I Have Prostate Cancer so I am Having a Prostatectomy
Saturday, October 10th, 2009When it comes to Prostate cancer treatment, Prostate surgery tends to be one of the most effective long term results. If the prostate cancer has not spread, Prostate surgery can often cure the prostate cancer entirely. In addition, Prostate surgery is recommended because it tends to have a lower chance of recurrence then other prostate treatment, including radiation and/or chemotherapy. The American Cancer society states that, although other Prostate treatment including radiation can be equally as effective as Prostate surgery in the short term, there is a much higher chance of recurrence with any other form of Prostate treatment.
Prostate surgery generally involves a prostatectomy. This form of Prostate cancer treatment involves removal of the entire prostate gland. Unfortunately, there are some side effects associated with a radical prostatectomy as a form of Prostate cancer treatment. Many men, especially over the age of 50, become impotent as a result of the Prostate surgery. Some men temporarily lose bladder control, although this bladder control can often be recovered after a healing period.
For patients unable to undergo a radical prostatectomy, cyrotherapy is another similar form of Prostate cancer treatment. For patients who receive cyrotherapy, the prostate is frozen instead of removed. This can be an effective Prostate cancer treatment, as the cancer cells die when the prostate is frozen. Although the long term results of cyrotherapy are not as good as the long term results of a prostectomy, this method of Prostate cancer treatment is more effective than many others are at removing prostate cancer cells.