{"id":6759,"date":"2021-08-02T11:13:07","date_gmt":"2021-08-02T11:13:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/?p=6759"},"modified":"2023-06-22T09:14:30","modified_gmt":"2023-06-22T09:14:30","slug":"treatment-options-for-prostate-cancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kauveryhospital.com\/blog\/cancer\/treatment-options-for-prostate-cancer\/","title":{"rendered":"Treatment options for Prostate Cancer"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is Prostate?\u00a0 <\/strong><\/h2>\n

The prostate is a small gland present in the male body and plays an important role in reproduction. This walnut-sized gland is located between the bladder and the penis, and in front of the rectum. Urine generated by the kidneys is drained out of the body through a thin tube called the urethra. From the bladder, the urethra passes through the center of the prostate gland, before it reaches the penis.<\/p>\n

The prostate secretes a fluid that provides nourishment to the sperm. During ejaculation, the prostate expels this fluid into the urethra. The vasa deferentia<\/em> is a pair of tubes that bring sperm from the testes to a pair of glands called seminal vesicles. The seminal vesicles also contribute fluid, and drain the same through ejaculatory ducts that connect to the urethra. During ejaculation, both fluids come out of the penis as semen that contains sperm.<\/p>\n

Like every other part of the body, the prostate too is vulnerable to cancer. According to various cancer registries, nearly 10 people for every 1 lakh males in India develop prostate cancer. That is why, it\u2019s important to know about the condition and treatment for the same.<\/p>\n

There are a wide range of treatment options available today.\u00a0 Once prostate cancer is confirmed, a urologist<\/a> or endocrinologist<\/a> at a reputed hospital<\/a> will consider the best course of treatment, in consultation with the patient. Parameters that will be considered are \u2013 the patient\u2019s age, how advanced is the cancer (stage 1\/2\/3\/4), how aggressive is the cancer, and benefits vs side-effects of each type of treatment. The last point is important as every treatment has its own side-effects.<\/p>\n

Treatment for Prostate Cancer<\/strong><\/h2>\n

There are multiple options classified under 5 headings:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. First line of treatment<\/li>\n
  2. Surgery<\/li>\n
  3. Radiation<\/li>\n
  4. Focal therapies<\/li>\n
  5. Systemic treatments<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    Also Read: What you eat can help you fight cancer<\/a><\/div>\n

    First line of treatment<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Active surveillance<\/strong>: Prostate cancer treatment has side effects that affect the person\u2019s sex life. That is why, its preferable to defer the treatment especially when the cancer is low-risk and can be easily treated with surgery or radiation. In such cases, the cancer\u2019s progress is actively surveilled by doctors from time to time and only when the condition starts deteriorating, will treatment be provided.<\/p>\n

    Watchful waiting<\/strong>: This is adopted for older adults with major health issues other than the prostate cancer. Instead of subjecting the elder to repeated tests and biopsies, active surveillance is done, both for the prostate cancer and the other health issues. Depending on how the 2 are progressing, at some point of time, the doctors may decide to treat the prostate cancer. Or even leave it as it is.<\/p>\n