Males develop cancerous cells in the tissue of their prostate gland below their urinary bladder, which causes prostate cancer. Most cases of prostate cancer are found in men in their 50s, but the risk of cancer increases with age.
However, with the right prostate cancer treatment, the chances of survival increase. Prostate Cancer often doesn’t show any symptoms. And its symptoms sometimes are confused for enlarged prostate or BPH.
Top Symptoms Of Prostate Cancer
- Frequent trips to urinate
- Fatigue
- Erectile dysfunction
- Loss of appetite
- Painful ejaculation
- Blood in urine or semen
- Trouble, burning sensation, or pain while urinating
What Is The Treatment For Prostate Cancer?
- Immunotherapy
The purpose of targeted therapy is to stimulate the immune system to identify and destroy cancer cells. Sipuleucel-T (Provenge) is a cancer vaccine adapted to each individual.
This prostate cancer treatment is used when the body is not responding to hormonal therapy but is causing few or no symptoms. Side effects from the vaccine can include fever, fatigue, weight changes, diarrhoea, nausea.
- Radiation therapy
In radiation therapy, high-energy cells are used to destroy cancer cells in the prostate gland. A radiation oncologist will determine the appropriate treatment based on the stage of your cancer. Some of the side effects can be the same as surgery, while others can be different. Side effects include bowel, urinary, or erection problems.
- Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the use of anti-drugs to destroy the cancer cells in your body. This treatment is used when the cancer cells spread outside the prostate gland. Though, chemotherapy is not the standard treatment for the early prostate cancer stages.
Side effects of chemo depend on the dose and the type of drugs administered by the oncologist. But they can include fatigue, sore mouth, hair loss, a greater risk of infection, easy bruising, or bleeding.
- Hormonal Therapy
Hormonal therapy, also known as androgen suppression therapy, is used to lower the testosterone hormones in the body. Hormones are removed from the body either with surgical castration, surgically removing the testicles.
Or either by taking drugs that turn off the function of the testicles, medical castration. Possible side effects can be depression, erectile dysfunction, loss of muscle mass, hot flashes, weight gain.
- Targeted Therapy
In targeted therapy, drugs are used to identify and attack cancer cells without damaging normal cells. With this therapy, a cancer cell responds to a simple change in how it grows, divides, repairs itself, or interacts with other cells.
This is, of course, regardless of which type of targeted therapy it receives. Side effects from the drug can include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, constipation, anemia, cough, and shortness of breath.
Conclusion
Cancer can be a life-threatening disease, or it may grow slowly. Prostate cancer treatment will depend on- the cancer stage, risk factor, age and health, and preference concerning the side effects.
It is important to know if cancer can spread or recur (come back) after treatment based on diagnostic tests. A cancer specialist can help you decide on what kind of therapy may work for you. Consult a leading prostate cancer surgeon from Max Healthcare to know more.
