Prostate cancer will affect one in every six men. It is the second most common cancer in American men, behind skin cancer. However, more men with the disease are surviving than in years past. Improving treatment plans are yielding better outcomes and enabling patients to continue having active, productive lives.
Many Options
Every case of prostate cancer is different and treatment options can vary. Several factors play a role in determining the most appropriate treatment - patient's age and health, stage of the disease, and benefits and side effects of each treatment. In most cases, prostate cancer grows slowly. So men diagnosed with the disease usually have time to consider all available treatment options, gather additional opinions and, with the help of their doctor, decide on which option is best for them.
Hormone Therapy is used to lower the level of male hormones in the body that promote tumor growth - ultimately, shrinking or slowing the growth of the tumor. It is used when cancer has spread beyond the prostate gland or surgery and radiation have not worked. Chemotherapy also may be used to extend life when hormonal therapy is no longer effective.
Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) is an advanced form of 3D therapy that targets cancer with higher radiation doses, without damaging surrounding normal tissue. This outpatient procedure can be used independently or after prostate seed implantation. It also may greatly reduce a patient's recovery time, the likelihood of impotence and the risk of incontinence, when compared to radical prostatectomy.
Seed Implantation Radiation involves implanting 80-120 tiny radioactive pellets directly into the prostate gland. The seeds, which are smaller than grains of rice, are positioned to target and, ultimately, eliminate cancerous cells, while minimizing harm to surrounding tissue. The procedure often is performed under general anesthesia and on an outpatient basis. Most daily activities can be resumed fairly quickly after surgery.
Laparoscopic Robotic Prostatectomy (prostate removal) combines laparoscopy with robotic technology, allowing surgeons greater range of motion than humanly possible and the ability to perform more precise, less invasive procedures. As a result, patients experience reduced blood loss and postoperative pain, shorter recovery times and a smaller risk of erectile dysfunction or urinary incontinence.
Cryosurgery freezes and destroys prostate cancer cells and is designed for those patients whose early-stage cancer is confined to the prostate gland. Less invasive than traditional surgery, Cryosurgery may be an option for men who cannot have surgery or radiation therapy because of their age or other medical conditions.
Atlanta's leader in prostate cancer care
At Northside Hospital, more prostate cancer cases are diagnosed and treated each year than at any other community hospital in Atlanta, with 96 percent of the cases diagnosed in the earliest stages of disease, ahead of the national average. The hospital has a comprehensive prostate cancer treatment program, offering screening, diagnosis, leading-edge treatment and support. For more information, visit www.northside.com.