Surgery
Prostate cancer is a disease in which malignant cells form in the male prostate, the gland that produces fluid to feed and transport sperm. Post-surgical treatments may include radiation therapy, radioactive seed implants or hormone therapy.
Surgical Options
Healthy patients often undergo surgery to treat prostate cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. A radical prostatectomy, in which the prostate, surrounding tissue and seminal vesicles are removed, is one surgical option.
What to Expect Post-Op
After surgery for prostate cancer, some men experience impotence, urine leakage from the bladder or stool leakage from the rectum. An operation called nerve-sparing surgery may preserve the nerves that control an erection, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Post-Surgical Treatments
Although post-surgical treatments vary depending on the stage of the prostate cancer and the health and age of the patient, the goal is to eliminate all cancerous cells and prevent the disease from reoccurring.
Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapy either blocks the body's production of certain hormones, or stops the body from using certain hormones, as a means to curb cancer cell growth in the prostate. Drugs are injected once every three to four months.
Seed Implants
In this procedure, rice-sized radioactive seeds are implanted in the prostate. They deliver a higher dose of radiation over a longer period of time than does external radiation therapy, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses high intensity X-rays to kill cancer cells or stop them from spreading, according to the National Cancer Institute. For external radiation therapy, a machine sends the radiation, while internal radiation therapy uses a catheter or needle to deliver the radiation directly to the prostate cancer.
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