Prostate cancer is making a strong impact in Colombia. Each year, 9,564 new cases are diagnosed, according to figures from the Colombian League Against Cancer, making it the most common cancer in men in this country. Although it represents a latent threat, timely treatment and its respective medical follow-up offer a high chance of cure, even in the middle stages.
So if you are part of this statistic, do not be discouraged. In Colombia, there are oncology clinics specialized in highly complex cases that can treat your diagnosis with better care, equipment, and treatment options for you, depending on your case. This will not only help in your recovery, but will also improve your quality of life during the process.
Don't you know any? At the Astorga Clinic, we have prepared this guide of therapeutic options, care, and other recommendations that you can discuss with our oncologists to significantly reduce any doubts or risks of this disease, increasing your life expectancy and giving you more peace of mind along the way.
If you want to learn more about our equipment and treatments, schedule an appointment here.
Prostate cancer: 6 most common treatment options
Although you can discuss treatment options with your oncologist, he or she will ultimately be the one to recommend the best option for your case. This is after a timely diagnosis, medical study, and monitoring of your disease. The option you choose together will have the sole objective of curing or controlling the disease in the most effective way possible, ensuring that the impact on your daily life is minimal and does not shorten your life expectancy.
In the case of advanced diagnoses or widespread cancer, treatment options can prolong life expectancy and delay the symptoms caused by this pathology.
The following treatments are the most common. If you are interested in any of them, discuss with your doctor the possibility of taking them and the side effects you could experience.
Prostate removal (surgery)
This surgery is also called radical prostatectomy and involves removing the prostate gland, along with a portion of the surrounding tissue and some lymph nodes. The procedure is considered a viable option for treating prostate cancer in two main scenarios, one of which has a high chance of cure.
Localized cancer: If your disease is confined within the prostate, radical prostatectomy has a high chance of curing the disease.
Advanced cancer: In some cases of advanced prostate cancer, radical prostatectomy may be combined with other treatments, such as radiation therapy or hormone therapy, to improve the prospects for disease control and survival.
Radiotherapy
Radiation therapy is the use of radiation to kill cancer cells. In low-grade cases, i.e. those that have not yet spread beyond the prostate gland, it offers the same chances of cure as radical prostatectomy. For this reason, it is often recommended as the first treatment for treating localized prostate cancer.
For this pathology, radiotherapy can be used in two ways:
External beam radiation: The machine directs high-powered beams of energy, such as X-rays or protons, at your prostate. Sessions are usually done five times a week for several weeks.
It is used to treat cancer that is confined to the prostate and to kill any remaining cancer cells after surgery, reducing the risk of recurrence or spread. It can also help control the growth of cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, such as the bones, and relieve symptoms such as pain.
Brachytherapy: Radioactive seeds the size of a grain of rice are implanted directly into the prostate tissue. These seeds deliver a low dose of radiation steadily over a long period of time. It is especially helpful for prostate tumors that have not spread beyond the prostate.
Your specialist may recommend combining both types of radiation therapy for greater treatment effectiveness.
Know the side effects of radiation therapy: How can I manage them?
Hormone therapy
You may know it as androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and it is one of the most common treatments for prostate cancer. It is treated with injections, pills or surgery and aims to block the effects of testosterone, the main hormone that drives the growth of prostate cancer cells.
It can be given before radiation therapy to reduce testosterone levels and sensitize cancer cells to radiation, increasing the effectiveness of the treatment. It can also be given after radiation therapy to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence by keeping testosterone levels low.
In advanced prostate cancer it is used to slow the progression of the disease and relieve symptoms such as bone pain and difficulty urinating.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy treats metastatic prostate cancer and prostate cancer resistant to hormone therapy. It does not cure this condition, but it can prolong your life expectancy and keep the disease under control.
The procedure uses drugs to destroy fast-growing cancer cells in your body. These work by interrupting the cells' life cycle and causing them to die. They can be given through an IV, pill, or a combination of both.
Immunotherapy
This treatment uses your own immune system to fight the disease. While the immune system is responsible for defending the body from infections and diseases, sometimes it doesn't recognize cancer cells as a threat and doesn't attack them. That's when the treatment helps it identify and attack malignant cells. It's done in two ways:
CAR T-cell therapy: This involves taking your immune cells, genetically modifying them in a lab to recognize and attack cancer cells, and then injecting them back into your body.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors: Drugs that block the signals cancer cells use to hide from the immune system.
Targeted drugs
It is a type of cancer treatment that attacks specific weaknesses in cancer cells. Unlike chemotherapy and radiation therapy, which damage all rapidly dividing cells, both healthy and cancerous, targeted drugs act more precisely, which may result in fewer side effects.
Watchful waiting and active surveillance: when it's an option
Watchful waiting and active surveillance are not cancer treatments in themselves. They are management strategies used to monitor slow-growing, low-risk prostate cancer, with the aim of delaying or avoiding unnecessary treatment while ensuring early detection of any disease progression.
Watchful waiting is generally recommended for men over 70 with early-stage prostate cancer, low-grade and asymptomatic cancer, limited natural life expectancy due to other health conditions, and who are healthy enough to tolerate monitoring procedures.
With this strategy you do not receive immediate cancer treatment. Instead, regular tests, such as PSA tests, MRIs, and sometimes repeat biopsies, are performed to monitor cancer growth and detect early progression, according to the NHS.
Active surveillance, meanwhile, is often recommended for men of any age with early-stage prostate cancer who have low-grade cancer and no symptoms, have a normal life expectancy, are in good general health and want close monitoring of their cancer and the possibility of starting early treatment if needed.
That strategy involves closer monitoring of the cancer than watchful waiting. PSA tests, MRIs and repeat biopsies are being done more frequently to monitor the development of the disease and detect early progression, according to the NHS.
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Lifestyle in Prostate Cancer
Exercise
Despite the proven benefits of exercise during prostate cancer, did you know that only 15% to 50% of patients follow the guidelines? Oncologists at Memorial Sloan Kettering Center recommend including both aerobic and resistance exercise (weight lifting, for example) 3 to 5 times a week.
Adequate Sleep
There is no exact number of hours of sleep that is ideal for everyone, but getting enough sleep is essential to feel rested and to be able to perform daily activities without fatigue. Both too little and too much sleep can be detrimental to your health. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine suggests getting at least 7 hours of sleep each night.
Prostate Cancer Diet: Dos and Don'ts
Balance Your Plate
Two-thirds or more should be fiber-rich vegetables and fruits, whole grains, and legumes. Prioritize non-starchy vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, spinach, lettuce, kale, chard, mushrooms, asparagus, zucchini, peppers, and tomatoes.
Fiber-rich grains and fruits include brown rice, whole-wheat pasta, quinoa, barley, as well as potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, and squash, among starchy vegetables. Whole fruits such as berries, apples, pears, kiwis, and oranges are also good choices.
No more than one-third of your plate should be animal protein. Opt for fish, low-fat dairy products, eggs, and white meat. Plant proteins such as beans are a great alternative.
Watch your fat
Fat intake should not exceed 20% to 35% of your daily calories, which is equivalent to 40-70 grams in an 1800-calorie diet.
Choose healthy fats such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, found in olive, canola, corn, soybean oils, as well as nuts and seeds.
Reduce your intake of saturated fats found in red meat, full-fat dairy products, butter, and certain tropical oils such as coconut and palm oil.
Check your cholesterol intake
Distinguish between "good" (HDL) and "bad" (LDL) cholesterol. Increase your intake of omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel, and in plant sources such as walnuts and flax seeds, which are beneficial for heart health.
What should the care team be like for patients with prostate cancer?
It's best to have this disease treated by a full team of oncologists and specialists who are there to help and support you through this process. This includes:
Oncologic surgeons: They operate to remove the cancer.
Medical oncologists: They prescribe cancer-fighting drugs, such as chemotherapy.
Radiation oncologists: They use powerful X-rays to destroy cancer cells.
Radiologists and pathologists: They examine images and even tissue samples to help diagnose the cancer.
Specialized nurses: They provide care and support throughout your treatment, even at home.
These professionals will carefully evaluate your case, considering:
The type and size of the cancer
How aggressive your case is
Your overall health
Whether the cancer has spread to other parts of your body
Based on this information, they will recommend the best treatment options for you. If you experience side effects, such as pain or incontinence, you will be referred to specialists who will help you manage them.olor o incontinencia, te referirán a especialistas que te ayudarán a controlarlos.
Overcome cancer with the help of a specialized team
A cancer diagnosis is a challenge that, first of all, must be faced with the most competent and specialized support. This, in addition to recommending the most appropriate treatments for your case, answers all the questions that you and your family may have during the process.
At Astorga, an oncology clinic, we have a first-class medical team led by highly trained oncologists who will provide you with personalized care with the most modern protocols and the most advanced technology, unique in Latin America.
Here you will have a comprehensive approach that will lead you to health and well-being.
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