Prostate Cancer Treatment

Question: does anyone know about prostate cancer treatment in Canada? My soon-to-be father-in-law has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and was told that they have new technology for treatment in Canada, where they use laproscopy (i think this is what he is describing). Does anyone know anything about this? Why is it not done here in the states? What is the recovery process and how sucessful is it really?

Answer: I live in Canada and my dad had prostate cancer about 11 years ago. They caught it early enough and he went with radiation treatment. I believe laparoscopic surgery involves removing the prostate which some men choose. My dad had radiation treatment, where the prostate isn't actually removed but the cancer is hit with radiation. You might want to keep checking because I believe laparoscopic treatment is widely available in the US too. Things turned out fine for my dad fortunately and I hope your father in law's prognosis is positive too.

Question: How will I know if prostate cancer treatment has helped? I have had 41 external beam radiation treatments, 25 full pelvic treatments and 16 "Boost" treatments aimed at the prostate only. I am receiving hormone therapy also that requires one shot every three months. So far I have had two treatments. When I was first diagnosed, my Urologist said three hormone treatments was all I could have as more would cause brittle bones. Now, this same doctor says I may have to take these shots for the rest of my life. When I asked how I would know if treatments have helped, he replied six months after I'm off the hormones a PSA test would tell. Now that's really a Catch 22. Has anyone experianced these same treatments and what are your results? My Gleason score from my biopsy was 9, so removal was out of the question. My bone scan did not show any cancer there. I am told the full pelvic treatments were for cancer cells that may have been in the lymph nodes. My Gleason score from my biopsy was 9, so removal was out of the question. My bone scan did not show any cancer there. I am told the full pelvic treatments were for cancer cells that may have been in the lymph nodes. Several good answers, to the answerers who wanted me to go to link, I've tried and didn't get anywhere. To the researcher, read the post, PSA levels are no good as long as you're on hormone therapy and I was told, I might be on hormone for the rest of my life. No removal is what I was told as soon as I met with the Urologist who did the biopsy. I could overhear him talking with his assistant about what the tumor looked like with the sonogram while doing the biopsy. I can only speculate that the cancer had left the prostate. A bone scan showed that it had not got into the bones. It could also be that the insurance company would only pay for one procedure and radiation was chosen. There are some good answers here, there are a couple that refer me to a link that doesn't work and one that sounds good except it doesn't answer the question. I have provided all the details. I guess I'll just let this go to vote.

Answer: Let me see if I can help you a bit. After your third hormone treatment, you will go off for 6 months, retest the PSA, & then if your PSA is low enough, you can stay off the hormone therapy & just get the PSA rechecked in 3-6 month intervals for life. When the PSA levels rise again, then the Dr. will discuss the possibility of going back on the hormone shots. An eventual tolerance to the hormone therapy will develop down the road, that is why you are on for a certain amount of months & then off. This hormone therapy does cause Osteoporosis. I would highly suggest adding a good Calcium supplement along with Vitamin D to combat this inevitable side effect. My father was on this therapy on & off for 8 years & suffered from this along with hot flashes & uncontrollable sweating, weight gain, bone pain,& a host of other things. He chose to eventually go off because of the side effects. The decision comes down to an individual choice of what you wish your quality of life to be & how controllable your case may be. If I were you, I would suggest getting a 2nd opinion on your treatment plan. Looking back on my Father's care, that is something we didn't do, that I wish we had done!. We followed his Urologist's hormone therapy plan & didn't try any alternative therapies. I am unsure with your Gleason numbers why they didn't decide on surgery after your radiation. If you have a Cancer Institue in your state, I would start there to get an appointment with a specialist in Prostate Cancer. If you don't have one, ask your Radiologist who he would recommend. I would also suggest seeing if you qualify for any investigational drug studies being conducted with Prostate Cancer specialists in your area. The hormone therapy companies got in trouble a few years back for bribing Dr's with kickbacks to keep patients on these shots & they settled it for a record 875 million $$$$$!!! So, I am always suspect of motives. Anyway, as far as helpful sites, I suggest www.mdanderson.org & then just type in prostate cancer. I think that is a great resource & they have an 800 number you can call for advice. My prayers are with you & I hope that I have been of some help! Be strong in your fight ! God Bless! ADDITIONAL QUESTION: My husband just brought up this morning, if surgery isn't an option what about Radioactive Implant(seeding).? In our past research we found that a diet with limited dairy is best.. If you have milk make sure it is hormone free. Also, if you can buy hormone free meat & eggs that is key. The more you limit your outside hormone influences the morre control you will have in your cancer. I know I mentioned Vit. D & calcium earlier, but no matter what increase your intake of those. If you can get at least an hour a day of sunshine along with taking Vitamin D3 (3 Capsules a day, for a total intake of 15,000 IU) that is as important in treating the cancer as much as helping in the bone loss. I would get the D3 from a health food store in your area. Thorne makes a good brand called D-5000. In addition, take 3000 mg of Calcium Citrate daily.( capsules are easiest to take) If you have any bone pain, take MSM capsules 3000 mg twice daily. You can get this anywhere & any brand is fine (inexpensive) New studies have found Lycopene 10 mg. twice a day is extremely beneficial in fighting the cancer cells. EGCG (Green tea extract....decaffinated) 200 mg. twice a day. Try & not drink soda pop as it will pull calcium from your system. Also the aspartame in diet drinks can create toxicity enhancing cancer cell growth. If you have any more questions please email me, my husband is a Dr. & I spent the last 12 years researching everything I could to help my Dad during his fight. NOTE: DO NOT TAKE MUTIPLE VITAMINS containing SELENIUM or CADMIUM because a new study in Britain shows these may ne linked to Prostate Cancer. INSURANCE: Your insurance will pay for whatever treatment your Dr. deems necessary to eradicate the cancer. If you have problems or questions with insurance coverage contact your treatment hospital & ask for the Patient Advocate for assistance & advice.

Question: how much will it cost if a person undergo into a calypso prostate cancer treatment? it could probably in general amount,, the cost of the treatment itself. and is it really a recommended option for those who was diagnosed with that cancer? if not what are the other best solution for a person to recover.

Answer: You wouldn’t expect to pay the same price for a house in Iowa as you would in Malibu. Medical treatment is the same; it depends on where you live. Usually teaching hospitals are more expensive than non-teaching hospitals though. Calypso is a recommended option, but there are so many options for prostate cancer and so many variables to consider there isn’t a best option for all. If you are not sure about which option to choose try getting another opinion from another oncologist.

Question: What does treatment for prostate cancer consist of, and does it affect a male's ability to have sex? A very close friend of ours has been diagnosed with prostate cancer (it really *isn't* my partner or me!) and we were wondering what his treatment options might be. If the prostate gland is removed, does that eliminate the ability to have sex? Probably best to have an older person answer this: it's pretty obvious by the question that this is going to be completely out of the realm of experience for most of the teenagers.

Answer: It can, but new surgical techniques have reduced the risk. I was diagnosed with it about a year ago, but a second opinion from Johns-Hopkins said no. At least not yet. Anyhow, there are a number of different treatments that depend on the age of the patient and the stage of the disease. At my age, 50, and the very early preliminary diagnosis, removal was recommended. There is a new procedure called the da Vinci procedure that is minimally invasive and less likely to lead to the nerve damage that causes impotence. However, it is still a risk, as well as a risk of urinary incontinence. And even if you are not impotent, your orgasms will be dry - seminal fluid is produced by the prostate. There are also other procedures, such as implanting radioactive 'seeds' into the prostate. It is my understanding that the risk of impotence from that or any other radiation procedure is higher than da Vinci surgery, but less than with traditional surgery. Chemo and broader irradiation can be recommended in more advanced cases. My brother had the daVinci procedure, and he is able to have sex. He uses a penile constriction band to maintain an erection; I don't know whether he had any ED problems before. He is able to have orgasms, but as I said, they are dry. Sometimes, again depending on the age,the stage, and how aggressive the cancer, they will recommend leaving it alone. Don't bank on that, though. Here's a link with info on the daVinci procedure. Tell your friend my thoughts and prayers are with him. I know how scary this is. I have to have regular biopsies to keep track of mine, and every time I go through hell waiting for the results. http://www.davinciprostatectomy.com/davi… If you Google 'prostate cancer stories' there are lots of personal stories on the web.

Question: Man that has undergone to prostate cancer treatment can still have sex? Does Viagra resolve the problem?

Answer: Probably. There is a risk of impotence when doing surgery on the prostate etc, but a good chance that plumbing will still work as advertised.

Question: Could any one share their experiences with Prostate cancer treatment with HIFU technology??Ur help appreciated? My dad has to be treated in 2 months.We are yet to decide the method.Indian doctor is not encouraging my dad to go for this technology.His gleason level is 2+2 and PSA is 32 where as volume is 45*35*36.Density is 31ml.Please help us knowing whether HIFU can help my dad.Your immediate response is highly appreciated.

Answer: This is not a standard treatment in the United States. It is still in clinical trials.

Question: In what percent of patients who had prostate cancer treatment does the PSA keep falling?

Answer: I have had prostate cancer. Had my prostate removed and also my testicles, I do not know the percent of patients that the PSA keeps falling. I know mine keeps falling, and I am grateful because it means I have no active cancer in my body. I have been cancer free for 4 years bow. Last PSA 0.002. That's like nothing.

Question: Decision on prostate cancer treatment? My brother is 54 yrs old and was just diagnosed with prostate cancer with a Gleason score of 5. His PSA was 4.25. The biopsy showed that he only had traces of cancer on the right side of his prostate and it was limited to that area. He is in excellent health and very active, and has not shown any signs of any urinary problems. He is considering the treatment option of "watchful waiting". What are your thoughts on this vs possibly robotic surgery? Some doctors prefer surgery when the patient is this young. Thanks for your inputs on this.

Answer: With a Gleason Score of 5 and a PSA of 4.25, "Watchful Waiting" or "Active Surveillance" as it is also called, is a valid choice. prostate cancer is a very slow growing cancer. Many men rush into treatment as soon as they are diagnosed because they fear that the cancer has spread outside the prostate and they want to contain it. Your brother has time and his age on his side. Use this time to become informed about the disease, the treatments available, and the side-effects of those treatments. Active Surveillance requires careful monitoring of PSA levels and further biopsies to determine the rate of growth of the tumor, do not make the mistake of ignoring the problem. As long as the tumor is organ confined and slow growing there is no need to take action. Robotic Surgery is an excellent choice for your brother given his age and his general good health, when he is ready for it. In the hands of a very skilled surgeon the outcome can be superior to the traditional surgical approach. The key is finding a surgeon who has done hundreds of these procedures, the learning curve for Robotic Assisted Surgery is very high, and the best results with minimal side-effects are with the Doctors who have the most experience.

Question: what is the best treatment for prostate cancer? My dad has stage 1 cancer, it's really small. What treatment has the least amount of side effects?

Answer: If it is on initial stage Best way to get it operated I f it is on next even after operation u may have to go for chemo .now there are certain injection in market that will hold good for chemo Though the injection is costly but will serve problem . the patient will not have any side effect like loosing hair , vomiting etc.Injection will have to take every 2 months consult your surgeon wish u peaceful speeedy recovery to your dad AMEN

Question: What do you know about Prostate Cancer and treatment? I just found out that my dad has this and he's not very good about giving me details about the seriousness of this disease. He says he has to go through chemo and Radiation? Does anybody know more about this disease?

Answer: Prostate Cancer is a malignant growth of the glandular cells of the prostate. Abnormal growth of cells is called a Tumor. Tumors can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous). A malignancy is a cancerous growth that has the potential to spread and cause damage to other tissues of the body. Cancers can spread locally into surrounding tissues, or cancer cells can break away from the tumor and enter the body through fluids, like blood or lymph, and spread to other parts of the body. Lymph is an almost clear fluid that drains waste from cells. This fluid travels in vessels to the lymph nodes, small bean-shaped structures that filter unwanted substances, such as cancer cells and bacteria, out of the fluid. Lymph nodes may become filled with cancer cells. As the prostate cancer grows, it grows through the prostate, the prostate capsule, and the fat that surrounds the prostate capsule. Because the prostate gland lies below the bladder and is attached to it, the prostate cancer can also grow into the base of the bladder. It may continue to grow locally in the pelvis into the muscles within the pelvis; into the rectum, which lies behind the prostate; or into the sidewall of the pelvis. When prosate cancer spreads outside of the capsule and the fatty tissue, it usually goes to two main areas in the body: the lymph nodes that drain the prostate and the bones. Bones that are commonly affected are the spine and the ribs. Various treatment options are available for prostate cancer, each with its own risks and benefits. The treatments for prostate cancer can be divided into those that are intended to "cure" prostate cancer and those that are palliative, itended to slow down the growth of the prostate cancer and treat its symptoms. Your dad has chosen a course of treatment in consultation with his doctor that is designed to cure his cancer at the earliest stages. I have chosen a different treatment, so I can't give you more information about his therapy. I do have a link to a website that I think will be helpful to you in your search for information and support. Cancer affects not only the person with the diagnonsis, but all those around who love them. Good luck in the journey your family is about to start. TonyM http://www.yananow.net/

Question: can IMRT treatment for prostate cancer cause lymphoma in bone marrow? I had IMRT for prostate cancer one year ago. Now I have non-hodgkins lymphoma in my bone marrow. Has anyone heard of this risk?

Answer: I have never heard of this specificly, but I do know that chemo and radiation is a risk factor of all lymphomas and leukemias. My treatment for leukemia puts me at high risk for brain cancer, as well as other types of leukemia. Which is ironic being that my treatment is also used for.. certain types of brain cancer. Unfortunatly, it is one of those catch 22 things. The treatment for one type of cancer very often causes or atleast is a risk factor for another type.

Question: Prostate cancer treatment? My husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer about 5 weeks ago. It was stage 1 and his gleason score was 3 .Last week he went in for surgery. they used a laser to remove it next they will implant a radiation seed it will last for 12 weeks. does anyone have anymore information on this type of treatment I am a little confused on how this works

Answer: This technique is called "brachytherapy", and is a great choice for patients who are acceptable candidates for it since it avoids the usually rather unpleasant potential side-effects of chemotherapy and the potential discomforts associated with "external" radiation treatment. The implanted "seed(s)" emit a low-level radiation that is powerful enough to travel only a very short distance, but far enough to destroy any cancer cells the laser surgery missed. Here's some commercial information: http://www.pinnaclehealth.org/body.cfm?id=639 And the National Cancer Institute pages: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/prostate/Patient/page6 http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wtk/brachytherapy Best wishes to your husband...

Question: Which treatment for prostate cancer has the least side effects.? I was recently diagnosed with early stage prostate cancer and am deciding on treatment. They all seem to have the same dismal side effects. Which one would you say has the least (or most livable) side effects?

Answer: There is one treatment in which radioactive needles are implanted in the tumor for a kind of localized radiotherapy. This has the advantage of avoiding prostatectomy and the associated risks of losing bladder function. Antiandrogen + LHRH superagonist can also be used for hormonal suppression in case the tumor is androgen-dependant (that is, most cases). Sometimes, surgery can be avoided that way, when there is complete response and elimination of the tumor. But be aware that hormonal suppression can cause impotency, though the effect is reversible.

Question: Is there a section in this service that deals with health matters only? For instance prostate cancer treatment

Answer: You're in it - this is the men's health section. Good luck man.

Question: What would be a sucessfull PSA reduction after radiation treatment for Prostate Cancer? 72 Year old male with a psa of 7.3. If he were to recieve radiation, what would be a great radiation result if you are only measuring the PSA score?

Answer: For a man of 72 then a PSA count of up to 4 or 5 can be normal with no cancer. It is likely that after radiation therapy the PSA will go below that level, possibly to less than 1. The key thing is how long it stays that low and whether alternative (probably hormone) therapy is necessary to keep levels down. With a PSA of 7.3 the cancer is likely to be confined to the prostate and therefore far easier to control. Many more people die with prostate cancer than from it. Think of it like a disease that needs to be controlled like diabetes. Good luck!

Question: Is there an alternative prostate cancer treatment for alcoholics? My father in law had his prostate removed 7 years ago. About a year and a half his PSA started rising again so they did three rounds of radiation treatment. His PSA continues to rise, so they chemically castrated him. It seems the cancer has become immune to the lack of testosterone and his PSA level doubled last month. At this point it appears the cancer is systemic but unfortunately it has not manifest itself yet so they don't know where it is. The problem: he is an alcoholic and chemotherapy isn't an option due to existing liver damage. Even if he quit drinking today, his liver couldn't handle the chemo so my question is: Is there an alternative prostate cancer treatment for people with liver damage?

Answer: I’m sorry, but there isn’t an alterative. Chemo is the last effort I’m afraid. It is not uncommon for the PSA to begin to rise several months to sometimes years before the disease progression becomes evident. I hope this is the case with your father in law.