A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Cryotherapy for Prostate Conditions (Cryosurgery, cryoablation) Procedure Overview What is cryotherapy? Cryotherapy is a procedure that involves killing cancer cells by freezing them and surrounding them with ice crystals. Tiny needles are placed directly into the tumor then argon gases are passed through the needles and exchanged with helium gases. This causes a freezing and warming cycle. For prostate treatment, the needles are often inserted using transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided technology. The ...

Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) Procedure Overview What is a transurethral resection of the prostate or TURP? A transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is a surgical procedure that removes portions of the prostate gland through the penis. A TURP requires no external incision. The surgeon reaches the prostate by inserting an instrument through the urethra (the narrow channel through which urine passes from the bladder out of the body). This instrument, called a resectoscope, is abou...

Prostate Biopsy (Prostate Gland Biopsy, Transrectal Prostate Biopsy, Fine Needle Biopsy of the Prostate, Core Biopsy of the Prostate) Procedure Overview What is a prostate biopsy? A biopsy is a procedure performed to remove tissue or cells from the body for examination under a microscope. A prostate biopsy is a procedure in which prostate gland tissue samples are removed with a special biopsy needle or during surgery to determine if cancer or other abnormal cells are present. The diagnosis of cancer is ...

Prostate/Rectal Sonogram (Prostate - Rectal Sonography) Procedure Overview What is a prostate/rectal sonogram? A prostate/rectal sonogram is a noninvasive (the skin is not pierced) procedure used to assess the size, shape, and location of the prostate gland and to assess the rectum. A sonogram uses ultrasound technology to allow quick visualization of the prostate and related structures from outside the body. A prostate/rectal sonogram uses a handheld probe called a transducer that sends out ultrasonic ...

Prostate Cancer Overview More than 90 percent of all prostate cancers are discovered while they are either localized (confined to the prostate) or regional (nearby). The five-year survival rate for men diagnosed with prostate tumors discovered at these stages is 99 percent. In the past 20 years, the five-year survival rate for all stages combined has increased from 67 percent to 99 percent. Early prostate cancer may not present any symptoms and can only be found with regular prostate examinations by you...

Chemotherapy For Prostate Cancer What is chemotherapy? Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to treat cancerous cells. Specific treatment for prostate cancer will be determined by your physician based on: your age, overall health, and medical history stage of the cancer your tolerance for specific medications and procedures expectations for the course of the disease your opinion or preference Often chemotherapy is not the primary therapy for men with prostate cancer, but it may be used when prostate cancer h...

Coping with Prostate Cancer A diagnosis of cancer has a profound impact on one's life, particularly in the case of prostate cancer. Listed in the directory below you will find some additional information regarding coping with prostate cancer - for those men and families affected by the disease - for which we have provided a brief overview. Psychosocial Factors For Family Members

Diagnostic and Evaluation Procedures Procedures used to screen for prostate cancer and evaluate possible prostate problems: In addition to regular physical examinations that include blood, urine, and possibly other laboratory tests, many groups such as the American Cancer Society suggest talking with your doctor to learn more about the pros and cons of screening for prostate cancer to help you decide if it is right for you. The tests used for screening include consulting your physician about these recom...

Expectant Therapy What is expectant therapy? Expectant therapy is to "watch and wait" while carefully observing and monitoring the prostate cancer. This may be recommended by your physician if the prostate cancer is in a very early stage, especially in the cases of older men with small tumors that are: expected to grow very slowly. confined to one area of the prostate. not causing any symptoms or other medical problems. Because prostate cancer cells often spread very slowly, many older men who have the ...

For Family Members Coping With Prostate Cancer What can you do to help the man in your life with prostate cancer? The following are some suggestions for helping the men in your life who may have or could have prostate cancer at some point in time: Keep the lines of communication open. It is easy for someone with a diagnosis of prostate cancer to become depressed, or to be in a state of denial. It is also normal for you to be sad, angry, or in denial of the diagnosis. Open communication is critical durin...

Glossary - Prostate Health | A | | B | | C | | D | | E | | F | | G | | H | | I | | J | | K | | L | | M | | N | | O | | P | | Q | | R | | S | | T | | U | | V | | W | | X | | Y | | Z | A [return to top] adenocarcinoma - a cancer that develops in the lining or inner surface of an organ. adjuvant treatment - treatment that is added to other therapies to increase effectiveness. angiogenesis - the formation of new blood vessels. angiogenesis inhibitors - a chemical which signals the process of angiogenesis to...

Grading of Prostate Cancer What is grading of prostate cancer? Another step in the diagnostic process is grading the cancer cells - taking a measurement of how fast the tumor is likely to grow and spread. Grading is done in the laboratory with cells taken from the prostate gland during biopsy. The cancer cells are measured by how closely they look like normal cells. What is the Gleason System for grading cancer? The most common way of grading prostate cancer is the Gleason System. This grading system is...

Herbal Remedies For Prostate Cancer What are herbal remedies? Over the centuries, man has gone from a simple diet consisting of meats, fruits, vegetables, and grains, to a diet that often consists of foods rich in fats, oils, and complex carbohydrates. Nutritional excess and nutritional deficiency have become problems in today's society - both contributing to several chronic diseases. Many dietary and herbal approaches attempt to balance the body's nutritional well-being. Dietary and herbal approaches m...

Topic Index Anatomy of the Prostate Gland Benign Prostate Problems Prostate Cancer Glossary Researchers do not know all of the functions of the prostate gland. However, it is known that the prostate gland plays an important role in both sexual function and urinary function. It is common for the prostate gland to become enlarged as a man ages, and it is likely that, as a man, you may encounter some type of prostate problem in your lifetime. Many clinical problems associated with the prostate gland are qu...

Hormone Therapy For Prostate Cancer What is hormone therapy? Produced mainly in the testicles, the male hormone testosterone causes prostate cancer cells to grow. Reducing testosterone levels can make the prostate cancer shrink and become less active. The goal of hormone therapy is to lower the level of male hormones in the body, particularly testosterone. Hormone therapy does not cure the cancer and is often used to treat persons whose cancer has spread or recurred after treatment. What are the differe...

Online Resources - Prostate Health This Web was compiled from a variety of sources including the online resources listed below, but is not intended to substitute or replace the professional medical advice you receive from your physician. The content provided here is for informational purposes only, and was not designed to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. Please consult your physician with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition. This page contains links to other Wor...

Prostate Cancer Index Listed in the directory below you will find some additional information regarding prostate cancer, for which we have provided a brief overview. Prostate Cancer Overview Signs and Symptoms of Prostate Cancer Prostate Cancer Statistics Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer Staging of Prostate Cancer Grading of Prostate Cancer Diagnostic and Evaluation Procedures Treatments for Prostate Cancer Expectant Therapy Surgery Radiation Therapy Hormone Therapy Chemotherapy Angiogenesis Inhibitors ...

Prostate Cancer Statistics Statistics on prostate cancer: Consider the following statistics related to prostate cancer: Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men, excluding skin cancer. American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates for 2010 include 217,730 new cases of prostate cancer in the US. Year 2010 estimates include 32,050 deaths occurring from prostate cancer in the US alone, making it the second leading cause of cancer death in men. All men are at risk for prostate cancer. The risk increase...

Psychosocial Factors What is a psychosocial factor? Psychosocial factors are those factors that affect a person psychologically or socially. What are the psychosocial factors associated with prostate cancer? Every person is different, and not all men have the same experience, thoughts, or feelings. However, some common feelings and concerns may be present when a man is diagnosed with prostate cancer, including the following: threatened masculinity The prostate gland is critical to a man's sexual functio...

Radiation Therapy What is radiation therapy? Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill or shrink cancer cells, and to decrease their ability to divide. Radiation is often used to treat prostate cancer that is still confined to the prostate gland, or has spread only to nearby tissue. If the disease is advanced, radiation may be used to reduce the size of the tumor and to provide relief from symptoms. What are the types of radiation therapy? There are generally two types of radiation therapy: extern...

Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer What is a risk factor? A risk factor is anything that may increase a person's chance of developing a disease. It may be an activity, such as smoking, diet, family history, or many other things. Different diseases, including cancers, have different risk factors. Although these factors can increase a person's risk, they do not necessarily cause the disease. Some people with one or more risk factors never develop cancer, while others develop cancer and have no known risk fa...

Signs and Symptoms of Prostate Cancer What are the symptoms of prostate cancer? There are usually no specific signs or symptoms of early prostate cancer. A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and digital rectal exam (DRE) can provide the best chance of identifying prostate cancer in its earliest stages, but these tests can have drawbacks. Talk to your physician about whether prostate cancer screening is right for you. The following are the most common symptoms of prostate cancer. However, each in...

Staging of Prostate Cancer What is staging of prostate cancer? When prostate cancer is diagnosed, tests will be performed to determine how much cancer is present, and if the cancer has spread from the prostate to other parts of the body. This is called staging, and is an important step toward planning a treatment program. What are the different stages of prostate cancer? As defined by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the stages of prostate cancer include the following: Stage I tumor cells are found ...

Surgery for Prostate Cancer What are the different types of surgery for prostate cancer? The following are some of the different surgical options used to treat prostate cancer: radical prostatectomy - an open-surgery procedure in which the entire prostate gland and some tissue around it are removed. This surgery involves an incision in either the abdomen or the area behind the scrotum. laparoscopic radical prostatectomy - a less-invasive type of radical prostatectomy in which the prostate gland is remov...

Topic Index - Prostate Health Prostate Health Home Anatomy of the Prostate Gland Benign Prostate Problems Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) Impotence / Erectile Dysfunction Prostatitis Urinary Incontinence Prostate Cancer Prostate Cancer Overview Signs and Symptoms of Prostate Cancer Prostate Cancer Statistics Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer Staging of Prostate Cancer Grading of Prostate Cancer Diagnostic and Evaluation Procedures Treatments for Prostate Cancer Expectant Therapy Surgery Radiation Ther...

Treatments for Prostate Cancer There are many different treatments for prostate cancer that involve the clinical care of a physician or other healthcare professional. Listed in the directory below are some, for which we have provided a brief overview. Expectant Therapy Surgery Radiation Therapy Hormone Therapy Chemotherapy Angiogenesis Inhibitors Herbal Remedies Clinical Trials

Angiogenesis Inhibitors What is angiogenesis? Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, is a process controlled by certain chemicals produced in the body. Although this may help in normal wound healing, cancer can grow when these new blood vessels are created. Angiogenesis provides cancer cells with oxygen and nutrients. This allows the cancer cells to multiply, invade nearby tissue, and spread to other areas of the body (metastasize). What are angiogenesis inhibitors and how do they work? A che...

Clinical Trials For Prostate Cancer What are clinical trials? Clinical trials are studies, managed by government agencies, educational institutions, private not-for-profit organizations, or commercial businesses, to develop, produce, and evaluate the effectiveness of new treatments and preventive therapies for diseases. What are the risks and benefits of participating in a clinical trial? Individuals who participate in research studies are given the opportunity to benefit from treatments that are not cu...

Prostate Cancer in African-American Men Excerpt from a report from the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Cancer Information Service - Published May 1998 NCI-supported researchers conducted a case-control study of prostate cancer among men in the United States and Canada who are at high risk (African-Americans), moderate risk (whites), and low risk (Asian-Americans) for the disease. The study assessed the contributions of diet, physical activity, and body size to the observed ethnic differences in risk. ...

Prostate Cancer Prostate cancer statistics: The fear of having prostate cancer can be devastating to men. However, it is most successfully treated when found early. Consider these statistics from the American Cancer Society: Ninety-one percent of all prostate cancers are discovered while they are either localized (confined to the prostate) or regional (nearby). The five-year survival rate for men diagnosed with prostate tumors discovered at these stages is 99 percent. In the past 20 years, the five-year...

Prostate Cancer: A Range of Treatment Options If your health care provider has told you that you have prostate cancer, you may soon face a difficult choice of treatment options. Men will often find that the specialists performing one treatment usually espouse that treatment over others. A survey of urologists and oncologists published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that although urologists and radiation oncologists agree on a variety of issues regarding detection and tre...