What are the benefits of prostate cancer treatment in Israel?

Prostate cancer is called malignancy that develops in tissues of the prostate. This is especially common today cancer in men after 40 years. The success of his treatment, like other cancers, depends on stage of disease. Unfortunately, the complexity of prostate cancer diagnosis is bessimptomnom the early stages of the disease. And still, the medicine developed countries can effectively deal with any degree of this disease. Thus, treatment of prostate cancer in Israel shows one of the best in the world the results of the survival and recovery of patients.

Diagnostic measures

Successful prostate cancer treatment in Israel is preceded by a thorough examination of the patient. The results of this survey become the starting point for the physician in selecting treatment regimens.

Diagnostic examination of the patient in Israel includes:

• Urological examination with rectal inspection (through the rectum) prostate;
• The blood test for PSA (prostatic specific antigen). The high level of this antigen indicates the presence of infection or inflammatory process, hyperplasia (overgrowth) of the prostate or prostate cancer. Test PSA and digital rectal examination are the most reliable procedures to help diagnose prostate cancer even in its early stages;
• X-ray examination of the prostate;
• Ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging of the prostate;
• Prostate biopsy (histological examination).

It is worth mentioning that according to statistics, almost 90% of cases, prostate cancer is detected at later stages. This makes it necessary to use radical methods of treatment.

The choice of the methodology and treatment

Prostate cancer treatment may be conducted in Israel with the use of 24 Protocol schemes. In the case of each individual patient, they are varied and combined, depending on personal characteristics of the patient, including:

1. The stage of the disease;
2. The size and location of the tumor;
3. The General condition and age.

Basic techniques:

• Tactics expectant observation.

Sometimes prostate cancer develops very slowly. Therefore, in older men, absence of symptoms and a small tumor, or in very poor health do not cure the cancer. In this case, choose the tactics expectant observation with active control of the disease, which includes: blood test (PSA), ultrasonography, digital rectal examination, biopsy.

The above diagnostic measures performed every 3 or 6 months (with the exception ofbiopsy, it is done only once a year).

• Surgery.

Patients with tumor that does not spread outside the gland, the technique of choice is surgical treatment. Prostate cancer requires radical prostatectomy — excision of the gland and surrounding tissues. Radical prostatectomy surgery in Israel can be performed in the following ways:

• Abdominal surgery when the tumor is removed through a large cut silent above the pubic area or in the area of the perineum.

The surgery is performed under General or epidural anesthesia. After the interventions have shown a three-day hospitalization and up to 5 weeks limitation of physical activity.

• The laparoscopic surgery.

When excision of the prostate gland is performed through a small hole by means of special tools. The intervention is carried out under the supervision of a miniature video camera that is inserted inside with the tools. During a laparoscopy, postoperative hospitalization is one day.

• The robotic laparoscopy da Vinci.

Prostate gland, in this case, is removed through small holes, the operation is performed by robot "da Vinci" — development of the space Agency NASA, taken by the doctors in Israel.

• Beam, radiotherapy.

It is used simultaneously with hormonal therapy when cancer has spread to nearby tissue or cancer is not removed completely and gave a relapse. And also, if necessary, to reduce the size of the growing cancer that is accompanied by mild symptoms.

In Israel used two types of radiotherapy:

a) External radiation that is administered in the early stages of the disease and to alleviate the patient with metastases in the bones. Irradiation is carried out from outside the apparatus, using modern technology (RTMI), to calculate radiation doses and directions of radiation strictly to the tumor.

b) Brachytherapy — introduction of radioactive substance into the cancer. This treatment is effective in the early stages with slow-growing tumors.

• Cryotherapy, cryosurgery, cryoablation.

The method consists in freezing the tumor, which occurs under General or epidural anesthesia. This treatment brings the desired effect, when the cancer is at an early stage. During surgery, the tumor injected a thin needle and serves them argon and helium, which destroy malignant education. The control process carried out by means of transrectal ultrasound. To protect the urethra from the effects of "freezing" in the urethra catheter, with circulating warm salt water. After carrying out cryotherapy patients on the same day, leave the clinic.Catheter in the urethra leave for 3 weeks.

• Hormonal therapy (antiandrogen).

The purpose of this procedure is to reduce the number of androgen hormones (testosterone, DHT) that stimulate the growth of cancer cells. This treatment cannot cure prostate cancer, however, it helps to reduce tumor size and slow down its development.

In Israel, similar therapy is used for:

1. Impossible surgery or radiotherapy because of the proliferation of tumor outside the gland;
2. Incomplete tumor removal and recurrence;
3. The risk of relapse (used combined hormonal and radiation therapy);
4. Potentially possible appointment radiotherapy to reduce the tumor in size.

• Chemotherapy.

This treatment involves the use of anti-cancer drugs (oral, injectable). Chemotherapy in Israel decided to appoint, when the cancer has spread beyond the gland, and hormone therapy had no effect. In addition, this treatment may be assigned as extra after surgery. Chemotherapy is courses, each of which lasts a few weeks.

• Treatment with the vaccine.

This treatment involves the use of a vaccine stimulating the immune system to fight cancer cells. These drugs are produced in laboratories individually for each patient, based on his white blood cells. The course of treatment is three injections. This technique from the disease is not a cure, but allows significantly extend the life of the patient.

All the leading experts in Israel for the treatment of prostate cancer have close professional ties with world's leading centers specializing in the treatment of this disease.