What is the most common treatment for prostate cancer?

One of the most common types of treatment for advanced cancer is hormone therapy. It's also known as androgen suppression therapy. Many prostate cancers are fueled by male hormones, or androgens, so lowering a patient's androgen levels may help shrink the cancer.

cancercenter.com - Prostate Cancer Treatment Options including by Stage | CTCA

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This page was reviewed under our medical and editorial policy by Maurie Markman, MD, President, Medicine & Science at CTCA. Prostate cancer experts develop a comprehensive treatment plan specifically tailored for each patient. This individualized plan typically includes evidence-based medical treatments and technologies, combined with supportive care services to help reduce side effects and keep the patient strong in body, mind and spirit. This guide provides an overview of the most common treatments for both localized and advanced prostate cancers. Localized prostate cancer means that the cancer cells are contained within the prostate gland. Advanced, or metastatic, prostate cancer means the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes and bones. Localized prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed, accounting for 77 percent of new cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Understanding the type of cancer is critical to understanding the treatment options available. Learn about prostate cancer survival statistics and results Deciding on a treatment option It may be challenging to decide on a treatment option, but remember: Everyone’s situation is unique. Prostate cancer behaves differently in different people—sometimes it’s slow-growing, while other times it’s aggressive—so treatment is not one-size-fits-all. Options also depend on the patient’s stage of prostate cancer. Below are some factors to consider when speaking with your doctor about treatment options: Age

Health history and medical conditions

Potential side effects

Travel plans and recovery time from treatments

Six questions to ask your doctor about prostate cancer treatment More treatment options are now available for prostate cancer than ever before. What you need to know Treatment for localized prostate cancer If you’ve been diagnosed with localized prostate cancer, the following treatments may be an option: Active surveillance Active surveillance is sometimes recommended for small, slow-growing cancers with a low prostate-specific antigen (PSA) score. The doctor will closely monitor the cancer with a PSA blood test. A digital rectal exam (DRE) may also be performed regularly, along with imaging tests and biopsies. Older men are more likely to be candidates for active surveillance because treating them with surgery or radiation has not been shown to help them live longer. The decision to monitor prostate cancer, instead of treating it, is made between a patient and his doctor. In general, active surveillance may be an option for patients whose prostate cancer is: Not causing symptoms

Expected to grow slowly

Small and contained within the prostate Other treatment options would be considered if a patient’s PSA levels were to rapidly increase, he developed new symptoms, or his doctor found changes during a DRE. Watchful waiting Watchful waiting, also called observance, is similar to active surveillance, but it involves even fewer check-ins. It’s most commonly recommended for older men or those who have other health conditions that need to take priority. Surgery A radical prostatectomy is a surgical procedure in which the prostate is removed, along with any nearby tissue that contains prostate cancer cells. This is a common treatment for localized prostate cancer. The da Vinci® Surgical System allows the surgeon to offer this procedure using a minimally invasive approach. There are two options, open or laparoscopic surgery: In an open radical prostatectomy, a surgeon makes a single long incision to remove the prostate. In a laparoscopic prostatectomy, which may be performed using robotic assistance, the surgeon uses a mechanical device to remove the prostate via several small incisions. This may sometimes result in a quicker recovery time. Some advantages of surgery for prostate cancer may include: Patients with localized cancer may need no further treatment.

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Simultaneous biopsy allows for more accurate staging.

Post-surgical PSA levels may more reliably predict recurrence of cancer.

Patients tend to experience fewer bowel or rectal side effects than with radiation treatments. There’s a lower risk of urinary urgency and frequency than with radiation treatments. Some disadvantages may include: Surgery-related risks are possible, including side effects from general anesthesia.

It requires an overnight hospitalization.

A catheter is required for one or two weeks.

Long-term sexual changes, including dry orgasms, pain during orgasm and shortened penis, may result. Radiation therapy Radiation therapy is administered externally or internally, killing cancer cells with high-energy rays or particles. External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) is used to treat both localized and advanced cancer. A machine outside the body directs radiation beams directly to the prostate for five days a week throughout several weeks. Unlike surgery, EBRT is a noninvasive treatment, which appeals to some men. Internal radiation therapy delivers radioactive material via catheter or another implantable device into the prostate. Examples of internal radiation therapy include high-dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy, which delivers a high dose of radiation to the prostate in short bursts over a few minutes, and low-dose rate (LDR) brachytherapy, in which small, radioactive pellets, or seeds, are implanted in the prostate and emit low levels of radiation over several weeks. Some prostate cancer patients may also undergo stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), which uses innovative imaging technologies to deliver high doses of radiation. Because the dose rate is high, patients typically require fewer treatments. Common side effects of radiation therapy for prostate cancer include: Increased urge to urinate or more frequent need to urinate Sexual function problems such as loss of desire, erectile dysfunction, dry orgasm and penis shrinkage

Bowel problems such as diarrhea, rectal discomfort or rectal bleeding

Fatigue Most patients find their side effects ease or stop after treatment. Learn more about radiation therapy for prostate cancer How to decide between radiation and surgery for localized prostate cancer How do you decide between radiation and surgery for prostate cancer? Learn how to compare these treatments to find the one that's right for you. Radiation oncologist Dr. Cavanaugh explains Prostate cancer treatments by stage Stage 1 treatment Stage 1 is the lowest prostate cancer stage. In this stage, prostate cancer is most likely slow growing. The patient may have a small tumor that can’t be felt by touch and that involves half or less than half of one side of the prostate. The prostate cancer cells don’t look very different from healthy cells. PSA levels are on the low side. If there are no other serious health issues that could limit lifespan, the doctor may recommend active surveillance or watchful waiting for low-risk prostate cancer. PSA testing may be needed about every six months, and digital rectal exams (DREs) may be recommended at least annually. Radiation therapy (external beam or brachytherapy) or surgery to remove the prostate may also be options, but these treatments typically cause side effects. Stage 2 treatment Stage 2 prostate cancer is confined to the prostate gland. PSA levels are in the low-to-medium range. While the cancer is small, it’s at increased risk of growing larger and spreading outside the prostate. Stage 2 is divided into three stages: 2A, 2B and 2C. The higher the stage (stage 2C is higher than 2B, for example), the more differentiated (abnormal) the cancer cells and the more easily it can be felt during a digital rectal exam. Stage 2 is low risk, and men in the low-risk group also have a choice of active surveillance (also known as watchful waiting) or a more aggressive treatment, including radiation therapy and surgery to remove the prostate. Observation may be recommended for those whose cancer isn’t causing symptoms or who don’t have any other serious health issues. Stage 3 treatment Stage 3 prostate cancer involves a tumor that’s grown and is locally advanced. Stage 3 is also divided into 3A, 3B and 3C. The higher the stage, the more it’s spread to nearby structures such as the seminal vesicles, the bladder and rectum. In stage 3, cancer cells look different from healthy prostate cells. Stage 3 is intermediate risk, and those with intermediate risk are typically offered radiation therapy or a radical prostatectomy with a pelvic lymph node dissection. Some in this group may be given the option of active surveillance, but there is a slightly higher risk of the cancer spreading without radiation therapy or surgery. If the patient has other life-threatening health issues, he may choose observation instead of an aggressive treatment. Stage 4 treatment Stage 4 is the most advanced stage, when the cancer is no longer confined to the prostate. In stage 4A, the cancer has spread to lymph nodes in the region. In stage 4B, it’s spread to distant lymph nodes and elsewhere in the body, and possibly to the bones. Men with stage 4 prostate cancer are in a high-risk group and likely require more aggressive treatment. Prostate cancer treatment: The care you need is one call away Your multidisciplinary team will work with you to develop a personalized plan to treat your prostate cancer in a way that fits your individual needs and goals. DISCOVER THE CTCA DIFFERENCE

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cancercenter.com - Prostate Cancer Treatment Options including by Stage | CTCA

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Imagine Your Moment Of Freedom!

Fluxactive Complete is conveniently packed with over 14 essential prostate powerhouse herbs, vitamins and grade A nutrients which work synergistically to help you support a healthy prostate faster

Learn More »

Promotion

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