Remission And The Chance Of Recurrence
A remission is when cancer cannot be detected in the body and there are no symptoms. This may also be called having no evidence of disease or NED.
A remission can be temporary or permanent. This uncertainty causes many people to worry that the cancer will come back. Although there are treatments to help prevent a recurrence, such as hormonal therapy and radiation therapy, it is important to talk with your doctor about the possibility of the cancer returning. There are tools your doctor can use, called nomograms, to estimate someone’s risk of recurrence. Understanding your risk of recurrence and the treatment options may help you feel more prepared if the cancer does return. Learn more about coping with the fear of recurrence.
In general, following surgery or radiation therapy, the PSA level in the blood usually drops. If the PSA level starts to rise again, it may be a sign that the cancer has come back. If the cancer returns after the original treatment, it is called recurrent cancer.
When this occurs, a new cycle of testing will begin again to learn as much as possible about the recurrence, including where the recurrence is located. The cancer may come back in the prostate , in the tissues or lymph nodes near the prostate , or in another part of the body, such as the bones, lungs, or liver . Sometimes the doctor cannot find a tumor even though the PSA level has increased. This is known as a PSA-only or biochemical recurrence.
What Are The Different Types Of Prostate Cancer Surgery
The most common one is called a radical prostatectomy. In this procedure, the entire prostate gland is removed, along with some of the surrounding tissue. In some cases, nearby lymph nodes are removed as well. There are several surgical approaches for this, including traditional open surgery. We can also use minimally invasive procedures, such as laparoscopic surgery and robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery.
A critical aspect of a radical prostatectomy is tailoring it to the individual features of each mans cancer. One size does not fit all. This means the exact same procedure is not appropriate for every person. The location, size, and other features of the cancer are considered to design an operation that is appropriate for the person.
In a laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, a surgeon inserts a tiny camera called a laparoscope through a small cut in the abdomen. The camera gives doctors a magnified, high-definition picture of the prostate gland. With that image as a guide, the surgeon can remove the prostate, seminal vesicles, and lymph nodes using special tools.
To do a robot-assisted procedure, a surgeon sits at a console that has a screen as well as hand, finger, and foot controls. The surgeons hand, wrist, finger, and foot movements control the robotic instruments inside the patient in real time.
The Future Of Prostate Cancer Research: What Could The Next Decade Bringyour Browser Indicates If You’ve Visited This Link
The last decade has brought major advances in the way we diagnose and treat prostatecancer and men with advanced disease are living longer than ever. We spoke to our scientists about the most exciting research areas that have the potential to revolutionize prostatecancer treatment in years to come.
Medical Xpress
Read Also: Is Zinc Good For Prostate
Transurethral Resection Of Bladder Tumors
TURBT is a procedure to diagnose and treat early-stage bladder cancer. With TURBT, a tissue sample from a suspicious area can be obtained. If cancer is present, we can remove the cancerous tissue by inserting a scope in the urethra, in a process called resection. This process is minimally invasive and does not require incisions.
Early Prostate Cancer Is Curable
Former President Nelson Mandela had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in July 2001. He received radiotherapy for seven weeks, but his lifespan is unlikely to be reduced, his doctors said.
Mr Mandelas cancer was not of a high grade and should not decrease his life span, his doctors told News24 in July last year after the diagnosis.
How was it diagnosed?Mandela had been monitored regularly for the prostate specific antigen that indicates cancer. Although the clinical picture revealed no alteration in his status, there has been a slight rise in the blood level of the PSA. In view of this, a decision was made to biopsy the prostate gland, which confirmed the presence of microscopic cancer within the prostate, his doctors confirmed at the time.
Mr Mandela received hormonal treatment for a while, and underwent a seven-week course of radiotherapy with curative intent. This treatment was localised to the prostate gland. He did not require any surgery or chemotherapy.
Most of Mandelas prostate gland was removed in an operation in 1990.
Facts about prostate cancerProstate cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in all men in South Africa.
One in ten men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime.
Early prostate cancer is often completely asymptomatic, making detection difficult. For this reason, regular screening for prostate cancer needs to be done, especially in men over 50.
You May Like: Prostate Cancer Bone Metastasis Osteoblastic
You May Like: Does Enlarged Prostate Affect Ejaculation
Surgery For Prostate Cancer
Surgery is a common choice to try to cure prostate cancer if it is not thought to have spread outside the prostate gland.
The main type of surgery for prostate cancer is a radical prostatectomy. In this operation, the surgeon removes the entire prostate gland plus some of the tissue around it, including the seminal vesicles.
Table 1 Why A Low Psa Does Not Mean You Are Cancer
The Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial included a provision that men randomized to receive placebo undergo a prostate biopsy at the end of the study, even if they had normal PSA levels and digital rectal exams. To their surprise, investigators found that many of these men had prostate cancer in some cases, high-grade prostate cancer.
PSA level 13 *Note: A PSA level over 4.0 ng/ml traditionally triggers a biopsy. Adapted with permission from I.M. Thompson, et al. Prevalence of Prostate Cancer Among Men with a Prostate-Specific Antigen Level 4.0 ng per Milliliter. New England Journal of Medicine, May 27, 2004, Table 2.
This study inadvertently provided evidence not only that prostate cancer occurs more often than once believed, but also that PSA levels may not be a reliable indicator of which cancers are most aggressive. Both findings add weight to the growing consensus that many prostate tumors currently being detected may not need to have been diagnosed or treated in the first place.
Also Check: Do Females Have Prostate Cancer
Choosing Cyberknife For Treatment
Our doctors work with you to evaluate whether CyberKnife® radiosurgery is the right treatment for you. If you have a cancerous or noncancerous condition that is considered inoperable or not treatable using conventional radiation therapy, then CyberKnife® treatment may be an option for you. Your doctor may also recommend CyberKnife® if you are looking for an alternative to traditional surgery, or as an additional treatment choice if you have already received the maximum radiation therapy dose using conventional options.
Compared with other radiation therapies that last 6 to 9 weeks, CyberKnife® treatment typically lasts 5 days or less, with 20- to 30-minute sessions daily.
Read About The Research You Have Helped Make Possible: The Patrick C Walsh Prostate Cancer Research Fundyour Browser Indicates If You’ve Visited This Link
That research got its start with one of the first-ever awards from the Patrick C. Walsh ProstateCancer Research Fund. So did Samuel Denmeade’s early work on BAT.Since its inception in 2005, this remarkable Fund – made possible by the tremendous generosity of our patients and friends – has awarded millions of dollars to Johns Hopkins scientists in every discipline with good ideas worth pursuing that can help us understand more about prostatecancer.
Johns Hopkins Medicine
You May Like: Fiducials Prostate Cancer
Differences Between Homeopathic And Allopathic Medicine
Understanding the difference helps make decisions about seeking treatment for an illness.
- Allopathic is a system in which medical doctors and other healthcare professionals treat symptoms and diseases using drugs, radiation, or surgery.
- Homeopathic is a medical system based on the belief that the body can cure itself. Those who practice it use tiny amounts of natural substances, like plants and minerals. They believe these stimulate the healing process.
Homeopathy is based on two main principles.
The first is that a substance that causes symptoms in a healthy person can be used in diluted form to treat symptoms and illnesses, a principle is known as like-cures-like.
Second the more diluted the substance, the more potent it is, known as the law of infinitesimals, according to the FDA.
You May Like: Flomax For Prostatitis
What Are The Side Effects Of Hifu
Some studies indicate that as many as 70% of men who undergo HIFU are left permanently impotent. Other reported side effects include:
- ED and ejaculation problems, including internal ejaculation
- Urinary frequency, burning, and incontinence
- Injury to the rectal wall or rectal incontinence
- Prostate infection
- Long-term catheter use for up to a month
Also Check: Pentostatin Side Effects
Natural Prostate Cancer Treatment
In 2020 in the U.S., there will be an estimated 1,806,950 new cancer cases and 606,520 cancer deaths. Of these, there will be almost 192,000 new cases of prostate cancer, which is the third most common cancer.
It is estimated that approximately 15.3 per cent of U.S. males will be diagnosed in their lifetime. This is the male equivalent of breast cancer and it is time to raise awareness of the condition and what the alternative treatment options are for prostate cancer.
Prostate Cancer Caregiver Podcast Series
We are proud to announce a new podcast series geared toward helping give support, hope and guidance to prostate cancer caregivers. The goal of this Prostate Cancer Caregiver Podcast Series is to help others connect with a diverse group of people who have felt the impact of prostate cancer in their lives and empower them on their journey.
Read Also: What Is Perineural Invasion In Prostate Cancer
What If I Have Radiation Before Surgery
In most cases, robotic prostate surgery cannot be performed after radiation treatment. This is a very important treatment consideration. Radiation alters the prostate tissue in such a way that surgery is typically not an option for disease recurrence. For this reason, many men reserve radiation treatment until after surgery. Even then, follow-up treatment after robotic surgery is typically not needed.
Comprehensive Urologic Cancer Care Closer To Home
The urologic oncologists at the NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital Cancer Center provide comprehensive care for people with urologic cancers, such as those of the prostate, bladder, kidney, testicles, and ureters. You can receive all the care you need in one location, from diagnosis through treatment and survivorship.
We take a minimally invasive approach to urologic cancer surgery, using robotic surgery in many cases that results in smaller incisions, less discomfort after surgery, and a quicker return to your normal activities. We also offer the newest chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation therapy approaches.
You may have the opportunity to participate in a clinical trial of a promising new urologic cancer therapy. NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist is a site for the NRG Oncology Group, which brings together the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project, the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group, and the Gynecologic Oncology Group each recognized internationally as a leader in cancer research. Through our relationship with Weill Cornell Medicine, we are a member of the academically prestigious Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology.
There’s no need to travel into Manhattan to get the most advanced urologic cancer care it is available right here in your community, in Brooklyn.
Our Team
Read Also: How Are Fiducial Markers Placed In The Prostate
Omega 3s Theres Nothing Fishy About It
A Swedish study tested 520 men who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and found a strong connection between omega-3 consumption from fish oil and flaxseeds and survival rates. The bottom line is, that by taking omega-3 supplements and enjoying a preference for oily fish such as salmon and sardines, you can reduce your risk of getting cancer by more than a third.
Why do you think the Eskimo male population has virtually zero rates of prostate cancer? It just so happens that their main food source is fatty cold-water fish, rich in omega-3. Before you jump to the conclusion that it may just be genetic, it has also been observed that Eskimo men who have migrated to other countries and adopted the western diet have contracted prostate cancer like everyone else.
Fish oil contains about 30% omega-3 while flaxseed oil has about 60% omega-3. So flaxseed is the only oil that can correct the imbalance in omega-3 & 6 oils in the Western diet.
But thats not all. Consumption of omega-3s provides other health benefits, including the promotion of heart and circulatory health and in helping to maintain healthy cholesterol and blood pressure levels. In particular, flaxseed holds a special role in protection against pancreatic, colon, breast, and prostate cancers, as well as helping to forestall the spread of melanoma.
Your Cancer Care Team
People with cancer should be cared for by a multidisciplinary team . This is a team of specialists who work together to provide the best care and treatment.
The team often consists of specialist cancer surgeons, oncologists , radiologists, pathologists, radiographers and specialist nurses.
Other members may include physiotherapists, dietitians and occupational therapists. You may also have access to clinical psychology support.
When deciding what treatment is best for you, your doctors will consider:
- the type and size of the cancer
- what grade it is
- whether the cancer has spread to other parts of your body
Recommended Reading: Why Does Tamsulosin Affect Ejaculation
What The Research Shows About Radiation Vs Surgery
The ProtecT trial was a 10-year, randomized clinical study designed to compare radical prostatectomy, external-beam radiotherapy and active surveillance for the treatment of localized prostate cancer.
The results, published in 2016, showed that the rate of disease progression among men assigned to radiotherapy or radical prostatectomy was less than half the rate among men assigned to active monitoring. However, there was no significant difference in survival at the median 10-year mark for radiation therapy, surgery or active surveillance.
If youre interested in directly comparing treatment outcomes by treatment method and risk group , the Prostate Cancer Free Foundation provides an interactive graph on its website with information from data obtained from over 100,000 prostate cancer patients over a 15-year period.
As discussed earlier in the sections on the side effects of radiation therapy and surgery, the researchers conducting the ProtecT trial also looked at side effects and quality-of-life issues and found that the three major side effects of these two treatment options that affect quality of life after prostate cancer treatment are urinary incontinence, sexual dysfunction and bowel health.
The trial found that urinary leakage and erectile dysfunction were more common after surgery than after radiation therapy. Gastrointestinal bowel problems were more common after radiation therapy.
Natural History Of The Disease
Several studies reported in the literature provide insights into the natural history of high-grade prostate cancer in a 70-year-old man. Albertsen and associates6 examined the survival of men 6575 years of age who had clinically localized prostate cancer, comparing those treated with hormonal therapy with aged-matched, untreated controls. The survival expectancy for men with Gleason 810 adenocarcinoma of the prostate treated with hormonal therapy was 68 years less than that for controls. If one assumes that hormonal therapy does not extend survival, then the difference in survival between the hormonally-treated group versus the control group represents the impact of high-grade, clinically localized prostate cancer on survival.
Also Check: Is Cranberry Juice Good For The Prostate
A New Treatment Option For Bph
A newer, nonsurgical treatment for BPH, called prostatic artery embolization , is available at UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill, says Ari Isaacson, MD, a vascular interventional radiologist who performs the procedure.
PAE is performed through a small puncture in the groin or the arm. A catheter is inserted through the artery and directed toward the prostate.
Once the catheter is positioned in the artery supplying blood to the prostate, tiny particles called microspheres are injected that plug up the artery, blocking blood flow. This is called embolization.
This process is then repeated on the other side, usually through the same original puncture, Dr. Isaacson says.
Causes Of Prostate Cancer
The risks of a prostate gland becoming cancerous is often attributed to highly inflammatory diets like diets containing a lot of gluten containing foods, foods with GMOs, processed food containing chemical additives and sugars. Studies have revealed the fact that men who consume excess amounts of synthetic zinc oxide and folic acid are at greater risks of developing prostate cancer. Besides, those who are on a very high-dose of multi-vitamins, they also fall in the high-risk category. Sedentary lifestyle and poor lavatory habits also contribute to the chances of acquiring this cancer.
Read Also: Is Zinc Good For Prostate
Adjusting To Your New Normal
While most people do well with prostate cancer treatment, and the survival rate is very high, treatments can change people physically and emotionally. Side effects of treatment are fairly common, and some of these can persist long after treatment has been completed.
The concept of survivorship with cancer is finally being addressed, and medical professionals are becoming much more aware of the need to help people live their best new normal possible after a diagnosis.
If you are coping with any of the late effects of cancer treatment, talk to your healthcare provider. Its only recently that the idea of cancer rehabilitation has taken off, and is improving the lives of people who have survived treatment. Counseling can also be an integral part of cancer rehabilitation, helping people adjust to the many emotions and changes that can occur. Because this is so new, you may need to initiate the conversation with your practitioner.
Read Also: What Is Perineural Invasion In Prostate Cancer