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Patient definition1 |
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The use of high-tech computers and a body mold to more accurately deliver radiation to the prostate. More information.
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Hormone therapy that is given immediately after surgery or radiation in order to destroy cancer cells that may remain anywhere in the body after these procedures.
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Two small, triangle-shaped glands, located on the top of each kidney that secrete various hormones, including androgens.
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A PSA range that is designated to compare the results of men in the same age group. If a mans PSA levels are high compared to others in his age group, then there may be a higher chance that prostate cancer could be present. More information.
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Any hormone that produces male physical characteristics (facial hair, deep voice). The main androgen hormone is testosterone.
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Absences of sensation, especially pain.
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Drugs that may help control the growth and spread of prostate cancer by blocking the action of testosterone. See also Androgen. Read more about Hormonal Drug Therapy.
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The opening at the lower end of the rectum through which stool is eliminated. See illustration.
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A noncancerous, nonspreading tumor that is generally not life threatening.
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A noncancerous enlargement of the prostate caused by an overgrowth of cells that can sometimes cause difficulties with urination.
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Surgical removal of both testes, which results in castration. More information about orchiectomy.
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Treatment to stimulate or restore the ability of the immune system to fight infection and disease.
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A small sample of tissue that is removed from the body either through surgery or a needle and examined. More information.
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A nuclear medicine technique which examines the skeleton looking for changes that might indicate metastatic disease.
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A procedure in which radioactive material enclosed in small rods, seeds or wires is placed into an organ (like the prostate) in close proximity to the cancer. More information.
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A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and possibly spread to other parts of the body.
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A layer of cells covering an organ such as the prostate.
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Treatment that suppresses most testosterone production. Castration can be achieved surgically (orchiectomy) or medically (using an LHRH analog). More information.
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A narrow flexible tube used to infuse or drain fluids from the body.
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See Foley catheter. See also Catheter.
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The basic structural and functional units of the body.
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Any chemical (drug) used to treat a condition in the body. In cancer, the drug has its major effects on killing or stopping the growth of cancer cells; can also refer to a combination of drugs. More information.
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Formal studies conducted on patients with cancer or other diseases, usually to evaluate a new or investigational treatment. Each study is designed to answer specific questions and to find better ways to treat patients. More information.
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Hormonal therapy that involves combining an antiandrogen drug with a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analog (LHRH-A) or orchiectomy. Also called maximum androgen blockade (MAB) or total androgen blockade (TAB). More information.
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Combining 2 types of hormonal therapy - a pill (an antiandrogen) and an injection (a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analog or LHRH-A). See also Combined androgen blockade (CAB). More information about hormonal drug therapy.
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Therapy that is given during during another therapy such as radiation therapy in order to improve the results of the procedure.
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Similar to 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy except that it uses protons to produce the radiation. More information.
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See Cryotherapy.
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Repeated freezing and thawing of tumor cells which result in cell death due to the extreme cold. More information.
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Examination of the bladder by insertion of an instrument, the cystoscope, through the urethra.
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An examination performed by a physician in which a gloved, lubricated finger is inserted into the rectum to check to feel for lumps, enlargement, or areas of hardness on the surface of the prostate. The physician can also test for the presence of blood in the stool. More information.
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A tube-like structure that carries secretions from one organ to another.
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To eject sperm and seminal fluid from the penis.
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Enlargement of the penis due to blood flow into specialized areas in the penis (corpora cavernosa) ; this most often occurs during physical stimulation.
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Radiation therapy provided by machines that aim special radiation beams at the prostate to destroy cancer cells.
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A tube inserted into the bladder through the urethra to drain urine into a collecting bag.
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A standard way to grade the results of a biopsy for prostate cancer. The higher the number (from 2 to 10), the more abnormal the cells and the greater the chance of rapid growth. More information.
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Enlargement of the breasts in males.
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In prostate cancer, treatment that interferes with the production of male hormones or block the action of male hormones that promote prostate tumor growth. More information.
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Cancer that responds to treatment that eliminates testosterone or responds to drugs that block the effects of testosterone.
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A chemical in the body produced by glands. Hormones circulate in the blood and control how certain cells and organs work.
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Sudden rushes of body heat.
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See Impotent.
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Not able to have an erection adequate for sexual intercourse.
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A form of external beam radiation therapy that uses computed tomography to create 3-D picture of the prostate and surrounding organs so radiation rays can be delivered only to the prostate gland. IMRT precisely delivers many thin radiation beams to the prostate gland. It allows for a high dose of radiation to be administered to the prostate while minimizing effects on nearby organs. More information.
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See Brachytherapy. More information.
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Therapies that are in the process of being evaluated for use to treat a disease or condition. More information.
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See Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist (LHRH-agonist).
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Sex drive.
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A substance produced by the pituitary gland that stimulates the secretion of sex hormones in both men and women. See also Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH). See also Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist (LHRH-agonist).
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A hormone secreted by a part of the brain that triggers the release of LH.
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Drugs that treat prostate cancer by keeping the testes from producing testosterone. These drugs are typically given as an injection. These drugs are also known as luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analog.
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See Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist (LHRH-agonist). Read more about Hormonal Drug Therapy.
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A nearly clear fluid collected from tissues around the body and returned to the blood by the lymphatic system. Lymph drains waste from cells.
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Small bean-shaped structures scattered along the vessels of the lymphatic system. The lymph nodes filter out or remove waste, bacteria, and cancer cells that may travel through the lymphatic system. More information.
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Surgical removal of lymph nodes.
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Vessels that carry lymph are part of this system. Other parts include lymph nodes and several organs that produce and store infection-fighting cells. A network of vessels, nodes, ducts and organs that help maintain the bodys fluid environment and protect the body by producing lymph.
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A cancerous tumor that can grow and spread, and may be life threatening.
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See Positive margin.
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Edges or borders.
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A doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer using chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or biological therapy.
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Cancer that has spread from its primary site to nearby or distant areas of the body through the lymphatic system or blood. Metastasis is taken into account when determining staging.
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The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another part.
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Therapy that is given before radiation or surgery in order to improve the results of this procedure.
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Able to be felt by a doctor during an examination.
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A doctor who specializes in the diagnosis of disease by studying cells and tissues with a microscope.
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Compares the amount of PSA in the blood by itself (unbound) and the amount that is attached to other blood proteins (bound). More information.
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An operation to remove the prostate gland through a cut made between the anus and the sack holding the testicles. See also Retropubic prostatectomy. More information.
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The area between the scrotum and anus or vagina and anus.
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A gland located at the base of the brain. It produces hormones that stimulate the testes and other organs to release hormones.
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Cells which have changed or mutated so much that they are hardly recognizable as coming from their original organ or tissue. Poorly differentiated tumors tend to be more aggressive.
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When a pathologist finds cancer cells at the cut edge or margin of an organ removed during surgery, the specimen is said to have a positive margin. This is an indication that cancer may have been left behind after surgery.
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A prediction made about the potential outcome of a disease.
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In men, a walnut-sized gland that surrounds part of the urethra, located below the bladder and in front of the rectum. More information.
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A protein secreted by normal and cancerous prostate cells into the blood. More information.
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The surgical removal of the prostate gland. See also Radical prostatectomy. More information.
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Inflammation of the prostate.
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Determined by dividing the PSA level by the size or volume of the prostate. More information.
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Refers to the time during which PSA measured in blood doubles. More information.
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Measures how quickly the PSA level rises over a period of time. More information.
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A doctor who specializes in using radiation to treat cancer.
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Treatment that uses radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. More information.
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Surgical procedure in which the prostate is removed through an incision in the perineum. More information.
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An operation to remove the entire prostate gland, seminal vesicles, and some of the tissue around it. See also Prostatectomy. More information.
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Surgical procedure in which the prostate is removed through an incision in the lower abdomen. See also Prostatectomy. More information.
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The last 5 or 6 inches of the large intestine leading to the outside of the body. See also Anus. See illustration.
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When a cancer returns; it can be either at or near the same site, or at another location.
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Disappearance of the signs and symptoms of cancer. This can be permanent or temporary.
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An operation to remove the prostate through a cut made in the lower abdomen. More information.
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The external sac, or pouch, of skin containing the testicles. See illustration.
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The fluid that is ejaculated during sexual climax; it contains the sperm and fluids from other glands, including the prostate.
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Pouches located above the prostate that produce and store fluid that forms the majority of the ejaculated semen. See illustration.
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Mature male sex cell.
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The size and extent to which the cancer may have grown and spread. More information.
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Treatment using medicines that travel through the blood to reach cells throughout the body.
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Male reproductive glands that produce sperm and testosterone (also known as "testicles"). See also Testicles. See illustration.
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Male reproductive glands that produce sperm and testosterone (also known as "testes"). See also Testes. See illustration.
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A male sex hormone produced primarily by the testes, responsible for the sexual characteristics of men. See also Androgen.
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A collection of cells specialized to perform a particular function.
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A procedure in which a special probe is inserted rectally and uses sound waves to produce a picture of the prostate and the surrounding organs. More information.
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A surgical procedure to remove the excess tissue from the prostate with a special instrument that is inserted through the urethra. More information.
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See Clinical trials.
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An abnormal mass of cells that result from uncontrolled and disorderly cell division and growth. Tumors may be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign). Tumor size is taken into account when determining staging.
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See Transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS).
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The tube that carries urine from each kidney to the urinary bladder. See illustration.
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The tube that carries urine from the urinary bladder and semen in men from the sex glands. See illustration.
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The hollow organ that stores urine. See illustration.
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Inability to control the flow of urine from the bladder. More information.
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A doctor who specializes in diseases of the urinary and sex organs in males and the urinary organs in females.
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Also called expectant management or surveillance; the decision not to treat prostate cancer with surgery, radiation, hormonal therapy, or any other treatment options. Instead, the physician monitors the patients prostate cancer by checing PSA levels and looking for signs and symptoms of cancer growth. More information.
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