| Doctors will try different medications before | | | | experienced by men to a great extent especially |
| referring you to a medical oncologist. If you are | | | | if the prostate cancer has spread to the bones. |
| referred to one that would imply that your | | | | As explained before, the cancer will not totally |
| prostate cancer has reached an advanced stage. | | | | disappear nor will you live longer. |
| They would then be speaking about | | | | Let us examine some other medications that are |
| Chemotherapy. | | | | used and how they function: |
| Chemotherapy will destroy the cancer cells by | | | | Doxorubicin is an anti-tumor antibiotic which works |
| interfering with their growth and reproduction. | | | | by damaging the nuclei of cells. |
| Chemotherapy can be performed either by | | | | Paclitaxel is a member of the Taxane group which |
| administering drugs or by performing surgical | | | | functions by fastening the microtubules of cells |
| operations. In some cases, it could be a | | | | and thus causing the cells to crumble during |
| combination of these two. Chemotherapy can in | | | | division. |
| some cases be very effective the prostate | | | | Etoposide functions by slowing down the process |
| cancer but will not cure it. | | | | of mitosis in cancerous cells. |
| The known side-effects are chemotherapy are | | | | Vinblastine is an antineoplastic which breaks apart |
| nausea, hair losses and mouth sores. A new | | | | cell division and is derived from the Madagascar |
| technique called fractionated dose will diminish | | | | periwinkle. |
| those side-effects. | | | | The use of chemotherapy in prostate cancer is |
| Two common chemotherapy drugs are | | | | still being studied and men who do have recourse |
| Mitoxantrone as well as Corticosteroids. The other | | | | to chemotherapy are strongly encouraged to |
| drugs that are used for chemotherapy are | | | | discuss with their doctors about experimental |
| rednisone, Paclitaxel and Docetaxel. The final brand | | | | trials. |
| which is becoming more and more popular is | | | | Your oncologist will inform you of the benefits and |
| Estramustine. | | | | drawbacks to of the different drugs described |
| Doctors will usually advice you to undergo a | | | | above. So do seek medical advice too and you |
| surgical operation. You will then be given some | | | | would be in a better position to decide according |
| medications to take. Many studies have shown | | | | to your own health and your personal values. |
| that this combination reduces the pains | | | | |