Prostate Cancer Treatment in India

What is Prostate Cancer?
The prostate is a small, walnut-sized gland found deep within the pelvic area in males. It is located just between the bladder and the penis. The prostate carries out various important functions, including the production of semen. Prostate cancer as the name suggests is marked by the uncontrollable growth of unhealthy cells in the prostate, that gradually accumulate to form a tumour. This is usually triggered by an abnormal mutation in the DNA of the prostate cells which may be a result of various factors. 

Prostate cancer tops the list when we talked about the most common malignancies in males above 50 years of age. It is the 2nd leading cause of cancer-related mortality globally and comes at 1st when it comes to urogenital cancer. Prostate cancer is more likely to affect the male population in USA, Canada and Africa, whereas the prevalence rates in China, Japan and India are quite low.  The risks of prostate cancer increase with age and are more likely to affect people above 50 years of age. The average age of diagnosis has been found to be 70 years

Prostate cancer is likely to give rise to the following symptoms

• Frequent urge to urinate, especially at night
• Reduced or interrupted flow of urine
• Traces of blood in the urine or seminal fluid
• Sudden onset of erectile dysfunction
• Experiencing pain or discomfort while urinating

Things you need to know

• The duration of hospitalization varies from one patient to another depending upon the treatment plan and the adversity of their condition
• Since cancer treatments are usually time-consuming, your average stay is likely to be longer  

How Treat India helps you to find the best healthcare facility in India?
Over the past few years, India has become one of the leading hubs for medical tourism, attracting countless patients from across borders and seas. With hundreds and thousands of options to choose from, it becomes rather difficult to make your decision. With a curated list of around 101 Hospitals & Clinics and 95 doctors & surgeons, Treat India is your ultimate guide to finding quality treatment in India. 

We provide you with access to the top oncologists and onco surgeons specializing in prostate cancer treatment, to help you make an informed decision and ensure the right optimization of your time and finances. 

Connect with us to know more about your treatment and how we plan your medical journey with our experts.

 How to prepare for the treatment?

• Your doctors will first conduct a thorough rectal examination to evaluate your prostate gland physically and look for any abnormality. 
• Detailed examinations will be carried out to assess your PSA (prostate specific antigen), blood count, sedimentation rate, ionogram, uremia and creatinine. 
• You doctors may recommend a uroflowmetry test to measure the flow of your urine. 
• Transrectal prostate ultrasound will be carried out for a detailed evaluation of the gland. 
• Image-guided prostate biopsy may also be performed to confirm the diagnosis.

Procedure involved

• Open prostatectomy - It is carried out using the conventional surgical methods, that involve large incisions to directly access and remove the prostate gland. The procedure is carried out under the influence of general or local anaesthesia. 
• Radical retropubic approach - It is performed by making an incision between the belly button and the pubic bone, which allows the doctor to remove the affected lymph nodes along with the prostate gland. 
• Radical perineal approach - It is performed by making an incision in the area lying between the rectum and the scrotum. Although the time taken for the procedure is comparatively shorter, it comes with comparatively higher risks of erectile dysfunction. 
• Laparoscopic surgery - It is a new age treatment option that involves smaller incisions and high-end imaging guidance to remove the prostate gland. 
• Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy involves multiple incisions to introduce surgical tools and the camera. The surgery is guided by the images generated by the surgical camera. 
• Robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy is a highly advanced alternative that involves the use of robotic arms for carrying out surgical procedure. The arms are controlled by the surgeon with the help of a special console.

What to expect after the procedure?

• If the cancer is localised and does not pose any serious risk, external radiotherapy may be recommended as an alternative to prostatectomy. In the case of intermediate risk, it might even be recommended in place of surgery. 
• If the cancer has advanced locally or is found to be high risk, external radiotherapy is performed along with hormone therapy, which help to block the stimulating action of the testosterone so as to prevent the growth and metastasis of the cancerous cells.
• In the case of metastatic cancer, you might be required to undergo castration, which refers to the surgical removal of the testicles. The procedure may also involve the use of LHRH agonist, which is to be injected every month or after an interval of 3 months.

Potential risks that you need to know about:

• Erectile dysfunction
• Urine incontinence