Choosing To Stop Treatment Or Choosing No Treatment At All
For some people, when treatments have been tried and are no longer controlling the cancer, it could be time to weigh the benefits and risks of continuing to try new treatments. Whether or not you continue treatment, there are still things you can do to help maintain or improve your quality of life.
Some people, especially if the cancer is advanced, might not want to be treated at all. There are many reasons you might decide not to get cancer treatment, but its important to talk to your doctors and you make that decision. Remember that even if you choose not to treat the cancer, you can still get supportive care to help with pain or other symptoms.
Prostate Cancer Treatment Options
Conventional treatments for early-stage prostate cancer include surgery and radiation. Hormonal therapy, which can reduce levels of the male hormones that lead to tumor growth, is also used to treat early-stage tumors. For advanced or metastatic prostate cancer, chemotherapy is also a treatment option.
Immunotherapy is class of treatments that take advantage of a persons own immune system to help kill cancer cells. There are currently three FDA-approved immunotherapy options for prostate cancer.
Cancer Vaccines
- Sipuleucel-T : a vaccine composed of patients own immune cells, which have been stimulated to target the PAP protein highly expressed on prostate cancers approved for subsets of patients with advanced prostate cancer
Immunomodulators
- Dostarlimab : a checkpoint inhibitor that targets the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway approved for subsets of patients with advanced prostate cancer that has DNA mismatch repair deficiency
- Pembrolizumab : a checkpoint inhibitor that targets the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway approved for subsets of patients with advanced prostate cancer that has high microsatellite instability , DNA mismatch repair deficiency , or high tumor mutational burden
In cases where the patients prostate cancer is resistant to testosterone level reduction via hormone therapy, treatment options are few. Several immunotherapy options are currently in clinical trials for patients with advanced prostate cancer.
Who Is Eligible For Pae
The PAE procedure is best for candidates who are either ineligible due to pre-existing health conditions or not interested in traditional surgery. An exam with an interventional radiologist can determine if you are a candidate for PAE. At this appointment, you may be asked how often you have urinary symptoms of BPH, how severe they are, and how much they affect your quality of life. Men who have advanced heart diseases associated with smoking or diabetes may not be candidates for PAE.
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Nutrition And Lifestyle Changes
Many studies have looked at the possible benefits of specific nutrients in helping to treat prostate cancer, although so far none have shown a clear benefit. Some compounds being studied include extracts from pomegranate, green tea, broccoli, turmeric, flaxseed, and soy.
One study has found that men who choose not to have treatment for their localized prostate cancer may be able to slow its growth with intensive lifestyle changes. The men in the study ate a vegan diet and exercised frequently. They also took part in support groups and yoga. After one year the men saw, on average, a slight drop in their PSA level. It isnt known if this effect will last since the report only followed the men for 1 year. The regimen may also be hard for some men to follow.
Its important for men thinking about taking any type of nutritional supplement to talk to their health care team first. They can help you decide which ones you can use safely while avoiding those that might be harmful.
Just One Weapon Against Cancer
Before treatment with PLUVICTOTM is recommended, patients undergo a to determine if their tumor contains the PSMA target. If it does not, PLUVICTOTM would not be appropriate, explained Dr. Wong. At Duke we treat you as an individual. Each case is discussed among a multidisciplinary team of surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, radiologists, and nuclear medicine specialists. He emphasized that PLUVICTOTM is not for everyone and is just one weapon in the arsenal for fighting cancer. Our team will determine how and if this new option fits in with all the others we offer.
Duke can provide PLUVICTOTM and other novel treatments because it is a Comprehensive Cancer Center with the latest advances in diagnosing and treating prostate cancer. Duke is also recognized as a Comprehensive Radiopharmaceutical Therapy Center of Excellence, which requires strict adherence to safety and treatment criteria that ensures the best care for patients.
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Physical Emotional And Social Effects Of Cancer
Cancer and its treatment cause physical symptoms and side effects, as well as emotional, social, and financial effects. Managing all of these effects is called palliative care or supportive care. It is an important part of your care that is included along with treatments intended to slow, stop, or eliminate the cancer.
Palliative care focuses on improving how you feel during treatment by managing symptoms and supporting patients and their families with other, non-medical needs. Any person, regardless of age or type and stage of cancer, may receive this type of care. And it often works best when it is started right after a cancer diagnosis. People who receive palliative care along with treatment for the cancer often have less severe symptoms, better quality of life, and report that they are more satisfied with treatment.
Palliative treatments vary widely and often include medication, nutritional changes, relaxation techniques, emotional and spiritual support, and other therapies. You may also receive palliative treatments similar to those meant to get rid of the cancer, such as chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation therapy.
Learn more about the importance of tracking side effects in another part of this guide. Learn more about palliative care in a separate section of this website.
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Staging Of Prostate Cancer
Doctors will use the results of your prostate examination, biopsy and scans to identify the stage of your prostate cancer .
The stage of the cancer will determine which types of treatments will be necessary.
If prostate cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, the chances of survival are generally good.
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Improving Biopsies For Prostate Cancer
Traditionally, prostate cancer has been diagnosed using needles inserted into the prostate gland in several places under the guidance of transrectal ultrasound imaging to collect samples of tissue. This approach is called systematic biopsy.
However, ultrasound does not generally show the location of cancer within the prostate. It is mainly used to make sure the biopsy needles go into the gland safely. Therefore, biopsy samples using ultrasound guidance can miss cancer altogether, or identify low-grade cancer while missing areas of high-grade, potentially more aggressive cancers.
Some doctors, concerned that a systematic biopsy showing only low-grade cancer could have missed a high-grade cancer, may suggest surgery or radiation. However these treatments are for a cancer that may have never caused a problem, which is considered overtreatment.
Using MRI and ultrasound. Scientists at NCI have developed a procedure that combines magnetic resonance imaging with TRUS for more accurate prostate biopsies. MRI can locate potential areas of cancer within the gland but is not practical for real-time imaging to guide a prostate biopsy. The new procedure, known as MRI-targeted biopsy, uses computers to fuse an MRI image with an ultrasound image. This lets doctors use ultrasound guidance to biopsy areas of possible cancer seen on MRI.
Research Into The Quality Of Life Of Men With Prostate Cancer
More and more men are surviving prostate cancer. So researchers are interested in the quality of life of men who finish their treatment. They want to see which men are more likely to have side effects from their treatment.
They are also looking into the mental wellbeing and quality of life of men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer.
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James Michael Tyler Actor Who Played Gunther On Friends Dead At 59
A drug already proven effective in battling breast cancer could help men win the war against prostate cancer, according to a landmark study out of London.
The drug, called talazoparib, is taken as a daily pill and is already used successfully by breast cancer patients, according to the Sunday Times.
The report, citing research by the Institute of Cancer Research in London and the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, said that phase two trials of the drug halted the progression of advanced prostate cancer by an average of 5.6 months double the time possible with existing treatments.
Talazoparib is now among a handful of precision medicines that have been shown to be safe and effective at controlling advanced prostate cancer, said Matthew Hobbs, director of research at Prostate Cancer UK. We need to drive progress in this area as quickly as possible.
The treatment was found to be particularly effective for men with a mutated BRCA gene who are genetically predisposed to prostate cancer similar to the mutation carried by Angelina Jolie, which increased her risk of ovarian and breast cancer.
The Lancet oncology journal published the results of the study this month.
Rna Molecule Suppresses Prostate Tumor Growth
- Date:
- Washington University School of Medicine
- Summary:
- A new study has identified an RNA molecule that suppresses prostate tumors. The scientists found that prostate cancers develop ways to shut down this RNA molecule to allow themselves to grow. According to the new research — conducted in mice implanted with human prostate tumor samples — restoring this so-called long noncoding RNA could be a new strategy to treat prostate cancer that has developed resistance to hormonal therapies.
Many patients with prostate cancer are treated with drugs that lower or block hormones that fuel tumor growth. While the drugs are effective for a time, most patients eventually develop resistance to these therapies.
A new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has identified an RNA molecule that suppresses prostate tumors. The scientists found that prostate cancers develop ways to shut down this RNA molecule to allow themselves to grow. According to the new research — conducted in mice implanted with human prostate tumor samples — restoring this so-called long noncoding RNA could be a new strategy to treat prostate cancer that has developed resistance to hormonal therapies.
The study is published Nov. 5 in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Story Source:
Materials provided by Washington University School of Medicine. Original written by Julia Evangelou Strait. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
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Research Into High Intensity Focused Ultrasound
HIFU uses high frequency sound waves to destroy cancer cells. The waves create heat that destroys prostate cancer.
Researchers are looking at only treating the areas of cancer in the prostate. They want to find out how well it works and how it affects mens quality of life.
What Lies Ahead: Leading The Way With Alpha Therapies
The coming years will see even more powerful forms of radioactive therapy. The MSK laboratory of radiochemist Jason Lewis and other researchers are investigating the use of alpha particles, which have a much higher energy hundreds of times more potent than the photons used in conventional radiation or beta particles. Not only do alpha particles cause more damage when they slam into cancer cells but their path of destruction is more tightly focused, sparing normal cells.
MSK is building one of the nations first dedicated alpha particle GMP labs at a U.S. academic institution.
These radiopharmaceuticals that we are creating translate very well from bench to bedside, says Dr. Lewis, Chief of the Radiochemistry and Imaging Sciences Service and Director of the Radiochemistry and Molecular Imaging Probe Core Facility. When you see these striking responses to treatment, it brings real hope for the future and our patients.
Advances in radiotheranostics are supported by The Tow Foundation, long-time contributors to MSKs mission.
- A new FDA-approved drug could be an effective treatment against prostate cancer that has spread.
- The treatment uses a molecule that seeks out and attaches to a specific protein on the cancer cell surface called PSMA
- The technology delivers radiation that damages DNA and destroys the cancer cell..
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Newer Treatments For Early
Researchers are looking at newer forms of treatment for early-stage prostate cancer. These new treatments could be used either as the first type of treatment or after unsuccessful radiation therapy.
One treatment, known as high-intensity focused ultrasound , destroys cancer cells by heating them with highly focused ultrasonic beams. This treatment has been used in some countries for a while, and is now available in the United States. Its safety and effectiveness are now being studied, although most doctors in the US dont consider it to be a proven first-line treatment for prostate cancer at this time.
Prostate Cancer Treatment Advances: Can They Help You
This page adheres to our medical and editorial policy and guidelines.
While the 10-year survival rate for men diagnosed with prostate cancer in the United States is approximately 98 percent, many men face difficult decisions about their treatment options. They worry not only about which treatment may be appropriate in fighting their cancer, but also about the impact treatment may have on their quality of life.
In 90 percent of cases, prostate cancer is diagnosed at the local or regional stage, meaning it hasnt spread beyond the prostate or nearby organs. Men diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer may have several treatment options with similar outcomes. Men diagnosed with distant cancer, meaning its already spread to other areas of the body, face different treatment decisions. Either way, its normal to feel anxious after a diagnosis and to want to take action right away.
But you may regret rushing into a treatment plan without considering your options carefully. Prostate cancer treatment has common side effects, especially urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction, that may negatively impact your quality of life. Because prostate cancer often progresses slowly, most men have time to investigate their options.
Whether youre already receiving treatment for prostate cancer, or youre considering new treatment decisions, its worth learning about prostate cancer treatment advances that may affect your choices.
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Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials Consortium
The Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials Consortium is a clinical research group sponsored by the Prostate Cancer Foundation and the Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Research Program , with its Coordinating Center headquartered at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. The PCCTC is currently composed of 15 participating clinical research sites and 32 affiliated clinical research sites.
Visit the PCCTC site for trial information: www.pcctc.org
Where To Get Prostate / Urolift Procedure / Rezum Procedure / Laser Enucleation Of Prostate / Holep / Surgery In Nyc
At New York Urology Specialists, we offer specialized treatment for enlarged prostate for men. Same-day virtual video appointments and in-person appointments are available.
or make an appointment online.
We perform a cystoscopy, urodynamic testing, prostate and bladder ultrasound in our office. We offer Urolift procedure, Rezum water-vapor procedure in our office, and laser enucleation of the prostate in a hospital setting. We treat urinary and erection problems. We offer confidential appointments.
Our appointment costs are affordable with or without insurance. We offer free insurance verification.
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What Is An Enlarged Prostate
Many men will experience an enlarged prostate in their lifetime. Learn about the symptoms of an enlarged prostate, what causes it, and how to treat an enlarged prostate here.By the time you reach the age of 60, you have a 50/50 chance of having an enlarged prostate. When you blow out 85 candles on the birthday cake, the likelihood increases to 90%.
You might be wondering, If its so common, whats the big deal about having benign prostatic hyperplasia ?
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New Prostate Cancer Treatment: Nanoknife Uses Electricity To Kill Cancer Cells
by Emma Rose Johnson, Rush University Medical Center
Prostate cancer affects one in every eight men during their lifetime, making it the most prevalent form of cancer for males. For many, the standard of care means facing aggressive treatments that include radiation and the freezing or removal of the entire prostate, which often result in incontinence and erectile dysfunction. But at RUSH, a new treatment for some types of prostate cancer offers hope for those looking to avoid punishing side effects.
“We were about 50 years behind breast malignancy treatment,” said Srinivas Vourganti, MD, a urologist at Rush University Medical Center. “In breast cancer, you often excise the cancer while leaving the healthy tissue, but we weren’t able to do that.”
Men with early-stage or lower-risk prostate cancer could take a “watch and wait” strategy, in which the cancer is monitored regularly but no immediate interventions are made to avoid more aggressive methods. This leaves patients with the choice between waiting and taking aggressive steps.
“A lot of guys want a middle ground between those two options,” Vourganti said. “We’re really excited that we potentially have another option for some cases.”
New NanoKnife technique
“It seemed like a good option primarily because of the collateral damagethat the other things could do,” John said. “He said it’s a new field, it’s experimental, but to prevent damage to the nerves, it was a good way to start.”
How it works
NanoKnife outcomes
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