Prostate cancer treatment

Prostate cancer is the third most common cancer among men in Russia after lung cancer and stomach cancer. It is found in one of fifteen men over 40 years old. Every year in the world, malignant prostate tumors are diagnosed in a million people, and about one in three of them die due to this pathology.Why does prostate cancer develop?It is known that this is associated with changes in the hormonal background, genetic predisposition, malnutrition and the impact of some other factors, the role of which is still not fully established. From the moment the first cancercells before the development of symptoms that lead a man to a consultation with a doctor usually takes several years. For this reason, often the patient is seen by an oncologist with a neglected, overgrown tumor that is difficult to cure. In total, it is customary to distinguish four stages of prostate cancer:Stage 1 is characterized by the small size of the tumor, the absence of involvement of lymph nodes in the pathological process (cancer cells can get there with lymph flow) and the patient's well-being. As a rule, at this stage, prostate cancer is detected by chance - during the treatment of another disease of the gland. The prognosis for the patient’s life is favorable,nullnullthe benefit of gentle therapies that prolong life and ease the suffering of the patient, although they will not help to defeat cancer.Prostate Cancer TreatmentsHow the treatment of prostate cancer will go depends not only on the stage of the disease. The type of tumor is important - it is determined by biopsy, taking several tissue samples and examining them under a microscope. Some types of cancer - for example polymorphic cell carcinoma of the prostate gland - are prone to rapid aggressive growth, the development of others is influenced by hormones. An experienced oncologist takes into account all these circumstances, as well as the opinion of the patient himself, before takingdecision on medical tactics.An important role is played by the technical equipment of the clinic. It is no secret that many modern technologies and medicines are simply not available in domestic cancer centers or are at the implementation stage. And even such classical approaches as surgical removal of the prostate can differ significantly, which affects not only the success of treatment, but also the quality of life of the patient.SurgeryThe prostate gland is an important organ, but an adult male is quite capable of living without it. Therefore, if the cancer has not spread to neighboring organs and tissues, and the condition of the patient allowsoperations, the oncologist will recommend a radical prostatectomy to the man - removal of the prostate. In the initial stages of the disease, this approach allows you to fully recover in a short time (stay in the hospital takes about 7 days).Meanwhile, it is important to remember that we are talking about serious interference with the body, which is associated with a risk to life, and also leads to some unpleasant consequences. So, patients often experience problems with urination for many months after surgery, more than half of men complain of the disappearance of an erection.A gentle option for surgical treatment of prostate cancer is laparoscopic surgery, in whichThe prostate is removed through small incisions - just a few millimeters long. As a result, the risk of postoperative complications is reduced, and the procedure itself is tolerated by the patient much more easily.CryosurgeryAn alternative to traditional surgery can be prostate tumor cryosurgery. This method is applicable in the early stages of the disease, when the cancer has not yet gone beyond the organ. During the manipulation, special needles are inserted into the prostate through the patient, through which liquid argon or nitrogen enters. Low temperatures destroy the tissues of the gland, and the doctor, using ultrasound, controls that the effect does not damage neighboring organs. As a result, irondo not have to be deleted (although its functions are irreversibly violated). In recent years, cryosurgery has been increasingly offered as the main treatment for prostate cancer, which is suitable for patients of all ages.RadiosurgeryOne of the foremost areas of operable treatment for prostate cancer. It involves the use of the Cyber-Knife system. The method is based on the effect of a focused beam of radiation on the tumor, which leads to its local destruction while maintaining the integrity of adjacent tissues. An important advantage of the method is its absolute painlessness and non-injuries: immediately after the procedure, the patient can leave the hospital.RadiotherapyIf the tumor is aggressive or has grown outside the prostate,and also in cases where the patient is too weak for surgery, the radiation therapy apparatus can become an alternative to a scalpel. First of all, X-rays kill rapidly dividing cells - and cancer cells are prone to uncontrolled growth. Therefore, during the sessions of radiotherapy, the tumor decreases, and the tissues affected by the malignant cells are “cleaned”.Radiation therapy is prescribed as a separate treatment method, and as a supplement to the operation: before or after the intervention. We can talk about both external radiotherapy (when the patient lies under the emitter) and internal radiation therapy, whenspecial radioactive granules are introduced into the patient’s body.External radiation therapy also has its own varieties. Oncologists seek to minimize the detrimental effect of radiation on body tissues, so they try to direct the beam of radiation to the tumor as accurately as possible. They are assisted by methods such as 3D conformal radiation therapy, modulated intensity radiation therapy (IMRT), stereotoxic radiation therapy (SBRT), and proton radiation therapy. Each of these approaches has advantages and disadvantages. Radiotherapy often leads to persistent urination disorders and erectile dysfunction.Internal radiation therapy (brachytherapy) significantly increases the effect of radiation by reducingthe distance from its source to cancer cells. The radioactive granules used for the procedure contain radioactive iodine, palladium and other chemicals that can affect surrounding tissues for a long time. Depending on the method, these granules can be in the body for many months (continuous brachytherapy) or only during treatment sessions (temporary brachytherapy).ChemotherapyChemotherapy is used, as a rule, in situations when the cancer has spread throughout the body, so you need to deal with the disease globally. Drugs used to treat malignant prostate tumors are prescribed in courses, following the results of therapy and the development of side effects.Chemotherapeutic agents have a bad effect not only on cancer, but also on healthy tissues. Therefore, patients undergoing such treatment often suffer from digestive disorders, weakness, hair loss and infectious diseases.Immune therapyThis type of treatment is aimed at activating the patient’s immunity. Cancer cells are foreign to our body, but thanks to special adaptive mechanisms, they are able to evade the immune response.Preparations for immune therapy are made individually - in the laboratory, the patient’s blood cells are “trained” to recognize a tumor, and then the resulting vaccine is introduced into the body. Unfortunately, oncologists have not yet managed to achieve highthe effectiveness of this technique, therefore, it is often used as an auxiliary, as well as in the late stages of the disease.Hormone treatment for prostate cancerSince tumor growth is often triggered by the action of male sex hormones, in the advanced stages of prostate cancer, doctors can prescribe drugs to the patient that block the synthesis of these substances. Usually we are talking about lifelong administration of pharmaceuticals. Such treatment means medical castration: sexual function decays against its background. In combination with other methods - for example, radiotherapy - taking hormones can lead to a complete cure for patients who are contraindicated in radical prostatectomy. Whereinmedical castration is reversible - after drug withdrawal.The treatment options for prostate cancer are diverse, and every year there is information about new effective approaches. In other words, there are almost no hopeless cases when medicine is powerless to help the patient. It is important to find a doctor who selects an effective therapeutic tactic. Do not despair - the victory over cancer is largely up to you.Leave a request on our website and our specialists will contact you and help you choose the best clinic in accordance with your case absolutely free.