Prostate Cancer Treatment
Many men over the age of 50 will need prostate cancer treatment, although some men find that the problem is due to an enlarged gland rather than a serious disease. This male gland is about the size of a walnut and goes through a huge growth period during adolescence. It is necessary for the male's sexual function and reproduction. It produces semen and the fluid that carries the semen into the female reproductive organs. This fluid also protects the semen from the acid conditions in the vagina, keeping the semen alive until it can do its job of fertilizing the woman's egg. By the age of 25, the growth slows, but sometimes the gland begins to grow again after the age of 50. By age 80, almost all men will have an enlargement of this organ. This enlargement can cause many problems, especially in a man's need to urinate. If left untreated, it can lead to problems serious enough to require prostate cancer surgery. It is important for a man to get regular check-ups after the age of 50 so that he can rule out any cancerous growths in this area. These growths are normally very treatable if caught in early stages.
The gland is located below the bottom of the bladder and in front of the rectum. The organ surrounds the urethra, which is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. If the gland gets any bigger, then enlargement can press on the urethra, which creates problems in urinating. This causes symptoms such as needing to go to the bathroom two or times a night, not being able to create a strong stream of urine, and needing to strain to urinate. When a doctor examines a man for this condition, he is looking for three problems. One is just an enlargement of the organ. Another is an inflammation or infection of the organ, called prostatitis. The third is the most serious, a cancerous infestation of the organ. That's when the physician will begin prostate cancer treatment, which may lead to prostate cancer surgery in the more advanced cases. Even if a man doesn't have symptoms pointing to one of these areas, a doctor will still order exams to make sure the gland is healthy. The doctor will order a PSA test. This stands for prostate specific antigen, which looks for proteins produced by the gland. A high level (1.5 or more) usually means something is wrong.
Prostate cancer treatment can take many different methods. If the PSA test is high, the doctor will most likely order series of blood tests or other tests to rule out certain problems. He will continue to check PSA levels on a regular basis. Depending on what the tests reveal, the doctor will recommend different treatments. One of these is watchful waiting, in which the doctor continues to track the PSA levels and give rectal exams to see if there are any changes in the organ. Sometimes, the disease has not progressed far enough to require intervention. However, at this point, the patient must keep his appointments so that the medical professionals can keep track of how fast the disease is progressing. In the meantime, the patient should keep a watchful eye on his own urinary symptoms. If the symptoms get worse, another level of intervention may be necessary. Although this physical problem can be very embarrassing to a man, it needs to be addressed in a serious manner to avoid future more severe problems.
A second level of therapy is prescribing certain medications that will reverse the enlargement of the organ. One of the herbal medicines for this disease is saw palmetto. This herbal has shown some mild symptom improvement in certain studies. But most of the time, the patient needs medical help to stop the progress of the disease. There are two types of medications given for this therapy. One if 5ARIs (5-alpha-reductase inhibitors), which reduces the hormone that is causing the gland to enlarge. This will shrink the gland, help with urinary problems, reduce urinary retention, and can even reduce the need for prostate cancer surgery. The second type of medications is alpha blockers. They can also be called alpha-adrenergic antagonists. They smooth muscle cells and relax the muscle of the bladder so that urine can flow. These medications will not reduce the need for an operation. Sometimes, the patient will need to have injections given at intervals. The last and most serious therapy for prostate cancer treatment is the use of prostate cancer surgery. However, the outcome in most cases is good. However, the operation can interfere with the urinary system, causing the person to lose control over his urinary tract. That can be an embarrassing outcome for the patient, but the therapy can save his life.
Even though prostate cancer treatment can be embarrassing and difficult, we can live with the knowledge that each moment we have is precious. Job, who suffered with debilitating illness, writes of God, "Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit," (Job 10:12). No matter which path the illness takes, taking note of our health processes and following through with the treatments prescribed is an essential part of getting healthy. Whether that means waiting to see how the disease progresses or enduring prostate cancer surgery, our mental health is just as important as your physical health. This is the most common cancer diagnosed in men today, but the disease also one often with a hopeful outcome.
The gland is located below the bottom of the bladder and in front of the rectum. The organ surrounds the urethra, which is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. If the gland gets any bigger, then enlargement can press on the urethra, which creates problems in urinating. This causes symptoms such as needing to go to the bathroom two or times a night, not being able to create a strong stream of urine, and needing to strain to urinate. When a doctor examines a man for this condition, he is looking for three problems. One is just an enlargement of the organ. Another is an inflammation or infection of the organ, called prostatitis. The third is the most serious, a cancerous infestation of the organ. That's when the physician will begin prostate cancer treatment, which may lead to prostate cancer surgery in the more advanced cases. Even if a man doesn't have symptoms pointing to one of these areas, a doctor will still order exams to make sure the gland is healthy. The doctor will order a PSA test. This stands for prostate specific antigen, which looks for proteins produced by the gland. A high level (1.5 or more) usually means something is wrong.
Prostate cancer treatment can take many different methods. If the PSA test is high, the doctor will most likely order series of blood tests or other tests to rule out certain problems. He will continue to check PSA levels on a regular basis. Depending on what the tests reveal, the doctor will recommend different treatments. One of these is watchful waiting, in which the doctor continues to track the PSA levels and give rectal exams to see if there are any changes in the organ. Sometimes, the disease has not progressed far enough to require intervention. However, at this point, the patient must keep his appointments so that the medical professionals can keep track of how fast the disease is progressing. In the meantime, the patient should keep a watchful eye on his own urinary symptoms. If the symptoms get worse, another level of intervention may be necessary. Although this physical problem can be very embarrassing to a man, it needs to be addressed in a serious manner to avoid future more severe problems.
A second level of therapy is prescribing certain medications that will reverse the enlargement of the organ. One of the herbal medicines for this disease is saw palmetto. This herbal has shown some mild symptom improvement in certain studies. But most of the time, the patient needs medical help to stop the progress of the disease. There are two types of medications given for this therapy. One if 5ARIs (5-alpha-reductase inhibitors), which reduces the hormone that is causing the gland to enlarge. This will shrink the gland, help with urinary problems, reduce urinary retention, and can even reduce the need for prostate cancer surgery. The second type of medications is alpha blockers. They can also be called alpha-adrenergic antagonists. They smooth muscle cells and relax the muscle of the bladder so that urine can flow. These medications will not reduce the need for an operation. Sometimes, the patient will need to have injections given at intervals. The last and most serious therapy for prostate cancer treatment is the use of prostate cancer surgery. However, the outcome in most cases is good. However, the operation can interfere with the urinary system, causing the person to lose control over his urinary tract. That can be an embarrassing outcome for the patient, but the therapy can save his life.
Even though prostate cancer treatment can be embarrassing and difficult, we can live with the knowledge that each moment we have is precious. Job, who suffered with debilitating illness, writes of God, "Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit," (Job 10:12). No matter which path the illness takes, taking note of our health processes and following through with the treatments prescribed is an essential part of getting healthy. Whether that means waiting to see how the disease progresses or enduring prostate cancer surgery, our mental health is just as important as your physical health. This is the most common cancer diagnosed in men today, but the disease also one often with a hopeful outcome.
Prostate Cancer Treatment
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