Advanced Prostate Cancer Treatment – Giving Men A Second Chance

What is Prostate Cancer? Firstly, the prostate is a gland that forms part of the male reproductive system, which is situated just bellow the bladder and surrounds the urethra which carries urine from the body and produces the fluid that forms part of the semen. The cause of prostate cancer is unknown but what is known is that there is a growth of cancer cells in prostate, which is usually stimulated by male hormones such as testosterone.

Prostate cancer is usually a slow growing cancer. Advanced prostate cancer is cancer that has spread beyond the prostate gland to the lymph nodes, bones, or other organs of the body. In terms of treatments, more specifically advanced prostate cancer treatment what is available and what are the effects hereof? Patients may receive radiotherapy or hormone therapy. The latest treatments on prostate cancer include a vaccine that contains human prostate-specific antigen (PSA) which may help men with advanced prostate cancer. PSA is a protein produced by epithelial cells in the prostate usually present in healthy males at low levels.

But in men with prostate cancer, PSA levels are increased. Researchers have also developed a new approach in terms of advanced prostate cancer treatment that could be more effective and have fewer side effects.

Researchers have now discovered that by using existing treatment for prostate cancer with new drugs at a lower dosage they can get better results than the advanced prostate cancer treatments already being used. Hormones, known as androgens, usually cause growth in prostate cancer. However hormone deprivation, which initially has a good effect on the cancer may in turn result in the cancer starting to grow again and also do have side effects resulting sometimes in these existing advanced prostate cancer treatments being insufficient. This advanced prostate cancer treatment can block cancer survival pathways, but do not kill prostate cancer cells alone.

Advanced Prostate Cancer Treatment – The Side Effects

Treatments are saving lives everyday however treatments do have side effects. Men undergoing advanced prostate cancer treatment can experience side effects, such as reduced libido, impotence, hot flushes, tiredness and sweating, gradual decrease in body hair. Also reduced bone and muscle strength and cognitive changes are noticed.

With all medication and treatment there are always side effects, it is how we deal with these side effects really that matters. When you look at it, these side effects of the treatment should be viewed as an advantage against non treatment as non treatment ultimately leads to the cancer growing, the pain increasing and possible death.