Question

A patient diagnosed with prostate cancer arrives in the operating room where a therapeutic orchiectomy is performed. What is the purpose of this procedure?

1) To remove the prostate gland
2) To remove the testicles
3) To remove the lymph nodes
4) To remove the bladder

Answer 1

The purpose of a therapeutic orchiectomy in a prostate cancer patient is to remove the testicles, thereby reducing testosterone levels to slow the growth of prostate cancer cells. It is not for removing the prostate gland, lymph nodes, or the bladder.

Step-by-step explanation:

The therapeutic orchiectomy procedure performed on a patient diagnosed with prostate cancer is for the purpose of reoving the testicles. This procedure is a form of hormonal therapy aimed at reducing the levels of male hormones, testosterone in particular, which can stimulate the growth of prostate cancer cells. By removing the testicles, testosterone production is significantly decreased, which can help in slowing down or possibly halting the progression of prostate cancer. It is important to note that this procedure does not remove the prostate gland itself or any lymph nodes.