Carcinoma of the prostate is the most commonly diagnosed male malignancy in the US. In 1998, there were 184,000 new cases diagnosed. In fact, prostate cancer is a common incidental finding at autopsy (70% of men aged 80). Because it grows so slowly, it often produces no symptoms and men often die of other causes before the cancer becomes an issue.
The cause of prostate cancer remains unclear. It is thought to be a combination of environmental, genetic, and lifestyle factors. Men are at the highest risk between ages 40 and 60.
The decision to aggressively evaluate and treat a prostate cancer depends on several factors, including age, life expectancy, general health status, stage of the tumor, the desire to maintain erectile function, the individual wishes of the man regarding the desire for cure versus palliation.
The first decision is how aggressively the cancer is to be treated. Aggressive treatment usually includes surgery, and/or radiation, and/or hormonal therapy. Less aggressive therapy may consist of hormone therapy alone, either at the time of diagnosis or later, when symptoms appear.
Palliative measures such as orchiectomy (removal of the testes) or hormone therapy may be used to control progression and symptoms of the disease without pursuing a cure as the goal of treatment.
This MediFocus Guide contains an extensive listing of citations and abstracts of recent journal articles that have been published about this condition in trustworthy medical journals. This is the same type of information that is available to physicians and other health care professionals. A partial selection of journal articles that are abstracted in this MediFocus Guide includes:
Medical therapy of prostate cancer: 1999. Journal - South Carolina Medical Association. 2000
Management of advanced prostate cancer. Oncologist. 2000
New treatment strategies in advanced prostate cancer. Radiologic Clinics of North America. 2000
Prostate cancer. Medical Clinics of North America. 1999
Supportive care, pain management, and quality of life in advanced prostate cancer. Urologic Clinics of North America. 1999
Advances in prostate cancer. Current Opinion in Oncology. 1999
Treatment options in androgen-independent prostate cancer. Cancer Investigation. 1999
Prostate cancer: 9. Treatment of advanced disease. CMAJ. 1999
Hormone-refractory prostate cancer: an evolving standard of care. Seminars in Oncology. 1999
Approaches to the treatment of patients with hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. Seminars in Oncology. 1999
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