Besides skin cancer, cancer of the prostate gland is the most common cancer affecting men – particularly men aged 65 or older. Fortunately, most cases of prostate cancer in the U.S. are diagnosed when the tumor is still confined to the gland and thus, can be promptly and effectively treated.
However, when prostate cancer metastasizes (spreads) to other parts of the body, the goal then becomes one of stopping the cancer’s growth, controlling its pain and other symptoms, and extending the survival of the patient.
Pros and Cons of Metastatic Prostate Cancer Treatments
There are numerous treatment options for metastatic prostate cancer ranging from hormone therapy and radiosurgery to surgical orchiectomy and chemotherapy. Each has its benefits – and its disadvantages.
HORMONE THERAPY
Hormonal therapy is designed to lower the amount of testosterone – which encourages prostate cancer growth – produced by the testicles. However, the body can sometimes resist this treatment, and the medication can have unintended side effects such as nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, fatigue, loss of appetite and flu-like symptoms.
REMOVAL OF TESTICLES
An orchiectomy is a procedure to remove the testicles as a way to stop producing male hormones and thus cause the prostate cancer to shrink, or at least stop growing. However, its anatomical consequence is a difficult one for many men to accept.
CHEMOTHERAPY
Chemotherapy can slow down the prostate cancer growth and reduce its symptoms, but it is unlikely to cure it. Plus, chemo can result in a bevy of unpleasant side effects, including:
- Weakened immune system
- Hair loss
- Bruising easily
- Bleeding easily
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Neuropathy
- Chronic muscle pain
- Mouth sores
- Rashes
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Trouble breathing
TRADITIONAL RADIATION
And while effective, traditional radiation treatment can damage healthy tissue and organs surrounding the site of the prostate tumor, plus lead to impotence and incontinence. Not to mention that it requires several months of costly and tiring treatment sessions.
Most Effective Treatment for Prostate Cancer Without Surgery
So, what is the most effective yet least problematic form of metastatic prostate cancer treatment? None of the above.
Instead, it’s an advanced form of radiosurgery called CyberKnife® – also known as the Beam of Life.
With its ultra-precise robotic technology, CyberKnife delivers massive doses of radiation to cancerous cells with pinpoint accuracy for the patient. In fact, the system automatically adjusts to the slightest body movement to target and maintain its focus on the tumor, destroying cancer cells and leaving healthy, surrounding tissues and organs unscathed.
What’s more, CyberKnife requires just a few comfortable treatment sessions lasting 30 to 90 minutes each. Unlike traditional radiation treatment, CyberKnife therapy can be completed in as little as one week. There is no downtime necessary and there are few (if any) side effects, meaning you can receive your treatment and go back to what you were doing before.
Effective Metastatic Prostate Cancer Treatment in Miami
For more than 30 years, the CyberKnife system has been providing clinically proven, effective results for virtually all forms of cancer among hundreds of thousands of patients around the world. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer, it is a treatment option well worth considering.
To learn more, contact our team at the CyberKnife Center of Miami today by calling us at (800) 204-0455 or (305) 279-2900 or use our online form to get started. We look forward to partnering with you in treating and beating your cancer for good. You can also learn more by visiting our prostate cancer website www.prostatecancertreatmentmiami.com