Prostate cancer is a disease in which cancer cells develop in the prostate gland in the male reproductive organ. The prostate is usually a tiny gland that rests under the bladder and also in front of the rectum. It mainly occurs when cells of the prostate mutate and begin to multiply in an unregulated fashion. The collection of tissues or cells may spread from the prostate to other parts of the body in a similar fashion. Prostate cancer may not cause symptoms for many years; therefore, it is extremely important for patients to their doctor for routine screening checks with PSA and rectal examinations. Once diagnosed, there are number of excellent treatment options for Prostate cancer. Studies have revealed that for patients with locally advanced and aggressive prostate cancer, the combination of certain therapies including Brachytherapy, External Beam Radiation Therapy and Hormonal Manipulation are quite effective with recent data showing cure rates much higher than recently felt to be possible.
Effective Treatment Options in Prostate Cancer:
Brachytherapy
Brachytherapy is a cancer treatment for localized prostate cancer that directly involves placing radioactive seeds inside the prostate to sterilize the prostate and rid the prostate of any living cancer cells. Brachytherapy is a procedure that is commonly used to treat localized prostate cancer, gynecological malignancies and breast cancer.
EBRT (External Beam Radiation Therapy)
External beam radiation therapy or EBRT treats prostate cancer with the help of radiation emitted from a machine called a linear accelerator. Before the formal treatment starts, the radiation oncologist performs tests to check the location and possible extent of the cancer. In this process, a Cat Scan is obtained with the organ in anatomy digitized into a treatment plan computer. Thereafter, the dosemitrists works with the radiation oncologist to program the linear accelerator so that the radiation doses applied to the tissues at risk with millimeter based accuracy. The Las Colinas cancer center employs the most state of the art technique with intensity modulated radiation therapy utilizing image guided techniques, with the aid of Rapid Arc when appropriate. The radiation beam alters the genetic material in the tumor so that it is no longer able to survive and spread.
AST (Androgen Suppression Therapy)
Androgen suppression is a treatment especially designed to block the production of male hormones. Androgen suppression can be achieved by a surgical procedure called an orchiectomy (removal of the testes). Alternatively, Androgen production can be suppressed or eliminated temporarily by the use of a number of medication given via injections periodically and/or pills. AST may, in some patients, result in improved cure rates or patients with certain disease characteristics.
Please contact Dr. Gregory Echt at the Prostate Seed Institute in Dallas, Texas to discuss cancer treatment options like brachytherapy treatment with external-beam radiation therapy and androgen suppression. Dr. Echt has extensive experience in brachytherapy and external beam radiation therapy and help manage patients in the North Texas region and surrounding areas.