with questions about your medical history and ask you to complete a questionnaire, such as the International Prostate Symptoms Test or chronic prostatitis symptom index. As with all cancers, early detection produces best treatment results, so men over 50 should be aware of symptoms and be diligent about annual exams.

Prostate Cancer Treatment Options

If your doctor discovers cancer, treatment options will be discussed and recommended based on the specific nature of your case. Many prostate cancer treatment options are available, some aggressive and some conservative. Traditional approaches begin with a watch-and-wait approach for cases where no symptoms have yet appeared. Surgery may be performed in cases where the tumor is evident and removable. Surgical procedures can include prostatectomy (removal of the prostate) or cryotherapy (freezing tissues).

Other approaches to treating the condition include radiation and chemotherapy; but current studies show that hormone therapies, immunotherapy (such as Provenge), ultrasound and nutritional therapies can succeed in fighting the cancer. Boosting the body’s immune system is a goal of any treatment program, which can include dietary changes, lifestyle changes and the use of supplements for prostate cancer.

Provenge (sipuleucel-T) is the only immunotherapy (also known as biological therapy) approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for prostate cancer treatment. Provenge supports the body’s own immune system to fight cancer with natural healing powers. Provenge stimulates the immune systems to wage war, and it has been compared to vaccines because it boosts the body’s ability to fight the disease from within. Immunotherapy is a treatment approach in which a patient’s own immune system cells are harnessed to target a disease. The concept behind this is that it uses the body’s healing powers inherent in immune system cells to combat the cancer.

Provenge therapies are specially prepared for each individual, depending on the condition of a man’s immune system’s cells. Men with minimal symptoms of the disease are the best candidates for this treatment; and to be eligible for the therapy, patients cannot display cancer spreading to other organs, or have undergone chemotherapy within three months. Side effects can include back pain, fever, nausea or fatigue, but are usually manageable and don’t indicate a need to stop the treatment. Of course, the immunotherapy treatments are performed under the direct supervision of your healthcare team, and they will monitor the entire procedure.

In these days of treatment options, patients should partner with their doctors to identify all the options and select the best course of action to win the war at hand.

References:

Choosing Your Prostate Cancer Treatment, http://www.prostate.net/prostate-cancer/choosing-your-treatment-for-prostate-cancer/.

New Immune Therapy Drugs for Cancer, http://www.prostate.net/2013/provenge/new-immune-therapy-drugs-for-cancer/.