Prostate Cancer - Surgical Treatment

What about surgical treatment for prostate cancer?

The surgical treatment for prostate cancer is commonly referred to as a radical or total prostatectomy, which is the removal of the entire prostate gland. Since 1990, the radical prostatectomy has been the most common treatment for prostate cancer in the United States. This operation is done in about 36% of patients with organ-confined (localized) prostate cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates a 90% cure rate nationwide when the disease is confined to the prostate and the entire gland is removed. The potential complications of a radical prostatectomy include the risks of anesthesia, local bleeding, impotence (loss of sexual function) in 30%-70% of patients, and incontinence (loss of control of urination) in 3%-10% of patients.

Great strides have been made in lowering the frequency of the complications of radical prostatectomy. These advances have been accomplished largely through improved anesthesia and surgical techniques. The improved s urgical techniques, in turn, stem from a better understanding of the key anatomy and physiology of sexual potency and urinary continence. Specifically, the recent introduction of nerve-sparing techniques for the prostatectomy has helped to reduce the frequency of impotence and incontinence.

If post-treatment impotence does occur, it can be treated by sildenafil (Viagra) tablets, injections of such medications as alprostadil (Caverject) into the penis, various devices to pump up or stiffen the penis, or a penile prosthesis (an artificial penis). Incontinence after treatment often improves with time, special exercises, and medications to improve the control of urination. Occasionally, however, incontinence requires implanting an artificial sphincter around the urethra. The artificial sphincter is made up of muscle or other material and is designed to control the flow of urine through the urethra.

Aspirin May Reduce Prostate Cancer Risk

In a latest study, the researchers at Vanderbilt University have found that the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin is significantly associated with lower PSA (prostate-specific antigen) levels and may drop the prostate cancer risk.

The research was conducted upon 1,277 people referred to a urologist for a biopsy of their prostate. Approximately 46 per cent of them reported taking an NSAID, mostly aspirin (37 per cent of all men). After taking into account age, race, family prostate cancer history, obesity, and other variables, the researchers found that PSA levels were 9 per cent lower in men taking aspirin compared with men who did not use aspirin.

The study will be presented at the American Association for Cancer Research's Seventh Annual International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research.