Prostate cancer treatment

Prostate cancer is one of the most common among cancers. In recent years there has been an increase in this disease. Experts explain this situation by the ability to determine the level of specific antigen (PSA), prostate disease has a high mortality rate, which is significantly increased by prostate lesions, as well as an increase in life expectancy in the male population. Treatment of prostate diseases gives good results in case of early detection. Many specialists note the high level of diagnosis and therapy of prostate cancer in Germany.

The structure of the gland

The prostate gland is located in men in such a way that when its size increases, the function of nearby organs — the bladder and rectum — changes.

The prostate secretes the juice that forms a man’s sperm. By contracting, the muscles drain this juice. The outside of the gland is covered by a capsule. The work of the gland is controlled by sex hormones.

What is the prostate gland in the body responsible for?

• The gland secretes a secretion that dilutes the sperm. If the sperm is thick, sperm motility is low, they do not move well through the woman’s fallopian tubes, so pregnancy may not occur.
• The secretion contains proteins, immune cells, vitamins, trace elements that support normal sperm composition.
• The organ is involved in orgasm and increases libido.

Many patients ask doctors what could have triggered the tumor?

It is believed that the most important cause is chronic inflammation — prostatitis.

Other causes that lead to tumor formation include:

• Violation of the hormonal balance, in the direction of an increase in testosterone, which leads to the enlargement of the organ and the formation of a tumor.
• Existing benign changes (adenoma) that may develop into malignant changes.

However, not every member of the stronger half with prostatitis develops a tumor, for this you need other reasons:

1. An unbalanced diet that includes fatty foods, unhealthy carbohydrates, and canned foods.
2. Consumption of alcoholic beverages.
3. Smoking.
4. Age over 50 to 60 years old.
5. Genetic predisposition.
6. Diseases transmitted through sexual contact.

Prostate health ensures the health of men’s bodies — their sexual activity, their ability to have healthy children.

Diagnosis of prostate cancer

Diagnosis of prostate diseases is performed in the following ways:

1. On a palpebral examination of the rectum.
2. Transrectal ultrasound.
3. Quantitative measurement of prostate specific antigen (PSA).

PSA screening is recommended:

• patients at risk annually for the purpose of timely diagnosis;
• in order to evaluate the effectiveness of therapy;
• patients at the onset of cancer;

Biopsy prostate — determines the nature of the mass.

Computed tomography, positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging detail the size of the neoplasm and the location of metastases.

Signs of prostate cancer

In case of small size of the neoplasm, the patient may not complain about anything. Signs of the disease appear when the tumor squeezes the urethra or affects the intestines.

The first complaints are related to bladder dysfunction.

A man can be disturbed:

• increased daytime and nighttime urination;
• inability to hold urine;
• discomfort when you urinate;
• discomfort in the pubic area.

In the case of urethral compression occurs:

• difficulty starting to urinate;
• intermittent stream when urinating;
• inadequate bladder emptying.

Other manifestations.

1. Laxity of the glandular muscles aggravates the urinary disturbance.
2. If there is insufficient urine outflow, the ureters are stretched, so there is pain in the lumbar region.
3. As the tumor grows, it blocks the exit from the bladder, making it difficult for men to urinate on their own.
4. There’s blood in the urine.
5. If cancer cells have invaded the lymph nodes, it can cause swelling of the scrotum or penis.
6. When nerve endings are damaged by a tumor — potency decreases.
7. When the intestines are affected, their function is impaired.
8. When metastasis affects the bones and spine, bone and back pain begins to bother.
9. If metastases have affected the  lungs — patients complain of difficulty breathing.
10. Signs of the disease have been present for several years.
11. Often, the same symptoms can also bother with other diseases. Therefore, if at least one of the above signs of disease appears, you should consult a doctor.

Stages of prostate cancer

Any malignant neoplasm goes through several stages of growth.

The stage of the process can only be determined by a doctor after a special follow-up examination.

Stages of the malignant process are determined by the size, the presence of metastases in organs and the degree of damage to lymph nodes. This is embedded in the classification of malignant neoplasms TNM, where T — tumor size, N — lymph node involvement, M — presence of metastases.

T1 (stage one) — the mass is undetectable due to its small size

• Tx — the neoplasm is undetectable;
• T1 — the tumor is not visible on ultrasound and is palpable on palpation;
• T1a — malignancy was detected after surgery for suspected benign tumor — histology revealed up to 5% of cancer cells;
• T1b — malignancy was detected as a result of an operation for suspected benign tumor — cancer cells in histology more than 5%;
• T1c — neoplasm detected by puncture.

T2 (stage two) — at this stage, the neoplasm is located within the organ

• T2a — the mass involves less than half of the gland lobe;
• T2b — the mass engulfs more than half of the lobe of the gland;
• T2c — tumor affected both lobes.

T3 (stage three) — the cancer is located outside the prostate gland

• T3a — the mass grows outside the organ, on one or both sides, but does not reach the seminal vesicles;
• T3b — the formation reaches the seminal vesicles.

T4 (stage four) — The malignant tumor grows and moves to the nearby bowel and bladder.

N — lymph nodes

Nx — it is not possible to estimate the nodes;

N0 — no metastases;

N1 — metastases are defined in lymph nodes.

M — organ metastases

Mx — there’s no way to assess for metastases;

M0 — no metastases in nearby organs;

M1 — distant metastases were detected;

M1a — damage to distant lymph nodes;

M1b — metastases are defined in the bones;

M1c —  lungs, liver, kidneys are affected by metastases.

Gland cancer detected at the first stage, applying modern methods of treatment, can be cured in 90% of cases.

Prostate cancer treatment methods in Germany

    The recognized leaders in oncology are western clinics with a worldwide reputation. The popularity of German clinics is due to the fact that they are equipped with high-precision laboratories and expert-class equipment. The clinics have highly qualified doctors in their arsenal to detect and treat even the most neglected cases of cancer.

Methods of prostate cancer treatment in German clinics are selected by a doctor individually, taking into account:

• the stages of the process,
• dissemination,
• of age,
• the presence of diseases of other organs,
• of the patient’s well-being,
• the extent of damage to other organs.

Surgical treatment of prostate cancer in Germany

Surgery removes the tumor and the tissues and lymph nodes altered by the tumor. In the initial stages of tumor development, surgical treatment allows for complete removal of the tumor.

The methods of diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer in Germany depend on the stage.

At I stages — the gland is resected or removed. In Western clinics, surgery is performed with the da Vinci Robot.

At II stages of the process — an organ is removed or radiation is administered.

At III stages —  surgical removal is performed in combination with radiation or hormone therapy.

If IV stage, then surgery is not performed. The patient is given therapy to maintain his/her general condition, chemotherapy or radiation with rays.

At Munich’s leading clinics, oncology surgery is performed with the help of of the «Da Vinci» robot. The surgeon controls the surgical process and the operation of the system. This surgical technique allows the tumor to be removed as precisely as possible.

A promising and young surgical method of removing malignant growth is the use of new technologies. Nano-knife removes malignant cells with the help of electric fields.

Chemotherapy — is done to destroy tumor cells. Drugs containing toxic substances that destroy the «bad cells» are used. This method is used on III and IV when the tumor has grown and metastasized.

Radiation therapy (radiotherapy) — exposure of tissues to radiation (radiation). Radiation disrupts cell function and slows down the rate of cell division. As a result, tumor growth slows down, tumor size decreases, and in some patients, this type of therapy leads to a cure. 

Radiation therapy, in most cases, does not affect sexual activity or bladder function.

Therapy of cancer with metastases by radioactive drug Lu-177-PSMA.

The drug is used in case of metastases. It penetrates into cancer cells and, regardless of their location, destroys them.

Hormone therapy

Patients for whom surgery is contraindicated due to their body condition and for patients with IV stage, hormone therapy is prescribed — it is the only way to affect the tumor in these situations.

The most common prescription for patients with prostate malignancy is:

• Hypothalamic hormone antagonists
• Hormones similar to the pituitary hormones of the brain
• Hormones, with anti-androgenic effects.

If the patient tolerates hormone therapy well, further development of the malignancy may stop.

In older men, hormone therapy is combined with cryotherapy — freezing the tumor. When the temperature drops, ice microcrystals form in the cancer cells, which rupture the cancerous tumor. 

Modern therapies:

• Therapy HIFU involves fighting the tumor with ultrasound waves of different wavelengths. The ultrasound is placed in the rectum. The procedure is performed under anesthesia.
• Hyperthermiawhere the prostate is heated to high temperatures. This temperature kills tumor cells.
• Photodynamic therapyIn this procedure, a photosensitizer is injected into a vein or gland and penetrates the tumor. Then, a special laser activates the photosensitizer and it starts to kill the cancer cells.
• Immunotherapy, in which the patient is injected with antibodies similar to those produced by the body to fight the tumor.
• Treatment with viruses — is one of the most promising treatments for prostate cancer. Special viruses, once injected into the body, find cancer cells and kill them.

How much does it cost to treat prostate cancer in Germany

Therapy of oncologic diseases is a complex process that requires a comprehensive approach. The cost of prostate cancer therapy in Western clinics is determined by the volume of diagnostic manipulations, the volume of surgical intervention and is fully justified by a good final result.

Germany is renowned for its high level of medical care for patients with all types of diseases. The amount of money spent annually by the country on cancer detection and therapy is fully justified by the high efficiency of therapy. Patients with cancer give their preference to German clinics because the risk of recurrence after treatment is very low, i.e. no retreatment is required.

Clinics set prices for the provision of medical services independently, but under strict control of the state system.

The cost of treatment includes:

• reviewing the patient’s medical records, conducting a preliminary consultation;
• a full-board stay at the clinic;
• provision of a professional interpreter;
• examination before surgical intervention;
• removal of the prostate gland laparoscopically or with the «Da Vinci» Robot;
• being in the intensive care unit during the post-operative period;
• patient care after surgery, prescribing necessary medications, performing recovery procedures;
• post-operative discharges;
• providing prescriptions for medications needed for home care;
• patient transportation.

Prices for prostate cancer treatment in Germany

Name of service	Price, €	Optional
Revision of histologic slides «second opinion»	450	3 days
Diagnosis along with a blood test for PSA	2500	3 days, outpatient
Prostate specific membrane antigen with positron emission tomography and computed tomography	2500	1 day outpatient
Prostate specific membrane antigen with positron emission tomography and computed tomography with potassium isotope 68	2850	1 day outpatient
Osteoscintigraphy	350	1 day outpatient
Combined prostate biopsy under fusion MRI and ultrasound	4200	1 day outpatient
Biopsy of a prostate mass under anesthesia	2200-2800	2 days
Radiation therapy for prostate cancer	7900-8800	4 days
Removal of a prostate mass with a green laser	6700-9000	5 days

How to choose the right clinic?

   Patients with prostate cancer who wish to undergo treatment and diagnostic procedures in Germany often find it difficult to navigate through the large number of western clinics in order to choose one of them, because life expectancy depends on this choice.

In the state of illness, it is difficult for everyone who has faced such a problem to make the right decision. In the case of choosing an oncology clinic, paperwork, transportation, choosing a doctor — all organizational aspects take a lot of effort and time.

 

«Clinics of Germany» provides services such as:

• clinic selection;
• a selection of highly qualified specialists who, if necessary, can conduct an extramural consultation with the patient on his or her disease;
• selection and organization of an individual diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitation program;
• solving organizational issues on examination and treatment;
• issuing an invitation for treatment;
• issuance of visa support;
• hotel reservations;
• private transfer;
• controlling the plan and cost of therapy;
• translation of medical documents.
• translation of medical documents.

We guide our patients from the first appointment to the rehabilitation phase and return home. A professional interpreter is available to the patient during their stay at the clinic.

Expert doctors of our center for organizing treatment in clinics in Germany, have real and verified information about the ratings of treating leading specialists in Munich, as they observe the results of their medical activities on a daily basis and have insider information.

One of the leading experts in providing therapeutic and diagnostic assistance to cancer patients in Germany is Maxim Rykov. During 10 years of work he has gained good practice in German medicine and is fluent in German and English. Having worked in German medical institutions, Mr. Rykov knows how the German health care system is organized. When dealing with any questions, he is always ready to answer all the patient’s questions and give the necessary recommendations.

The prospect of survival of prostate cancer patients depends on the extent of the cancer process, its stage, as well as the type of tumor. According to statistics, 80% of patients are completely cured after cancer detection, having started therapy in time. In the case of later detection of the tumor, when it begins to make itself known by pronounced signs, the prospects for a complete cure are reduced.

The most important thing in any cancer is its timely diagnosis and therapy, using high-precision equipment, laboratory and modern therapeutic methods.

Leading German clinics have in their arsenal of expert class equipment, laboratories that allow to carry out a wide range of diagnostic procedures, are ready to offer patients with cancer effective therapy aimed both at eliminating the tumor and alleviating the general condition of cancer patients with inoperable tumors.

We will organize your treatment and diagnostic assistance in well-known specialized centers in Germany.

prostate cancer treatment