How is prostate cancer treated?

Some general comments about prostate cancer treatment

There is a lot for you to think about when choosing the best way to treat or manage your cancer. There may be more than one treatment to choose from. You may feel that you need to make a decision quickly. But give yourself time to take in all the information you have learned. Depending on each person’s case, the treatment options for men with prostate cancer may include:

• Expectant management (watchful waiting) or active surveillance
• Surgery
• Radiation treatment
• Cryosurgery (cryotherapy)
• Hormone therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Vaccine treatment

These treatments are most often used one at a time, although in some cases they may be combined.

The treatment you choose for prostate cancer should take into account:

• Your age and how long you can expect to live
• Any other serious health problems you may have
• The stage and grade of your cancer
• Your feelings (and your doctor's opinion) about the need to treat the cancer
• The chance that each type of treatment will cure your cancer (or help you on some other way)
• Your feelings about the side effects common with each treatment

Many men may find it helpful to get a second opinion, especially if there are many treatments to choose from. Prostate cancer is a complex disease, and doctors may differ in their opinions about the best treatment options. Talking with doctors who specialize in different kinds of treatment may be helpful. You will want to weigh the benefits of each treatment against its drawbacks, side effects, and risks.

The main types of doctors who treat prostate cancer include:

• Urologists: surgeons who are expert in treating diseases of the urinary system and male reproductive system (including the prostate)
• Radiation oncologists: doctors who treat cancer with radiation
• Medical oncologists: doctors who treat cancer with medicines such as chemotherapy or hormone therapy

It is important to discuss all of your treatment options, including goals and possible side effects, with your doctors to help you choose the treatment that best fits your needs.

The next few sections describe the types of treatments used for prostate cancer.