What are the treatment options and side effects?
The treatment of prostate cancer depends on several factors:
- A man’s general health
- His age and expected lifespan
- The stage and grade of the disease
- The likely effects of the treatment
- Personal preferences.
The four most common treatments for prostate cancer are surgery, radiation therapy, hormone treatments and “watchful waiting.”
Surgery is a common treatment for early-stage prostate cancer, and there are numerous types of surgeries, each with their own risks and benefits. Your doctor may remove the prostate completely or only part of it. In some cases, your doctor can use a method known as nerve-sparing surgery. This type of surgery may save the nerves that control erection. However, if you have a large tumor or a tumor that is very close to the nerves, you may not be able to have this surgery.
Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. It affects cells only in the treated area.
For early-stage prostate cancer, radiation treatment may be used instead of surgery. It also may be used after surgery to destroy any cancer cells that remain in the area. In later stages of prostate cancer, radiation treatment may be used to help relieve pain.
Doctors use two types of radiation therapy to treat prostate cancer, each with their own risks and benefits.
Hormone therapy keeps prostate cancer cells from getting the male hormones (androgens) they need to grow. The testicles are the body’s main source of the male hormone testosterone. The adrenal gland makes a small amount of testosterone.
Hormone treatment uses drugs or surgery, and it has its own risks and benefits.
Watchful waiting is also known as active surveillance, expectant therapy or sometimes just observation. You may choose watchful waiting if the risks and possible side effects of treatment outweigh the possible benefits. Your doctor may offer this choice if you are older or have other serious health problems. Your doctor may also suggest watchful waiting if you are diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer that seems to be slowly growing. Your doctor will offer you treatment if symptoms occur or get worse. Watchful waiting has its own risks and benefits.
What are clinical trials?
Clinical trials are research studies in which people help doctors find ways to improve health and cancer care. Each study tries to answer scientific questions and find better ways to prevent, diagnose or treat cancer.
A clinical trial is one of the final stages of a long and careful cancer research process. Studies are done with cancer patients to find out whether promising approaches to cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment are safe and effective.
