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186,329 Men Ask...Is There Hope For A Prostate Cancer New Treatment?

186,329 Men Ask...Is There Hope For A Prostate Cancer New Treatment?


186,320 men, who will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2008; and 28,660 with advanced prostate cancer, projected to die in 2008, are asking their Doctor is there hope for a prostate cancer new treatment. This article will discuss the possibility of new prostate cancer treatments as well as proven and tried treatments.

This article is not intended as medical advice, nor should it be taken as medical advice. It is for informational purposes only. As always with a physical illness you should consult your personal physician right away. Please read on for more information.

Those astonishing figures above, 186,320 new cases of prostate cancer and 28,660 deaths in 2008, come form the NIH (National Cancer Institute). For your information you can verify these figures on line using the following URL:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/prostate. All you have to do is copy and paste the above link into your browser and it will take you straight to the page. Please continue reading.

One of the newest drugs pending approval by the FDA is referred to as Provenge. This drug has been developed by a company called Dendreon. Provenge is believed to have fewer side effects than the other toxic drugs currently approved for use in advanced cases of prostate malignancy. The side effects for Provenge are said to be similar to a case of flu and generally cease after 2 or 3 days. Some of the other toxic drugs side effects are so bad they may even result in death in as many as 1% to 2% of the patients administered the drug.

Provenge has been shown in clinical trials, conducted by Dendreon, to extend life up to as much as 4 1/2 months for those with little hope. However, because of new information required by the FDA this drug may not see approval until the year 2010. Because of the controversy surrounding the FDA’s decision on not approving the drug in 2007, lawsuits have been filed in Federal Court. The details about this controversy are well beyond the scope of this article. Therefore the discussion on other treatments will be continued.

Thanks to recent technology advancements one of the proven therapies, Cryotherapy, has taken on new life and new hope. This therapy is using sub zero temperatures to freeze the prostate tumor or tumors. However, it has been most effective during the early stages of prostate cancer.

It is usually used where the cancer is localized within the prostate. Because it is localized the Doctors are able to treat the tumors with a new needle called a cryoneedle. What is really good news is the preciseness of the treatment.

Thanks to transrectal ultrasound and switching to helium gases and argon, instead of liquid nitrogen, the treatment is more effective than in the past. In addition since it is a minor invasive procedure there is little loss of blood and most patients will get to go home at the end of the day. Those patients with other medical problems may be kept overnight to ensure there are not complications caused by the Cryotherapy.

In conclusion all prostate cancer new treatment should be discussed with your personal Doctor. In fact when it comes to a new treatment of any kind, regardless if it’s for prostate cancer or any other illness, you should ask tell your Doctor you would like to have a 2nd opinion.

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