There is a wide range of prostate cancer treatments available today and the treatment that your doctor recommends will depend to a very large extent upon the progression of the disease. Thereafter it is a matter of discussing each treatment option with your doctor and of considering the advantages and disadvantages of each, as well as of course looking carefully at the risks which all prostate cancer treatments carry.

Prostrate cancer treatments fall into two broad categories – those that are recommended for early (Stage I and Stage II) cancer which is confined to the prostate gland and those used to treat advanced (Stage III and Stage IV) cancer which has spread to other areas of the body.

Early stage cancer treatments are designed to remove the prostate or to destroy it and thus to stop the cancer cells before they have a chance to spread to other areas of the body.

The surgical removal of the prostate gland (prostatectomy) will normally be carried out as either traditional open surgery or using a less invasive laparoscopic approach. One recent development is the introduction of robotic surgery (using the da Vinci system) which has the advantage of preserving nerves, muscles and other structures in the area of the prostate. Robotic surgery is extremely effective but should be carried out by a highly skilled surgeon in a centre with considerable experience in using this technique.

Radiation therapy may also be used to kill the cancer cells within the prostate gland. A variety of different radiation therapy techniques may be used and treatment will normally be carried out over a period of several weeks.

A relatively new technique, which is still being evaluated, is known as cryosurgery. During cryosurgery, which is carried out under anesthesia, cooling probes are guided into the prostate using ultrasound and the cancer cells are killed by freezing them.

The final form of treatment used for early stage cancer is high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). This procedure is again carried out under anesthesia (or using a local spinal anesthetic) and a probe is placed into the prostate gland through the rectum. A beam of high intensity focused ultrasound is them used to raise the temperature in the area of focus and thus to kill the cancer cells.

For late stage prostate cancer hormone therapy is used and this is designed not to attack the cancer itself but to target the male hormones (in particular testosterone) which the cancer cells need to grow.

Late stage treatments will include orchiectomy (the removal of the testicles), which is designed to remove the source of the body’s main production of testosterone, or a variety of hormone treatments aimed at either reducing the level of testosterone and other male hormones in the body or of blocking their action.

In cases where hormone therapy proves ineffective, systematic radiation therapy or chemotherapy may be recommended.

Whatever the stage of your cancer it is important to consider all of the options carefully and weigh the advantages, disadvantages and risks of each carefully before choosing the treatment that is best for you.

For more information on prostatecancerexplained.com” target=”_blank prostate cancer treatments please visit ProstateCancerExplained.com today.

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Tags: cancer treatment, chemotherapy, prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is perhaps one of the most expensive diseases that affect men all over the world, mainly because the treatment takes long and could entail high financial requirement to finish the treatment regimen. Today, people living with prostate cancer have lots of prostate cancer treatment options to choose from.

Watchful waiting is one of the most common and perhaps the cheapest among the prostate cancer treatment options at present. Patients who have not been suffering so much from the symptoms of the disease will have to set aside any medical prostate cancer treatment options.

In watchful waiting, a patient with the help of his doctor monitors his condition. This procedure is mostly recommended to older patients whose malignant tumor is slow-growing. The patient will have to take advantage of the slow development of the cancer cells and can still enjoy a relatively good quality of life. A medical treatment is not introduced just yet because the treatment’s risks may outweigh the benefits.

Radical prostatectomy is one of the most invasive prostate cancer treatment options. This procedure will remove the prostate and the affected lymph nodes. This is to prevent the spread of cancer cells from reaching other parts of the reproductive system. There are three methods of radical prostatectomy: transurethral, transrectal and transperineal. All the methods require the aid of transrectal ultrasound to guide the needle that will be inserted into the patient.

Radical prostatectomy can expose the patient to infections since a cut will be made into the patient’s skin. Nevertheless, the patients will be instructed to take antibiotic prior to the actual procedure.

Radiotherapy is also another prostate cancer treatment alternative. The newest technology uses radioactive implants that will be placed on the prostate and the nearby tissues. The implants will illuminate radioactive light that will kill the cancer cells. The seed implants will be placed via the needle that is inserted through perineum (the area between the anus and the scrotum) with aid of transrectal ultrasound.

The old-fashioned type of radiotherapy is the one which uses a machine that emits radioactive rays like x-rays. The light is directed to the prostate area in killing the cancers cells.

Hormone therapy is employed to inhibit the production of testosterone, which is responsible for the growth of cells including the cancerous ones. Estrogen is injected to decrease the level of testosterone thus cancer cells are prevented from spreading to other parts of the prostate and the nearby tissues and organs.

There are other prostate cancer treatment options but are still in the clinical trial stages. Nonetheless these treatments may soon become the answer to patients’ quest for other alternative and safe treatments.

Milos Pesic is an expert in the field of Prostate Cancer and runs a highly popular and comprehensive prostate.need-to-know.net/ Prostate Cancer web site. For more articles and resources on Prostate Cancer related topics, treatment options and much more visit his site at:

=> prostate.need-to-know.net/ prostate.need-to-know.net/

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Tags: cancer treatment, prostate cancer

If you are looking for an alternative mesothelioma treatment, you need the facts before you begin. You need to learn more about alternative therapies that not only help to slow the progression of mesothelioma cancer, but can often have fewer side effects than traditional treatments.

Here are a few of the alternative mesothelioma treatment options available today:

Gene Therapy

Gene therapy is getting a lot of attention as an alternative therapy in the treatment of mesothelioma cancer. Though it’s very experimental, the thought process is that when you were exposed to asbestos, the DNA and the genes in your cells were damaged, causing the cancer to grow and to spread. But if scientists can change the way the cells react, interrupting the genetic codes or changing them altogether, that cancerous response should be able to stop. In replacement gene therapy, doctors take out the gene that seems to be causing the cancerous growths and then replace it with a healthy functioning gene. In another alternative treatment therapy, scientists give the patient a series of oncogenes (modified genes) which stop the growth of mesothelioma cancer – also called knockout therapy.

Immunotherapy and Vaccine Therapy

By using the natural response of the body to fight off things that aren’t good for it, immunotherapy and vaccine therapy seems to be a promising alternative in the treatment of mesothelioma cancer. By introducing biological response modifiers (BGMs) into your body, your body will begin to fight off the ‘bad’ cells and replace them with good cells. This therapy is already very promising in other cancer areas.

Photodynamic Therapy

While it sounds like science fiction, photodynamic therapy might be a great alternative mesothelioma treatment for you. By giving the cancerous cells in the body a chemical that makes them sensitive to light, a doctor will then go into the body to see what cells are affected by the chemical and then kill them with light. The light creates an active form of oxygen in the process and eliminates the cancerous parts.

Other Therapies

There are other mesothelioma treatments as well that are being tested in clinical trials. Some of these include alternative therapy like acupuncture, herbs, massage, and other bodywork. Often used in conjunction with other therapies, these alternative treatments can help relax the patient and possibly enhance their immune system to fight the disease.

Every alternative mesothelioma treatment can be a chance to feel better and be more comfortable. Talk to your doctor today about what treatments might work for you.

About the Author:

Dave Casey is a freelance medical writer for Mesothelioma-Adviser.com. He has contributed articles on asbestosis, mesothelioma-adviser.com/ mesothelioma lung cancer and mesothelioma-adviser.com/asbestos-litigation.html asbestos litigation. Visit the site for the latest mesothelioma-adviser.com/alternative-mesothelioma-treatment.html alternative mesothelioma treatment options.

Copyright 2007 Mesothelioma-Adviser.com

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Moles can turn into cancerous melanomas so it’s important you check your moles regularly and talk to your doctor if there is any sign of danger.

Follow this 4 step, A-B-C-D, guide when checking your moles and if any of the points are true, be sure to take appropriate action.

Asymmetry: If one half of the mole does not match the other half. A mole or birthmark that has skin growth which increases in size should be examined by a doctor.

Border: If the edge of the mole is ragged, notched or blurred. Moles with skin cancer may have uneven borders.

Color: If the mole is a mix of brown, black and tan rather than an even color you should ensure it is looked at by a doctor. A mole that appears red or blue should also be cause for concern.

Diameter: If the mole is larger than a pencil eraser (6 mm). An important sign of melanoma is a change in size.

Check your body thoroughly at least every three months and if you have quite a few moles be sure to keep an eye on any changes. If any of your moles stand out from the others or if a mole starts bleeding for no apparent reason you should always consult your doctor.

The good news is that there is a lot you can do to protect yourself from skin cancer, or to catch it early enough so that it can be treated effectively, so make sure you check yourself thoroughly and often.

For further advice on health care and support, visit curemequick.com curemequick.com.

This article was submitted by Jack Prime, a contributer to the curemequick.com curemequick.com website.

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