Posted in: Prostate Cancer Treatment by Dr. Tarang Krishna Posted Date: 05 Feb, 2020
Prostate cancer is one of the most rampant cancers and becoming a leading cause of death for men. But constant questions are being posed about the tests used to diagnose these men, and how they might be improved.
Some early cancers may have signs which can be noticed, but that is not always the case. The tests used today can be painful, invasive, and not the best for doctors to see which cases require urgent attention, and which can be watched over time. This is the most apparent challenge when we look at the results of the screening studies in men without prostate cancer signs using the PSA blood test.
Can Prostate Cancer Be Found Early?
Cancer screening is done to find cancer in people before they start to show any signs and symptoms. For some types of cancer, the screening can help to find cancers at an early stage, when they are likely to be treated easily. Prostate cancer can be found early by testing for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in a man’s blood.
There is another way to find prostate cancer which is through the digital rectal exam (DRE). The doctor puts a gloved and lubricated finger in the rectum to feel the prostate gland. If the results of the tests for either of the two is abnormal, you may need to get further testing such as the prostate biopsy to check for cancer.
Concerns about Prostate Cancer Screening
If prostate cancer is a result of the screening tests, it will mostly be at an earlier and more treatable stage. This might come across that like prostate cancer screening is always good, but the doctors and researchers say that there are still some issues surrounding the screening tests which makes it unclear if the benefits outweigh the risks for men.
Specialist MRI - Understanding prostate cancer closely
According to the leading cancer doctors in India, prostate cancer was earlier diagnosed and treated without even properly seeing it. But it all changed with MRI. The big interest currently is in the special imaging called the multiparametric MRI.
It combines three to four different scans which help the radiologists build a clear picture of what is happening in the prostate. And the results suggest that it can steer the diagnosis in the right direction - by ruling out the need for or helping guide, follow-up biopsies.
Two studies which involved over 1000 men found that mpMRI can prevent unnecessarily prostate biopsies. It showed that 1 in 4 men with an abnormal PSA test or rectal exam didn’t need a biopsy, as the scan showed no abnormalities. And for the people who required a biopsy, the scan helped to guide doctors take these tissues samples.
This helped the doctors to make the process less invasive and more likely to pick up abnormal cells than standard biopsy. However, the specialist MRI scans are not a standard part of prostate cancer diagnosis yet.
Beyond Diagnosis
Getting prostate cancer diagnosis is a big task in cancer survival. But without effective prostate cancer treatments, it would be all for nothing. But fortunately, progress is made there too.
The immune system has the brilliant ability to destroy cells which cause harm, such as infected cells or cancer cells. But in a number of patients with progressing cancer, anti-cancer responses can never be developed or have been turned off by cancer.
Hence, immunology cancer treatment is one way where immune cells respond positively to malfunctioning cancer cells. Cancer Healer Center, a leading hospital for immunotherapy in India offers prostate cancer treatment with no or fewer side effects.
Experimental treatments such as laser treatment could also make waves for prostate cancer treatment. The futuristic approach called the vascular targeted photodynamic therapy was found to be safe in the early trials but more research is needed before we are certain if the treatment can help save lives.
What do we need to do?
The goal is clear: WE NEED TO MAKE PROSTATE CANCER DIAGNOSIS SMARTER AND MORE RELIABLE.
There is no instant mix, but using the new techniques like that of immunology cancer treatment helps to fight prostate cancer. In terms of screening, we need techniques to build a clearer picture of how prostate cancer progresses. And if the cancer doctors can understand how prostate cancer behaves, it might make treatment more personal too.
About The Author
Dr. Tarang Krishna
Dr. Tarang Krishna, Director at Cancer Healer Center, is the perfect epitome of perseverance and dedication.
He has an impressive educational background to his credit. He completed his under-graduation in Medicine and Surgery from Pune, India and did his MD (Hom) from Agra University, India.Thesis on MD was on "Treatment of cancer" where he presented cases of almost 100 patients and the response of the medicines in the treatment of cancer. He then completed his Ph.d in Oncology from the United Kingdom and his thesis on the ‘Efficacy of Medicines in the Treatment of Cancer’ is greatly commemorated and honored.
He befittingly represents alternate medicine and has contributed significantly towards the development and research of immunotherapy.
Through his nationwide chain of “Cancer Healer Center” clinics he strives to offer superior cancer treatment, using immunotherapy.
