Precision Prostate Cancer Treatment | Medical News and Health Information

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Precision Prostate Cancer Treatment Medical News and Health Information



Precision Prostate Cancer Treatment -- Research Summary

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BACKGROUND
Prostate cancer starts in the prostate gland; and it occurs when cells in the prostate gland grow out of control. Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer found in men and about one in every six men will be diagnosed with this disease sometime during his lifetime.
SOURCE: (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth); (http://www.webmd.com/) 


RISK FACTORS:
African American men are at a much higher risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer as well as men who have had a brother or father diagnosed with the disease. Men who are over the age 60 are also at a greater risk, along with those who maintain a diet high in fat, especially animal fat. Other risk factors include: the amount alcohol consumed and one’s occupation. 


THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW: Men under the age of 40 are rarely diagnosed with prostate cancer as well as vegetarians.


DETECTION:
A biopsy is needed to detect prostate cancer. Doctors may recommend a biopsy exam if PSA levels are high or if a rectal exam shows an enlarged prostate. The results are reported using what is called a Gleason grade and a Gleason score. The Gleason grade shows how fast the cancer might spread. It grades tumors on a scale of 1 - 5. Men may have different grades of cancer in one biopsy sample. The two main grades are added together; this gives the Gleason score. The higher the Gleason score, the more likely the cancer is to have spread past the prostate to other organs.
SOURCE: (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth)

TREATMENTS:
There are many factors taken into consideration when treating prostate cancer, including Gleason score and one’s overall health. For men in the early stages of the disease treatment may include: surgery (radical prostatectomy) and radiation therapy, including brachytherapy and proton therapy. If a man is in the late stages of prostate cancer, treatment may include: hormone therapy (medicines to reduce testosterone levels), surgery, and chemotherapy. SOURCE: (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth)


SIDE EFFECTS TO TREATMENT:
Men who have had surgery or were treated with radiation or hormone therapy often experience difficulties with urine control. Treatment can affect a man’s sexual desire or performance.



LATEST BREAKTHROUGHS:
A new monitoring system, called Calypso, is now being offered to men undergoing radiation therapy. Calypso utilizes a precise GPS-like system to track prostate cancer tumors. It provides accurate, precise, real-time tracking to keep radiation focused on the tumor, not surrounding healthy tissue. The result? More radiation reaches the target to better fight the cancer and patients report experiencing fewer side effects in the following areas: bowel urgency and frequency, fecal incontinence and urinary irritation. Also, patients not receiving hormonal therapy experienced slightly fewer sexual side effects. SOURCE: (http://www.cedars-sinai.edu/); (www.calypsomedical.com/) MORE

Precision Prostate Cancer Treatment -- Research Summary | Medical News and Health Information

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Simi Singer
Senior Media Specialist
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
(310) 423-7798
SusanSimi.Singer@cshs.org