Dec 5, 2005

Advances In Prostate Cancer Treatment

In olden days we used cobalt radiation therapy machines, which were imprecise caused more side effects for patients with prostate cancer. Now many radiation centers have IMRT units, which are much-advanced machines and uses computer technology to calculate the direction and depth of hundreds of radiation beams emitter by the machine. Technological advances also mean decreasing size of the radiation implants. In olden day radiation seeds were bulky and was imprecise due to its larger size. With all these advances radiation therapy for prostate cancer is getting better.

Two scientists Douglass Henderson, professor of engineering physics, and Bruce Thomadsen, professor of medical physics, have developed a trio of technologies to effectively treat prostate cancer. Central to their innovations are tiny radioactive seeds. Believe it or not! They are just few millimeters in diameter, but when they are properly placed, they can deliver radiation more accurately and effectively than the conventional radiation therapy seeds.

Directionally emitting radioactive sources, a device for placing needles and seeds was developed by Henderson and Thomadsen.

When taken together, this suite of inventions could mean on-the-spot delivery of the most optimal treatment for prostate cancer. Physician may strategically place up to 100 of such radioactive seeds in the prostate. Like a tiny grain of rice, each seed is cylindrically shaped and emits radiation in all directions. When properly arranged this can cause maximum damage to the cancer cells while sparing most of the normal tissue. Because of the smaller size of these implants they can be placed at the borders of the tumor with normal tissue causing only minimal damage to the normal tissues.

Mark      

Do You Read All Of Our Cancer Blogs?

Do you read all of the blogs published by medicineworld.org? Many of our bloggers are busy keeping you updated on the various health related topics. We publish the following blogs at this time.

Cancer blog: I manage the cancer blog with lots of help and support form other bloggers. Through this cancer blog my friends and I try to bring stories of hope for patients with cancer. The cancer blog often republishes important blog posts from other cancer related blogs at Medicineworld.org. If you are searching for a blog that covers wide variety of cancer topics, this may be the one for you.

Breast cancer blog: Breast cancer blog is run by Emily and other bloggers and they bring you the latest stories, news and events that are related to breast cancer. Increasing awareness about breast cancer among women and in the general population is the main goal of this breast cancer blog.

Lung cancer blog: Lung cancer blog is managed by Scott with the help of other bloggers. Through this blog Scott and his friends constantly remind the readers about the dangers of smoking. It's a never-ending struggle against this miserable disease with which a social stigma of smoking is associated.

Colon cancer blog: Colon cancer blog is run by Sue and other bloggers. Sue brings a personal touch to the colon cancer blog since her mother died of colon cancer few years ago. She writes about stories, research news and advances in treatment related to colon cancer.

Prostate cancer blog: Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among American men. American Cancer Society estimates that over 230,000 new cases of prostate cancer occur in the United state every year. This important blog about prostate cancer is run by Mark and other bloggers. This blog brings news, stories, and other personal observations related to prostate cancer.

Medicineworld.org publishes a diabetes watch blog and this blog is run by JoAnn other bloggers. This diabetes watch blog brings you the latest in the field of diabetes. This includes personal stories, advances in diagnosis and treatment, and other observations about diabetes. Improving awareness about diabetes is an important mission of this group.

Janet      

Prostate cancer
The prostate is located just below the bladder and in front of the rectum in male. The tube that carries urine runs through the prostate. The prostate contains cells that make some of the seminal fluid. This fluid protects and nourishes the sperm. Prostate cancer usually starts in the gland cells of the prostate. This kind of cancer is known as adenocarcinoma. Prostate cancer is usually a slow disease, but sometimes it can grow fast and spread quickly to other organs.