Sipuleucel-T Vaccine To Treat Prostate Cancer And Side Effects

Treatment of prostate cancer with Sipuleucel-T vaccine therapy includes immunotherapy designed to enhance the body's natural defenses against cancer.

Sipuleucel-T is customized for each patient. Before treatment, blood is removed from the patient in a process called leukapheresis.

Specific immune cells are separated from the blood taken by the patient, then modified in the laboratory, then put back into the patient's body. At this point, the patient's immune system will recognize and destroy prostate cancer cells.

It is difficult to know if this treatment works effectively to treat cancer because it has not been shown to shrink tumors, lower PSA levels, or control cancer from getting worse.

However, results from clinical trials have shown that prostate cancer treatment with sipuleucel-T vaccine therapy may improve survival in men with little or no metastatic prostate cancer compared with treatment without vaccine therapy.

Vaccine Therapy For Treatment of prostate cancer

Sipuleucel-T (Provenge) is a cancer vaccine. The vaccine material is made by the body itself or in the laboratory to boost the immune system, target, or restore the functioning of the immune system.

This vaccine is made specifically for each individual. To make it, the white blood cells (immune system cells) are removed from the patient's blood (leukapheresis) for several hours, using a special machine.

The cells are then sent to the laboratory and treated with a process called prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP).

The cells are then sent back to the hospital to be given back to you with an IV to the blood vessels (IV, intravenous tubes).

This process is repeated 2 times, 2 weeks apart, so you get 3 doses of cells. These cells will boost the immune system to attack prostate cancer.

Side effects of the Sipuleucel-T vaccine

Side effects of vaccines tend to be lighter than those from hormone therapy or chemotherapy. Common side effects can include fever, chills, fatigue, back and joint pain, nausea, and headaches.

This condition usually begins and during the infusion of cells lasting no more than a few days. Some people may have severe side effects, including respiratory problems and high blood pressure. However, it will improve after getting better treatment.

Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer And Side Effect

Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy radiation rays to damage cancer cells by a radiation physician known as radiation oncology.

The type of radiation therapy

The types of radiation therapy used for the treatment of prostate cancer include:

1. External radiation therapy.

This is the most common type of radiation treatment. Physicians use machines located outside the body to focus x-ray beams on cancer areas.

Some cancer treatment centers use conformal radiation therapy (CRT), in which the computer helps to map the location and form of cancer.

2. Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT).

IMRT is a type of external radiation beam therapy that uses CT scans to form a 3-dimensional prostate image before treatment.

A computer monitor takes this information about the size, shape, and location of prostate cancer and determines how much radiation it needs to destroy it.

With IMRT, high-dose radiation can be directed to the prostate without increasing the risk of damaging nearby organs.

3. Proton ray therapy.

Proton therapy is a type of external radiation therapy that uses proton light to destroy cancer cells.

Current research has not shown that proton therapy provides more benefits for men with prostate cancer than traditional radiation therapy, the cost is also more expensive.

4. Internal radiation therapy

Internal radiation therapy or brachytherapy is the insertion of radioactive sources directly into the prostate.

Radioactive rays release radiation just around the area where they are inserted and can be used for hours (high dose rate) or week (low dose rate).

For a man with high-risk cancer, brachytherapy is usually combined with other treatments.

5. Radium-223.

Radium-223 dichloride (Xofigo) is a type of radioactive substance. Radium-223 provides direct radiation to tumors found in bone, limiting damage to healthy tissue.

According to clinical trial results published in 2013, radium-223 treatment reduces the risk of bone complications and improves survival.

Side effects of radiation therapy

Radiation therapy can cause such direct side effects

- Diarrhea or other problems with rectal function, such as frequent farting, bleeding, and loss of bowel control
- Increased urinary impulse
- Increase frequency; fatigue; inability; And anal discomfort, burning sensation, or pain.
- DE (Erectile Dysfunction)

Most side effects usually disappear after treatment, but side effects such as ED are usually permanent.

Many side effects of radiation therapy may not appear in the months or years after treatment.

Most people expect to experience side effects while receiving treatment. However, often side effects come and can linger beyond the treatment period. These are called long-term side effects.

In addition, other effects of late side effects can develop for months or even years afterwards. Long term side effects and final effects can include both physical and emotional changes.

Talk to your doctor about the risks of side-effects based on the stage of cancer, individual care plans, and your overall health.

If you have a treatment known to cause a certain end effect, you may have a specific examination, scan, or blood test of your own physique to help find and regulate this state.


Source: http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/prostate-cancer/treatment-options

Prostate Cancer Metastasis - Treatment And Side Effects

Many men experience bone problems related to prostate cancer or the side effects of treatment. Prostate cancer spreads to the bone (bone metastases) can cause severe pain and fractures. In addition, the effects of hormonal therapy for prostate cancer can lead to bone loss, fracture, and joint pain.

Bone metastasis

When prostate cancer spreads to bones and other organs, doctors look under a microscope. It is still treated with therapy for prostate cancer. A man whose prostate cancer spreads to the bone, this does not mean he has bone cancer.

However, he has prostate cancer spread to the organs of the bone by traveling through the blood, bones, and grows. The most commonly affected bones are the spine, hips, and ribs. Once prostate cancer spreads to the bone, this can be a painful process.

It is important that you make a treatment plan, take a strategy to maintain good bone health. There are several treatments available to strengthen bones, prevent metastasis, and manage to prevent pain.

Treatment of Prostate Cancer Spread To Bone And side Effects

Some people diagnosed with prostate cancer will have the spread of their cancer (metastasis) to other parts of the body. Bone is where the spread of cancer cells.

Two classes of drugs used to treat prostate cancer that has spread to the bones are: Bisphosphonates and Denosumab

Everyone is different in responding to bone metastasis treatment. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about what to expect, including side effects.

Here is a common drug used to treat bone metastases from prostate cancer

1. Alendronate

What is Alendronate? This type of drug is the same as bisphosphonate used to treat osteoporosis (bone loss). It works by increasing bone density to reduce damage.

How is this drug given? Alendronate is given orally as a tablet.

Aledronate side effects

Everyone responds differently to treatment for bone metastases - some experience many side effects, while others experience less.

Here are some of the side effects experienced by people receiving treatment.

- Stomach ache
- bloated
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Nausea
- Pain in the bones / joints

2. Denosumab

Denosumab is a monoclonal antibody used to treat osteoporosis in men diagnosed with prostate cancer.

This drug works by stopping bone cells (osteoclasts) from damage to bone structure. Denosumab is given by subcutaneous injection (under the skin).

Denosumab Side effects

Here are some of the side effects experienced by people who receive denosumab.

- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Rash
- Skin changes
- Weakness

3. Pamidronate Dinatrium

Pamidronate Disodium class with bisphosphonates used to treat osteoporosis (bone loss).

It works by reducing bone damage. Disodium Pamidronate is given intravenously (IV).

Pamidronate Dinatrium Side effects

Here are some of the side effects experienced by people who receive disodium pamidronate.

- Stomach ache
- bone pain
- trouble sleeping
- Headache
- Losing appetite
- Nauseous vomit
- Weakness

4. Zoledronic acid

Zoledronic acid is a class of drugs known as bisphosphonates used to treat bone metastases resulting from prostate cancer.

Zoledronic Acid prevents or slows the rate of bone changes (including splitting) provided by intravenous injection.

Zoledronic acid Side effects

Here are some of the side effects experienced by people who received zoledronic acid.

- Bone / joint pain
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Headache
- Losing appetite
- Nauseous vomit
- Weight loss

Everyone responds differently to treatment for bone metastases - some experience many side effects while others experience less.

Tell your health care team about the side effects if you experience so they know how best to help you manage the unpleasant effects.

Reference : http://www.prostatecancer.ca/Prostate-Cancer/Treatment/ Drugs-to-Treat-Prostate-Cancer/Drugs-to-Treat-Bone-Metastases/ Denosumab

Androgen Deprivation Therapy for Prostate Cancer

The treatment of prostate cancer with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) therapy is performed because the growth of cancer cells is driven by androgen hormones, androgen-suppressed hormone therapy is thought to help slow cancer growth.

The most common type of Androgen hormone is testosterone. Testosterone levels in the body can be lowered by removal of the testes, or using certain drugs to kill testicular function.

ADT is used to treat prostate cancer, including recurrent prostate cancer and metastatic prostate cancer. Metastatic prostate cancer is cancer cells that have spread throughout the body.

ADT also includes adjuvant therapy (advanced therapy) because it is administered after surgery for men who have cancer in the lymph nodes to remove remaining cancer cells and prevent coming back.

ADT is considered as adjuvant therapy if prostate cancer has been found in lymph nodes after radical prostatectomy given up to 3 years for high-risk and 6-month cancers for men with medium-risk cancers.

Androgen Therapy

Types of androgen therapy

1. Bilateral Orchiectomy.

Bilateral orchiectomy is the surgical removal of both testes and first used for the treatment of metastatic prostate.

ADT is considered an operation because it eliminates the main source of testosterone production, the testes. The effect of this operation is permanent and non-refundable.

2. LHRH Agonists.

LHRH (Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone) is a testicular prevention drug receiving messages sent by the body to make testosterone.

By blocking these signals, LHRH agonists reduce a man's testosterone level and remove the functioning of the testicles.

However, unlike surgeon surgery, the LHRH agonist effect is reversible, so testosterone production usually begins again after the patient stops treatment.

3. LHRH antagonist

The drug is also called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist, to stop the testes from producing testosterone like LHRH agonists, but they reduce testosterone levels faster and do not cause flares.

Flare is a condition where high testosterone levels turn into a very low drop suddenly.

One of the side effects of this drug is that it can cause severe allergic reactions.

4. Anti-androgen

Anti-androgens block testosterone utilizing the "androgen receptor," which is a chemical structure in cancer cells that allows testosterone and other male hormones to enter the cells.

This drug is used in men who have "hormone sensitive" prostate cancer, which means that prostate cancer still responds to ADT. Anti-androgens are usually not used alone in the treatment of prostate cancer.

5. Enzalutamide (Xtandi)

This drug is a new type of anti-androgen blocking signals from androgen receptors.

Enzalutamide is approved by the FDA for men who have developed progressive prostate metastatic cancer.

Treatment with enzalutamide has led to overall improved survival.

6. CYP17 Inhibitor.

Although testes are a major producer of testosterone, other cells in the body can still make small amounts of testosterone that can promote cancer growth. These include the adrenal glands and some of the prostate cancer cells themselves, the CYP17 inhibitor plays a role in preventing it.

Abiraterone acetate (Zytiga) is a drug that blocks enzymes called CYP17 Inhibitors and prevents these cells from making certain hormones, including adrenal androgens.

Abiraterone acetate can cause serious side effects such as high blood pressure, low blood potassium levels, and fluid retention. Other common side effects include weakness, joint swelling or pain, swelling in the legs or feet, reddening, diarrhea, vomiting, shortness of breath, and anemia.

Side effects of androgen therapy for prostate treatment

Androgen therapy causes side effects that generally disappear after treatment is completed, except in men who already have orchiectomy.

These side effects include:

- DE (erectile dysfunction)
- jaded, weak and lethargic
- Weight loss
- Loss of muscle mass
- Osteopenia or osteoporosis, or bone thinning

Another important side effect of androgen therapy is the risk of developing metabolic syndrome disease such as obesity, blood cholesterol levels and high blood pressure that increases a person's risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

The risks and benefits of androgen therapy should be discussed with your doctor. For men with metastatic prostate cancer. Side effects control management is very important for prostate cancer patients who receive androgen therapy treatment including regular exercise, do not smoke, healthy diet, take vitamin D or calcium supplements, and treatment as preventive cardiovascular follow-up.

Chemotherapy For Prostate Cancer And Side Effects

Treatment of prostate cancer with chemotherapy is the use of specific drugs to destroy cancer cells by stopping their ability to grow and divide.

Chemotherapy is usually given by a medical oncologist, a doctor who specializes in treating cancers with drugs.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is systemically inserted into the bloodstream to reach cancer cells throughout the body. Chemotherapy is administered through an intravena tube (IV) placed into a vein using a needle.

This may help patients with resistant, advanced stage prostate cancer. A chemotherapy regimen usually consists of a certain number of cycles administered over a given period of time.

There are some standard drugs used for prostate cancer. In general, standard chemotherapy begins with docetaxel combined with a steroid known as prednisone.

Prostate cancer treatment with prednisone chemotherapy procedures has been shown to help patients with advanced prostate cancer live longer than other chemotherapy drugs such as mitoxantrone (Novantrone).

Mitoxantrone is one of the first chemotherapy approved for metastatic or resistant prostate cancer although it is not generally used. Mitoxantrone is useful for controlling the pain of cancer that sometimes appears in certain situations.

The FDA has also approved other drugs, such as cabazitaxel (Jevtana), based on studies that show increased survival when compared with mitoxantrone for patients with developing disease after docetaxel. Cabazitaxel is currently compared with docetaxel in clinical trials, but the results are still delayed.

Side effects of chemotherapy

In general, the side effects of chemotherapy depend on the individual, the type of chemotherapy received, the dose used, and the duration of treatment.

Side effects of chemotherapy in the treatment of prostate cancer such as fatigue, mouth and throat wounds, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, constipation, blood disorders, nervous system effects, changes in thinking and memory, sexual and reproductive problems, loss of appetite, And hair loss.

Side effects of chemotherapy usually disappear after treatment is complete. However, some side effects may continue, return, or develop later.

Ask your doctor about any side effects you may experience, based on your treatment plan. Your health care team will work with you to manage or prevent many of these side effects.

Reference : http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/prostate-cancer/treatment-options

Radical Prostatectomy Surgery To Treat Prostate Cancer

One surgical procedure for treating prostate cancer is a radical prostatectomy that removes the entire prostate.

Usually, men with early-stage disease or cancer are confined to the prostate will undergo surgical removal of the entire prostate gland, plus some surrounding tissue, and then the doctor will reconnect the bladder channel to the urethra.

Advanced surgical procedures may be performed in men with recurrent prostate cancer, such as lymph node removal, which is where the initial landing of prostate cancer metastasis.

Why should the entire prostate be removed?

Because cancer has invaded the seminal vesicles, the nearest part of the vas deferens, along with nearby tissues, and some nearest pelvic lymph nodes.

In addition, the cancer has spread throughout the prostate gland, the prostate should be removed. This is done to ensure that cancer cells do not lag and grow.

Lymph nodes in the pelvis are round or oval round small round the blood vessels. They filter the fluid from the lymph nodes.

Prostate cancer usually spreads first into the soft tissues around the prostate. Then, spread to the seminal vesicles, lymph nodes, bones and other organs. There are many other lymph nodes. So that the body will not be harmed by removing some lymph nodes.

During the procedure of prostatectomy surgery, did not escape the surgery of nerve-sparing prostatectomy. What is a nerve-sparing prostatectomy? In a nerve-sparing prostatectomy, the surgeon cuts to the very edge of the prostate, a functional nerve that runs alongside the prostate.

A neurosurgical-sparing procedure may be performed; It depends on whether the cancer attacks the nerve or not. However, neurosurgical-sparing procedures offer the best opportunity to preserve long-term ssual function.

Treatment of prostate cancer by radical prostatectomy surgery

There are four types of radical prostatectomy surgery, namely:

1. Retropubic radical prostatectomy

This is the most common type of prostate surgery. Your surgeon will make a cut (slice) in the lower abdomen and remove the prostate through this slice.

2. Perineum radical prostatectomy

The removal of the prostate by cutting between the anus and the scrotum.

3. Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy

The surgeon will make six incisions about 1 inch in your stomach to remove the prostate gland. This operation has been replaced by the interface of a laparoscopic surgical robot as a tool.

4. Robotic Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy (RALP)

The entire prostate is removed using the help of the robot system. RALP surgery is one of the most common types of prostate surgery today.

However, the success of this operation depends on how experienced your surgeon is. In the hands of experienced clinicians, there is no major difference in outcomes between RALP and retropubic prostatectomy.

Post Surgical Treatment 

After the prostate is removed, the urinary tract and bladder are reconstructed again. Then the catheter is inserted through the urethra into the bladder. A new channel between the bladder and the urethra to drain urine (anastomosis).

Most people do not fart for one to two days, and they do not defecate until the third day after surgery. This depends on the amount of anti-pain medication given.

After the surgeon has the latest pathology report, he will make a plan, including regular doctor visit plan and PSA test every 6-12 months. The postoperative PSA level should be undetectable (less than 0.1 ng / mL).

If a pathology report shows cancer in surgical margins or cancer spread to adjacent tissues, seminal vesicles, or lymph nodes, further treatment may be necessary. Therapy can be done with radiation therapy or hormone therapy, or both. It will start 2 to 4 months after surgery.

Reference : http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/prostate-cancer/treatment-options

Surgical Options for Prostate Cancer Treatment

Prostate Cancer Treatment with surgery is removal of the tumor and the removal of some healthy tissue around it. It is used to try to remove the tumor before it spreads outside the prostate.

A surgical oncologist is a doctor who specializes in treating cancer by using surgery. For prostate cancer, urologist or urology oncologist is a surgical oncologist who is involved in treatment.

The type of surgery depends on the stage of the disease, the overall health condition of the patient, and other factors according to your decision and your doctor.

The purpose of surgical operation in the treatment of prostate cancer

The purpose of the operation is varied. However, surgical operations are performed for the following reasons and purposes:

- To diagnose cancer
- To remove all or part of a cancer or tumor
- To find out where the cancer is located
- To find out whether the cancer has spread or affect the function of other organs in the body
- To restore body function or appearance
- To alleviate and prevent the side effects of cancer

The location of the surgical operation is dependent on the extent of the surgery level and how much recovery you need. You may have surgery at a doctor's office, clinic, or hospital.

Outpatient surgery means that you do not have to stay in the hospital before or after surgery.

Inpatient surgery means that you need to stay in the hospital overnight or longer to recover after surgery.

Surgical options for prostate cancer

Surgical options include:

1. Radical prostatectomy (open).

A radical prostatectomy is the surgical removal of the entire prostate and seminal vesicles, the lymph nodes in the pelvic region can also be removed.

This operation has a risk of ED. A man can maintain the function s * ksual after surgery by avoiding damage to neurosurgery that allows er * csi and org * sme to occur.

Urinary incontinence is also a possible side effect of radical prostatectomy. To prevent normal disruption of s * normal function, the patient may receive the drug. Sometimes, other operations can improve incontinence.

2. Robot technology or laparoscopic prostatectomy.

This type of surgery may be much less invasive than radical prostatectomy but may shorten recovery time.

A camera and instrument are inserted through a small, incision hole site in the patient's abdomen.

The surgeon then directs the robotic instrument to remove the prostate gland and some healthy tissue around it.

In general, robotic prostatectomy reduces bleeding and relieves pain, but side effects for the s * function and urethra can be similar to radical (open) prostatectomy.

Talk to your doctor about whether the Hospital offers this procedure and how it compares with the radical (open) prostatectomy results.

3. Cryosurgery.

Cryosurgery, also called cryotherapy or cryoablation, is the freezing of cancer cells with a metal probe inserted through a small incision in the area between the rectum and the scrotum, a leather sac containing testicles.

This is not a treatment therapy as a standard of care for men recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Cryosurgery has not been compared with radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy, so doctors do not know if it is a comparable treatment option.

Side effects of this surgical treatment on urinary function and sexual function are also not well defined.

When does prostate cancer have surgery?

The best prostate cancer surgery is if your prostate cancer is in the clinical stage of T1 or T2. That means only limited to the prostate gland.

This treatment is also used if your illness is a clinical T3 stage.

But if you have a PSA level of less than 20 ng / mL and a Gleason score of less than 8 you have a higher chance of recovering after surgery.

Treatment of prostate cancer surgery is usually limited by a fairly healthy man and able to tolerate major surgery.

You must have a motivation for life expectancy of 10 years or more ahead, life expectancy by age and health.

Reference: http://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/how-cancer-treated/surgery/what-cancer-surgery