The prostate gland’s primary role is to generate fluid to insulate the sperm cells released in a male’s semen. Prostate cancer occurs when a malignant tumor forms in the prostate gland.
Recently, this condition has become one of the most common illnesses diagnosed in males, but no two cases are the same. Fortunately, various treatment options are available for prostate cancer patients. However, the treatment will depend on the patient’s age, cancer stage, and health risks. Therefore, a good urologist is crucial to help manage prostate cancer as they can prescribe the most optimal treatment plan convenient for you.
Let’s learn about the treatment options available for prostate cancer, how they work, and where you can go in Phoenix, AZ, for effective prostate cancer treatment.
1. Active Surveillance
For patients with slow-growing cancer growth, active surveillance is a good option. That includes those with low-risk and localized tumors in the prostate.
Since their cancer progresses slower, they experience almost no symptoms or pain. It is safe for them to choose to delay aggressive treatment for the time being.
The doctor may recommend they only do periodic screenings, biopsies, and scans for the first couple of years upon diagnosis.
2. Radiation Therapy
Patients with advanced stages of cancer can opt for radiation therapy. Doctors usually recommend it for those whose cancer has metastasized to other body parts.
Radiation is effective because it eliminates or slows down the growth of present tumors, both localized and advanced.
Your provider may use this treatment on its own or combine it with other procedures.
External Beam Radiation Therapy
External beam radiation therapy uses a machine to direct X-ray beams into the tumor.
Doctors usually perform intensity-modulated radiation therapy for prostate cancer. It is a type of external radiation therapy that focuses potent doses of radiation on the tumor area.
Brachytherapy
Another form of radiation treatment is brachytherapy, which works by planting radioactive seeds inside the prostate to treat cancer.
This option is unique as it does not destroy any healthy tissue around the prostate or tumor. It only focuses on the problematic areas.
3. Surgery
A surgical procedure called prostatectomy is another treatment solution for prostate cancer patients. It is the process of extracting the damaged prostate gland from the body.
The different types of prostatectomies are:
Laparoscopic Prostatectomy
The first is called a laparoscopic prostatectomy. The surgeon will create small abdominal incisions instead of one big incision. That helps minimize abdominal trauma to speed up the patient’s healing after surgery.
Open Radical Prostatectomy
An open radical prostatectomy involves creating a large incision on the patient’s abdomen to remove the prostate.
In some cases, the surgeon might also extract fat and lymph nodes that surround the prostate gland.
4. Systemic Therapy
Doctors often recommend systemic therapies for patients whose cancer has advanced to areas outside their prostate gland.
One example of systemic therapy is taking chemotherapy drugs. Providers advise patients to take them after surgery to alleviate symptoms and prevent cancer from worsening.
Androgen deprivation hormone therapy is another systemic therapy for prostate cancer patients. It is when the cancer cells are starved of male hormones to shrink the tumor.
5. Focal Therapy
A more recently-created treatment solution is focal therapy. As the name suggests, it focuses solely on problematic areas of the prostate gland. It’s best for patients whose cancer is localized and hasn’t metastasized to other body parts.
Some examples of focal therapy solutions are:
- Photodynamic therapy
- Cryotherapy
- Laser ablation, and
- High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU)
6. Watchful Waiting
For older patients that may not be able to withstand aggressive forms of treatment, watchful waiting may help instead. Similar to active surveillance, doctors don’t recommend procedures upon diagnosis.
However, unlike active surveillance, watchful waiting requires less frequent medical testing. Since patients are weaker, the focus is more on managing pain symptoms.
Prostate Cancer Treatment in Phoenix, AZ
Are you looking for prostate cancer treatment in Phoenix, AZ? Ironwood Urology offers all the best prostate cancer treatment solutions for patients. The team, led by Dr. Desiderio Avila Jr., MD, performs medical screenings, ultrasounds, and biopsies for proper diagnosis and treatment. For questions and inquiries, call us today at (480) 961-2323. You may also request an appointment through the website.
We look forward to serving you!
