POPS ON CANCER CONTINUES
POPS ON CANCER CONTINUES
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¶ Many men whose prostrate CANCER is slow growing and found at an early stage may not need treatment. Also, treatment may not be advised for older men with serious medical problems. For these men, the possible side effects and risks of treatment may outweigh the possible benefits of treatment.
¤ Instead, the doctor may suggest "watchful waiting" - following the patient closely and treating the patient later for symptoms that may arise. Researchers are studying men with early state prostrate CANCER to determine when and in whom treatment may be necessary and effective.
TYPES OF TREATMENT
¶ Treatment for prostrate CANCER may involve surgery, radiation therapy, or hormone therapy. Sometimes, patients receive a combination of these treatments. In addition, doctors are studying other methods of treatment to find out whether they are effective against this disease.
¤ Surgery is a common treatment for the early stages of prostrate CANCER. Surgery to remove the entire prostrate is called radical prostatetomy. It is done in two ways € € €
¤ In retropubic prostatetomy, the prostrate and nearyby lymph nodes are removed through an incision in the abdomen. In perineal prostatectomy, the prostrate is removed through an incision between the scrotum and the anus. Nearby lymph nodes are sometimes removed through a separate incision in the abdomen.
§ If the pathologist finds CANCER cells in the lymph nodes, it may mean that the disease has spread to other parts of the body.
QUESTIONS TO ASK
¶ These are some questions a patient may want to ask the doctor before having surgery:
- - - What kind of operation will it be ?
- - - How will I feel after the operation ?
- - - If I have pain, how will you help ?
- - - Will I have lasting side effects ?
ANOTHER WAY
¶ Radiation therapy is another way to treat prostrate CANCER. In radiation therapy {also called radiotheraphy}, high-energy rays are used to damage CANCER cell and stop them from growing and dividing. Like surgery, radiation therapy is local therapy; it can affect CANCER cell only in the treated area. In early stage prostrate CANCER , radiation can be used instead of surgery, or it may be used after surgery to destroy any CANCER cells that may remain in that area. In advanced stage, it may be given to relieve pain or other problems.
¤ Radiation may be directed at the body by a machine {external radiation}, or it may come from a small container of radioactive material directly into or near the tumor {internal radiation}. Some patients receive both kinds of radiation therapy.
¤ For external radiation therapy for prostrate CANCER the patient is treated in an outpatient department of a hospital or clinic. Treatment is generally given Five (5) days a week for about seven (7) weeks The schedule helps to protect healthy tissues by spreading out the total dose of radiation. The rays are aimed at the pelvic area. At the end of treatment, an extra "boost" of radiation is often directed at a smaller area where the tumor developed.
¤ For internal {implant} radiation therapy, a brief stay in the hospital maybe needed when the radioactive material is implanted. The implant may be temporary or permanent. When a temporary implant is removed, there is no radioactivity in the body. The amount
of radiation in a permanent implant is not generally dangerous to other people, but patients may be advised to avoid prolonged close contact with others for a period of time.
QUESTIONS AGAIN
¶ These are some questions a patient may want to ask the doctor before having radiation therapy:
- - - What is the goal of this treatment ?
- - - How will the radiation be given ?
- - - When will the treatment begin and end ?
- - - How will I feel during therapy ?
- - - What can I do to take care of myself during therapy ?
- - - How will I know if the radiation therapy is working ?
- - -Will I be able to continue my normal activites during treatment ?
HORMONE THERAPY
¶ Hormone therapy prevents the prostrate CANCER cells from getting the male hormones they need to grow. When a man undergoes hormone treatment, the level of the male hormones is decreased. This drop in hormone level can affect all prostrate CANCER cells een if hey have sprad to other parts of the body. For his reason, hormone therapy is called systemic therapy.
¤ There are several forms of hormone herapy. One is surgery to remove the testicles. This operation called orchiectomy, eliminates the main source of male hormones.
¤ The use of a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone {LHRH} agonist is another type of hrmone therapy. LHRH agonists prevent the testicles from producing testosterone .
In another form of hormne therapy, patients take the female hormone estrogen to stop the testicles from producing testosterone.
[I had the later along with radiation. Immediately after my first shot of hormones, I suffered intense hot, hot flashes along with the usual symptoms of female menopause only three times as bad -- really. You see the side effects are all at once whereas menopause is usually over a longer period of time. My urologist immediatey put me on a female hormone pill to offset the side effects of the shots.]
¤ After orchectomy or treatment with an LHRH agonist or treatment with LHRH agonist or estrogen, the body no longer gets testosterone from the testicles. However,the adrenal glands stil produce small amounts of male hormones. Sometimes the patient is also given an artiandrogen, a drug that blocks the effet of any remaining male hormones. This combination is known as total androgen blockade.
¶ Prostrate CANCER that has spread to ther areas of the body usually can be controlled with hormone therapy for a period of time, often many years. Eventually, however, most prostrate CANCERS are able to grow with very little or no male hormones. When this happens, hormone therapy is no longer effective and the doctor may suggest other forms of treatment that are under study.
¶ Many men with prostrate CANCER take part in clinical trials [treatment studies]. Doctors conduct clinicial trials to learn about the effectiveness and side effects of new treatments.
¤ In some clinical trials, all patients receive the new treatment. In other trials, doctors compare different therapies by giving the new treatment to one group of patients and the standard therapy to another group, or they may ompare one standard treatment to the other.
¤ People who take part in these studies have the first chance to benefit from treatments that have shown promise in earler research. They also make an important contribution to medical science.
¶ Many clinical rials of treatments for prostrate CANCER are underway. For example:researchers are comparing treatment against careful observation of men with early stage prostrate CANCER . The results of this work will help doctors to know whether to treat early stage prostrate CANCER immediately or only later on, if symptoms occur.
¶ Doctors are studying new ways of using radiation therapy and hormone therapy. {Again note: My treatment of choice.} Some doctors also are exploring the use of cryosurgery.
¤ Cyrosurgery uses extreme cold to destroy CANCER cells, as an alternative to surgery and radiation therapy/ In cryosurgery, an instrument called a cryoprobe is placed in direct contact with the tumor to freeze it, sparing nearby healthy tissue.
¶ Researchers also are testing the effectiveness of chemotheraphy and biologicial therapy for patients whose CANCER does not respond or stops responding to hormone therapy. In addition, scientists are looking for new ways of combining types of treatments.
¶ Men with prostrate CANCER who are interested in taking part in a clinical trial should discuss this option with their doctor. "What Are Clinical Trials All About?" is a National CANCER Institute booklet that explains the benefit's and the risks of participating in treatment studies.
¶ One way to learn about clinical trials is through Physician Data Query {PDQ} , a computerized resource developed by the National CANCER Institute . This resource contains information about CANCER treatment and about clinicial trials in progress all over the country. The CANCER Information Service can provide PDQ information to patients and the public.
I MENTIONED ON THE PREVIOUS CANCER PAGE THAT I DEVELOPED DIABETES DURING RADIATION TREATMENTS. IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT YOU READ THIS DIABETES FEATURED PAGE !
¶¶ MY OWN DIABETES PAGES START @ POPS ON DIABETES CHECK ALL THESE IMPORTANT PAGES OUT. THE LIFE YOU SAVE - WELL - IT MAY YOUR OWN OR SOMEONE DEAR TO YOU ! ¶¶
¤ ¤ NCI's CANCER TRIALS WEB SITE information !
¤ ¤ CENTERWATCHList all clinical trials by state and institution !
¤ ¤ UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH CANCER INSTITUTEtrials !
¤ ¤ CANCER CARE provides counseling services for CANCER patients and families !
§ BREAST CANCER risk can be determined by a computor calculation ased on the following factors:
¤ Whether a woman had any children and her age at first delivery.
¤ The number of times a woman had breast lumps biopsied, especially if the tissue was shown to have a condition known as atypical hyperplasia.
¤ The woman's age at her first menstrual period.
¤ Whether a woman has had a type of noninvasive breast cancer known as lobular carcinoma in situ.
Medical professionals recommend that women work with their doctors when using the risk assessment tool. This assessment is on a free computor disk. It comes in IBM-compatible and MacIntosh formats.
TO ORDER, call the NCI's Cancer Information Service at (800) 4-CANCER or visit their website @ ¤ ¤ NCI
¶ Regular follow-up exams are important for any man who has had prostrate CANCER. The doctor will suggest an appropriate follow-up schedule. The doctor will examine the patent regularly to be sure that the disease has not returned or progressed and decide what other medical care maybe needed.
¶ Follow-up exams may include x-rays, scans, and laboratory tests, including the PSA blood test.
¶ Living with a serious disease is not easy. People with CANCER and those who care about them face many problems and challenges. Coping with these problems is often easier when people have helpful information and support services. Several useful booklets, including the National CANCER Institute booklet "Taking Time", are available from the CANCER Information Service.
¶ Friends and relatives can be very supportive. Also, patients may find it helpful to discuss their concerns with others who have or have had CANCER.
¤ CANCER patients often get together in support groups, where they can share what they have learned about coping with CANCER and the effects of treatment.
¤ It is important to keep in mind, however, that each patient is different. Treatments and ways of dealing with CANCER that work with one person may not be right for another - even if they both have the same kind of CANCER. It is a good idea to discuss the advice of friends and family with the doctor.
¶ People with CANCER may worry about holding their job, caring for their family, or keeping up with daily activities. Worries about tests, treatments, hospital stays, and medicial bills are common. Doctors, nurses, and other members of the health care team an answer questions about treatment, working and other activities. Also, meeting with a social worker, councelor, or member of the clergy can be helpful to patients who want to talk about their feelings and discuss their concerns.
¤ It is natural for a man and his partner to be concerned about the effects of prostrate CANCER and its treatment on their sexual relationship. They may want to talk to the doctor about possible side effects and whether these side effects are likely to be temporary or permanent. Whatever the outlook, it may be helpful for patients and their partners to talk about their concerns and help one another find ways to be intimate during and after treatment.
¶ Often, a social worker at the hospital or clinic can suggest local and national groups that can provide emotional support, financial aid, transportation, home care, or other services. The American CANCER Society is one such group and has many services for patients and their famiies and offers a free booklet on sexuality and CANCER.
¶ Researchers are finding better ways to treat prostrate CANCER, and the outlook for men with prostrate CANCER keeps improving. ¤ Still, it is natural for patients and their families to be concerned about what the future holds. Sometimes people use statistics to try to figure out the chances of being cured. It is important to remember, however, that statistics are averages based on a large number of patients. They cannot be used to predict what will happen to a particular patient because no two patients are alike; treatments and responses vary greatly. The doctor who takes care of the patient is in the best position to discuss the patients prognosis {chance of recovery or control of the disease}.
¤ When doctors talk about surviving CANCER, they may use the term remission rather than cure. Even though many prostrate CANCER patients recover completely, doctors use this term because the disease can recur, or reappear after treatment.
¶ Prostrate CANCER is an important public health problem. Prostrate CANCER accounts for one of every three CANCERS among American men. Researchers are conducting studies to learn more about the causes and early detection of this COMMON DISEASE