Prostrate Cancer
A number of approaches to the treatment of prostrate cancer exist, with others still in the process of being tested for effectiveness and efficiency. However, current existing treatment options for prostrate cancer depending on the stage of development include: cryotherapy, high intensity focused ultrasound, steroids, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy and surgery(Seruga, Ocana and Tannock 18). Personally, I would prefer surgery, as it offers the best opportunity of dealing with prostrate cancer without affecting other systems in the process. The first two approaches to management are still in their testing phases, and are mostly reserved for recurrent cases of the disease, as opposed to being used as first line treatment. Chemotherapy on the other hand adversely affects other systems, and is only recommendable in cases where the cancer has metastasized. The same can also be said of radiotherapy, while in the case of brachytherapy (internal radiation) the risk of not destroying all the cancer cells is higher (Hegerty and Bairne et al 11).
Surgery therefore, and specifically the removal of all the cancer affected areas of the prostate or total prostatectomy offers the best chance of treating prostate cancer, more so if the cancer is still localized within the prostate. This is because it allows for the complete removal of the affected areas, without the risk of affecting other systems as would be the case with chemotherapy, hormone therapy or radiotherapy. In the case of chemotherapy, all rapidly dividing cells including blood cells are likely to be affected leading to anemia and a compromised immune system. As for radiotherapy, if not internalized, the tissues around the pelvis are likely to be damaged in the course of radiotherapy leading to wound formation. Surgery therefore offers the best option when it comes to treating localized prostrate cancer.
Works Cited
Hegarty, J; Beirne, PV; Walsh, E; Comber, H; Fitzgerald, T; Wallace Kazer, M. “Radical prostatectomy versus watchful waiting for prostate cancer.”. Cochrane database of systematic reviews 11(2010).
Seruga B, Ocana A, Tannock IF. Drug resistance in metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 8.1(2011): 12–23.
