Free Article: Advanced Prostate Cancer

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Advanced Prostate Cancer Treatments
By M .A. Fulmar

Prostate cancer is the condition in which the cells of the prostate gland of the male reproductive system start to multiply uncontrollably. If this condition spreads outside the prostate gland and starts affecting the neighboring parts, it is called advanced prostate cancer or metastatic prostate cancer. The affected parts commonly include tissues, lymph nodes, and bones. Advanced prostate cancer is characterized most commonly by difficulty in urinating. This results from the enlargement of lymph nodes that cause a blockage in the flow of urine. Weakness is experienced by the patient mainly due to anemia that results from the disruption in the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow. The patient feels pain, especially when the disease spreads to the bones. In more advanced stages, the bones become weak and prone to fractures.

Treatment

There is no promising cure for advanced prostate cancer but treatment brings a significant degree of relief from the symptoms, especially if treatment is sought at the early stages after noticing the symptoms. Some of these treatments, like hormone replacement therapy, slow down the growth of cancer. Others are directed at treating the symptoms. Chemotherapy has come up with some success in prolonging life by means of drugs like Taxotere. In combination with the steroid prednisone, Taxotere may prolong life for several months. Biphosphonate drugs like Actonel, Zometa etc. are used for strengthening the bones against possible fracturing. Radiation therapy is also employed for bringing relief from pain in the affected bones.

Hormone replacement therapy used to treat advanced prostate cancer can cause effects like low sex drive, impotence, infertility and weakened bones. Treatment with Taxotere may cast side effects like hair loss, nausea, and disruption in the formation of blood cells. Also experienced are effects like numbness, tingling, and pain in fingers and toes.

Surgery

Surgical treatment of advanced prostate cancer has been a matter of controversy among health professionals. Some physicians consider this advanced stage of prostate cancer inoperable and prefer to treat it via radiation therapy. However, more recently, this type of cancer has been treated with radical prostatectomy and the results show that 79 % of the patients survived for at least fifteen years after the operation. This shows 10 years of precedence over the 5-years survival of patients undergoing radiation oncology. Experts agree on the fact that making an effective surgery on the prostate cancer in advanced stages is something not every surgeon could perform. It is recommended that surgery be performed by a surgeon who has completed some 300 prostate surgeries.

Author Details:
M .A. Fulmar writes for a number of web sites such as The A to Z of on various health matters with a great interest in the many benefits of Natural Deodorant including the reduced risk of Cancer.

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