Prostate Cancer

The prostate is a gland situated in the male reproductive system, and its found bellow the bladder, in front of the rectum. It surrounds the part of the urethra just bellow the bladder, the tube that empties the bladder, and produces a fluid which forms a part of the content of the semen.

Prostate cancer is that type of cancer that forms in the tissues of the prostate, and usually the older man presents prostate cancer. Hormones occur naturally in your body and they are controlling the growth and activity of normal cells Prostate cancer depends on the male hormone testosterone for its growth. So if the amount of testosterone is reduced, it is possible to slow down or shrink the tumor.

The prostate gland usually starts to enlarge after 40 years. Enlarged Prostate or BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia) appears when the prostate gland grow slowly, pressing the urethra, and the gland secret a fluid discharged at one time with the sperm. It is not cancer or it will not raise the risk to render sick of prostate cancer. Like prostate cancer, it happens to almost all men over 40 years. Because of the symptoms, men usually stay more time at home.

Hormone therapy used in the treatment for prostate cancer is also called androgen deprivation therapy or androgen suppression therapy. The goal is to reduce levels of the male hormones, called androgens, in the body. The main androgen is testosterone, and his reduction helps to the treatment of the cancer. Androgens, are produced mainly in the testicles, are stimulating prostate cancer cells to grow. Lowering androgen levels often makes prostate cancers shrink or grow more slowly, but didn’t disappear.

Although, hormone therapy does not cure prostate cancer, hormone therapy may be used in several situations. When the patient is not able to have surgery or radiation or can't be cured by these treatments because the cancer has already spread beyond the prostate gland. In the case when the cancer remains or comes back after treatment with surgery or radiation therapy is used. Before a surgery or treatment are used hormones. While prostate cancer usually responds in 1 or 2 years of hormone therapy, after some time most tumors start to grow again. When this happens, the treatment goal is to control symptoms. No treatment can cure prostate cancer after hormone therapy stops helping.

The purpose of the hormone therapy is to lower the level of the male hormones, called androgens, which are produced mostly in the men testicles. This is because androgens, such as testosterone, help the prostate tumor grow, more after 40-50 years. Monthly shots can be given or the testicles can be surgically removed. Once the testosterone is out of your body, the prostate cancer usually shrinks. Hormone treatments are most often used in patients with cancer that has already spread beyond the prostate gland.

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