Throughout the world, different protocols of treatment are observed for treating prostate cancer. They are very varied in nature and technique. In ultrasound therapy, high density sound waves are employed to destroy cancer cells. An endorectal probe placed inside the patient's body remits sound waves. In chemotherapy treatment, the cancer cells are destroyed or their cell division is made to stop.
When radiation therapy is used for treating prostate cancer, high energy x-rays or other types of radiation kill cancer cells or stunt them from growing. When a machine outside the body is used to send radiation it is called external radiation therapy and when a radioactive substance sealed in needles wires, or catheters is placed near the cancer inside the body, it is called internal radiation therapy.
Treating prostate cancer is of two distinct types - treatment of local disease, (localized) and treatment of distant disease (metasized). Surviving prostate cancer depends on various factors like the type of cancer, the presence or absence of metastasis and general family background.
Watchful waiting, surgery and radiation therapy are three standard therapies for men with localized prostate cancer. So far no detailed comparison of all the above three options have been undertaken. University of Florida researchers have used a synthetic protein to initiate blood clotting to cut off the nutrients and blood supply to the tumor and this therapy is called gene therapy
The researchers are also working out methods to deliver the protein directly to the sites of interest instead of through genes that later produce a protein. Other researchers are using nanoparticles to sense proteins and deliver drugs or radiate heat to destroy cancer cell when bombarded by radio waves.
Noscapine, a natural substance found in cough medicine is likely to prove useful in treating prostate cancer. No significant toxicity was also observed with noscapine. The study which has been successfully completed in mice will be conducted in humans and it is expected that there will be no side effects.
In treating prostate cancer from the naturopathy standpoint, watchful waiting is equal to a regular treatment since patient's diet is monitored and herbs and supplements are prescribed to increase the chance of surviving prostate cancer. Patient will be allowed time to look at options and treatments. During watchful waiting, regular rectal exams and ps a monitoring are conducted.
Treating prostate cancer in elderly patients is always a headache. But it has been observed that elderly patients' chances of surviving prostate cancer are greater if they are given an active cancer treatment in a study of approximately 50,000 elderly men with early prostate cancer, active treatment group lived for 13 years while the other group lived for only 10 more years.
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