One of the most common cancers diagnosed in men, prostate cancer is a slow-growing cancer that may not produce any symptoms in the early stages of the disease. In fact, many men don't realize they have any issue with their prostate until it becomes difficult for them to urinate. For this reason, it is not uncommon for prostate cancer to not be diagnosed for a length of time.
Fortunately, there are several new and exciting treatments in the world of prostate cancer, which may offer hope to men who weren't able to identify the disease early. Following are three exciting advances in the world of prostate cancer medicine.
Testosterone Therapy
Since prostate cancer needs androgens, male hormones, to grow, traditional treatments have focused on limiting the amount of male hormones in the body. Unfortunately, many tumors grow resistant to such treatment after some time. Although it may seem counter-intuitive, doctors and researchers have found that administering large doses of the male hormone testosterone actually breaks the cycle of resistance. After undergoing testosterone therapy, men were able to return to more traditional therapies with success.
Permanent Radiotherapy
Permanent radiotherapy treatment involves placing 40 to 100 pellets of radioactive material through the skin and leaving them for a period of several weeks or months, depending on the patient and the severity of the cancer. Studies have shown that men who receive this type of treatment are two times as likely to be cancer free after five years. However, men who receive this treatment are also more likely to experience temporary and reversible side effects, such as urinary toxicity. Researchers are currently looking for ways to minimize the side effects associated with permanent radiotherapy.
Low-Temperature Plasma Treatment
Low-temperature plasma treatment offers a solution to drug resistance in the field of cancer treatment. This therapy uses natural elements -- oxygen and nitrogen -- to rupture the walls of cell membranes and ultimately kill them. Low-temperature plasma causes a great deal of damage to the DNA strand, which inhibits the cancer cells' ability to reproduce as well. As of 2015, this type of treatment was still in testing and clinical phases.
As you can see, there are several exciting new treatments for prostate cancer. With an estimated 220,000 men diagnosed annually in the United States alone, these treatment options are welcomed by patients and the medical community alike. As with most treatments, these therapies are most successful when the cancer is caught early. For more information, contact International HIFU or a similar organization.
Share1 May 2015
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