Important Information On What Is Considered The Best Treatment For Prostate Cancer
By Tim Gorman
Have you recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer? If so, you need to sit down and discuss all the possible treatment options with your doctor. Some treatments may not be appropriate for you, so it's important to determine which options are most suitable. There are a number of factors that need to be considered when determining which type of treatment is likely to be the most effective. It's often quite difficult to determine which treatment is most appropriate, as it depends how much you give to each factor. Some men also find it difficult to cope with the idea of living with the side effects of certain treatments, such as baldness, impotence or urine incontinence.
Initially, you need to consider basic factors such as your age, overall level of health, your goals for treatment, and how you feel about possible treatment side effects. These should be discussed extensively with your doctor and partner. If something is really bothering you, it's important to share that with your doctor. You have a right to be fully informed about all your options. Addressing your concerns and trying to find a treatment that is effective but still acceptable to you is part of the duties and obligations of your doctor. If you don't care about side effects and you just want to get rid of the cancer, fine. But if your concerns are substantial, even to the point of being more important than curing the cancer, then you need to share those concerns upfront.
It's also important to think about your age. If you're already in your 70's and your health is poor, it may not be the preferred choice to follow an aggressive treatment regime. Prostate cancer is a relatively slow growing cancer, and it can take years before it spreads into other parts of your body. If cancer is left alone, and not operated on, it's often found that it grows even slower. So you could use this to your advantage. Instead of risking your life by undergoing surgery, it may be a better choice to undertake hormone therapy. This is unlikely to get rid of the cancer, but it can retard its growth to a great extent. The advantage of hormone therapy over other more invasive treatments is that it also has very few uncomfortable side effects.
If you're only in your 50's or 60's, or even if you're older but in good health, then you might be more interested in the treatments that offer the best chance of a cure. These can include things such as radical prostatectomy, external radiation and radioactive treatment, as these are generally considered the most effective methods for eradicating prostate cancer cells. However the side effects of these treatments can be serious, ranging from urine incontinence to impotency. This is why it can be very important for you to consider all factors before choosing which treatment option you want to pursue. There's no need to make an instant decision, you should take the time to discuss treatment with your family and partner. Whatever decision you make, the support of your family and friends is very important.
For even more important and essential information on prostate cancer treatments, prostate cancer diagnostic testing, and prostate cancer symptoms please visit the OnlineProstateHealthGuide.com
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