How and When to Have The Latest Treatment on Prostate Cancer?

Prostate is a chestnut shaped gland within the male reproductive system. It is located just below the bladder. It is derived from the Greek word "prostates", meaning to stand before. It was Herophilus, an anatomist who called it the prostate because according to him, it stands before the testes. Prostate cancer is one of the major causes of the deaths in men. This fact gave rise to prostate questions and answers. Further, this fact leads to looking or searching for the latest treatment on prostate cancer.

Several doctors conducted a study and is still continuing to study to find the latest treatment on prostate cancer and they all agree that the treatment depends on the stage on the said cancer in a particular person. There are four (I-IV) stages of prostate cancer. The one which is easy to cure of course is Stage I because as prostate cancer progresses, the cancer cells grow within the prostate, then it grows even to the outer layer of the prostate into the nearby tissue, and finally to the lymph nodes or other parts of the body.

Since there is no early prostate cancer warning signs, usually this cancer is accidentally found during surgery for other causes. It cannot even be recognized during rectal examination and is not visible by imaging or x-ray. One helpful aid of treating prostate cancer is the use of Gleason staging system. This system is used to evaluate the prognosis of men with prostate cancer. It is incorporated into a strategy of prostate cancer staging. This predicts prognosis and aids as a guide therapy. The score depends on the stage which the cancer is categorized. Moreover, the score is based upon the microscopic appearance.

The features of Gleason scores are the following as described in wikipedia:

• Grade 1 - The cancerous prostate closely resembles normal prostate tissue. The glands are small, well-formed, and closely packed.
• Grade 2 - The tissue still has well-formed glands, but they are larger and have more tissue between them.
• Grade 3 - The tissue still has recognizable glands, but the cells are darker. At high magnification, some of these cells have left the glands and are beginning to invade the surrounding tissue.
• Grade 4 - The tissue has few recognizable glands. Many cells are invading the surrounding tissue
• Grade 5 - The tissue does not have recognizable glands. There are often just sheets of cells throughout the surrounding tissue.
When the Gleason score is already identified, what then is the latest treatment on prostate cancer? In a capsule, these are brachytherapy, chemotherapy, cryosurgery, cryotheraphy, hormone therapy, radiation therapy, prostatectomy, and watchful waiting. Each of this however has side effects but it is up to the patient's doctor to advise which is advantageous on the part of the patient and the patient's immediate family. The earlier the signs of prostate cancer in men are detected the better. For a simple reason that the earlier it is diagnosed the easier the medical process is undergone and the later it is known the more complex the treatment becomes.

Dr. Arnold P. Nerenberg, PhD, is an internationally renowned clinical psychologist, motivational speaker and educator. He is also a prostate cancer survivor that is why he wants to help each man who has a problem with their prostate. Visit http://askdrnerenberg.com for more information.