Prostate Cancer Radiation Therapy Versus Surgery Posted: 07-06-07 02:23am
Hi everyone I'm new to the board.
I was diagnosed with prostate cancer
early stage a week ago.I did a psa test
and it showed elevated level of antigen.
First I thought that it was prostatitis
but it turned out worst.What is better
treatment radiation or surgery. Right now
I'm terrified my doc just perscribed me
lycopen. Are there some food suplements or
substances that I can take? What is
recommended to eat? Any input would be
apreciated. thanks in advance
|
Llewellyn
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Jan 2007 Posts: 1743 Location: NY
Posted: 07-10-07 12:49pm
I do not have firsthand knowledge here
since I have never had either procedure
done, so I will give you some helpful
websites instead of trying to explain it
myself. I am not sure if one method is
better than the other. It probably
depends on a lot of things, so definitely
talk to your doctor about what he or she
would recommend for you.
Last edited by Llewellyn on 07-10-07 12:53pm; edited 1 time in total
|
Llewellyn
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Jan 2007 Posts: 1743 Location: NY
Posted: 07-10-07 12:50pm
"Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy (also called
radiotherapy) uses high-energy rays to
kill cancer cells. It affects cells only
in the treated area.
For early stage prostate cancer, radiation
treatment may be used instead of surgery.
It also may be used after surgery to
destroy any cancer cells that remain in
the area. In later stages of prostate
cancer, radiation treatment may be used to
help relieve pain.
Doctors use two types of radiation therapy
to treat prostate cancer. Some men receive
both types:
* External radiation: The radiation
comes from a large machine outside the
body. Men go to a hospital or clinic for
treatment. Treatments are usually 5 days a
week for several weeks. Many men receive
3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy.
This type of treatment more closely
targets the cancer. It spares healthy
tissue.
* Internal radiation (implant
radiation or brachytherapy): The radiation
comes from radioactive material usually
contained in small seeds. The seeds are
put into the tissue. They give off
radiation for months. The seeds are
harmless and do not need to be removed.
Side effects depend mainly on the dose and
type of radiation. You are likely to be
very tired during radiation therapy,
especially in the later weeks of
treatment. Resting is important, but
doctors usually advise patients to try to
stay as active as they can.
If you have external radiation, you may
have diarrhea or frequent and
uncomfortable urination. Some men have
lasting bowel or urinary problems. Your
skin in the treated area may become red,
dry, and tender. You may lose hair in the
treated area. The hair may not grow back.
Internal radiation treatment may cause
incontinence. This side effect usually
goes away. Lasting side effects from
internal radiation are not common.
Both internal and external radiation can
cause impotence. Internal radiation is
less likely to have this effect.
You may want to ask your doctor these
questions before choosing radiation
therapy:
* How will radiation be given?
* When will treatment start? When will
it end? How often will I have treatments?
* What can I do to take care of myself
before, during, and after treatment?
* How will I feel during treatment?
Will I be able to drive myself to and from
treatment?
* How will we know the treatment is
working?
* How will I feel after the
radiation?
* Are there any lasting effects?
* What is the chance that the cancer
will come back in my prostate?
* How often will I need checkups?"
http://w
ww.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/prostate/
page9
|
Llewellyn
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Jan 2007 Posts: 1743 Location: NY
Posted: 07-10-07 12:53pm
"Surgery
Surgery is a common treatment for early
stage prostate cancer. Your doctor may
remove the whole prostate or only part of
it. In some cases, your doctor can use a
method known as nerve-sparing surgery.
This type of surgery may save the nerves
that control erection. But if you have a
large tumor or a tumor that is very close
to the nerves, you may not be able to have
this surgery.
Each type of surgery has benefits and
risks. Your doctor can further describe
these types:
* Radical retropubic prostatectomy:
The doctor removes the entire prostate and
nearby lymph nodes through an incision
(cut) in the abdomen.
* Radical perineal prostatectomy: The
doctor removes the entire prostate through
a cut between the scrotum and the anus.
Nearby lymph nodes may be removed through
a separate cut in the abdomen.
* Laparoscopic prostatectomy: The
doctor removes the entire prostate and
nearby lymph nodes through small
incisions, rather than a single long cut
in the abdomen. A thin, lighted tube (a
laparoscope) is used to help remove the
prostate.
* Transurethral resection of the
prostate (TURP): The doctor removes part
of the prostate with a long, thin device
that is inserted through the urethra. The
cancer is cut from the prostate. TURP may
not remove all of the cancer. But it can
remove tissue that blocks the flow of
urine.
* Cryosurgery: This type of surgery
for prostate cancer is under study at some
medical centers. (More about cryosurgery
is in "The Promise of Cancer Research"
section.)
* Pelvic lymphadenectomy: This is
routinely done during prostatectomy. The
doctor removes lymph nodes in the pelvis
to see if cancer has spread to them. If
there are cancer cells in the lymph nodes,
the disease may have spread to other parts
of the body. In this case, the doctor may
suggest other types of treatment.
The time it takes to heal after surgery is
different for each man and depends on the
type of surgery he has had. You may be
uncomfortable for the first few days.
However, medicine can help control the
pain. Before surgery, you should discuss
the plan for pain relief with your doctor
or nurse. After surgery, your doctor can
adjust the plan if you need more pain
relief.
After surgery, the urethra needs time to
heal. You will have a catheter. A catheter
is a tube put through the urethra into the
bladder to drain urine. You will have the
catheter for 5 days to 3 weeks. Your nurse
or doctor will show you how to care for
it.
Surgery may cause short-term problems,
such as incontinence. After surgery, some
men may lose control of the flow of urine
(urinary incontinence). Most men regain
bladder control after a few weeks.
Some men may become impotent.
Nerve-sparing surgery is an attempt to
avoid the problem of impotence. If a man
can have nerve-sparing surgery and the
operation is a success, impotence may not
last. In some cases, men become
permanently impotent. You can talk with
your doctor about medicine and other ways
to help manage the sexual effects of
cancer treatment.
If your prostate is removed, you will no
longer produce semen. You will have dry
orgasms. If you wish to father children,
you may consider sperm banking or a sperm
retrieval procedure.
You may want to ask your doctor these
questions before choosing surgery:
* What kinds of surgery can I
consider? Is nerve-sparing surgery an
option for me? Which operation do you
recommend for me? Why?
* How will I feel after the
operation?
* If I have pain, how can we control
it?
* Will I have any lasting side
effects?
* Is there someone I can talk with who
has had the same surgery I'll be having?"
http://w
ww.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/prostate/
page9
|
gildawe
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 Jul 2007 Posts: 7
Posted: 07-20-07 03:04am
Heard the steroid therapy helps in most of
the cases... nolvadex to be more specific
combined with other meds.
|
vertu
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 06 Jul 2007 Posts: 7
Posted: 07-20-07 03:11am
tnx Llewellyn you were very helpful on
commencing my own research and easing my
mind.. But I got tested again and it
turned out to be a false positive .. I had
symptoms and also it showed antigen cos
I'm using aminoacids , efedrin,
bioanabolic supplements, proteins and some
hormones all combined for weight lifting,
I need to stop taking all that chemistry
|
Llewellyn
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Jan 2007 Posts: 1743 Location: NY
Posted: 07-20-07 15:56pm
vertu
wrote:
tnx Llewellyn you were very
helpful on commencing my own research and
easing my mind.. But I got tested again
and it turned out to be a false positive
.. I had symptoms and also it showed
antigen cos I'm using aminoacids ,
efedrin, bioanabolic supplements, proteins
and some hormones all combined for weight
lifting, I need to stop taking all that
chemistry
Wow, so no prostate cancer? That's great
news.
|
vertu
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 06 Jul 2007 Posts: 7
Posted: 07-23-07 04:53am
heh yea guess I freaked
out for nothing, but I was so sure about
that....
I just hope I dont become hypocondriac
|
lilylover
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Mar 2008 Posts: 14
Posted: 03-25-08 19:57pm
I will recommend you try radiotherapy
combined with supplements.
Here is a story from a friend.
My father was diagnosed with Prostrate
Cancer and did have conventional radiation
treatments, which caused him to have a
cathedra in him and he was passing blot
clots the size of golf balls and dropping
on one knee every few minutes due to the
severe and agonizing pain. We immediately
put my father on 5-6 caps (loading dose)
of OPC-3 once daily and 2-3 ounces of
Ultimate Aloe once daily and within 4 days
he was out on the tennis court playing
tennis without any discomfort or the
cathedra. His PSA readings have been the
best ever and he is now doing extremely
well, thanks to our great products! His
doctors are also extremely impressed with
his speedy recovery!
thanks in advance
yea guess I freaked
out for nothing, but I was so sure about
that....
