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This information represents
the views of the doctors and nurses serving on the American Cancer
Society's Cancer Information Database Editorial Board. These views are
based on their interpretation of studies published in medical journals,
as well as their own professional experience.
The treatment information
in this document is not official policy of the Society and is not
intended as medical advice to replace the expertise and judgment of
your cancer care team. It is intended to help you and your family make
informed decisions, together with your doctor.
Your doctor may
have reasons for suggesting a treatment plan different from these
general treatment options. Don't hesitate to ask him or her questions
about your treatment options.
Some general comments about 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. Talk to your doctor. Look at the list of questions at the end
of this article to get some ideas. Then add your own.
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
You may want to get a second opinion, especially if you have
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.
Watchful waiting and active surveillance
Because prostate cancer often grows very slowly, some men
(especially those who are older or who have other major health
problems) may never need treatment for their cancer. Instead, their
doctor may suggest approaches called watchful waiting (also called
expectant management) or active surveillance.
Until recently, watchful waiting meant waiting until the
cancer was causing symptoms before starting any treatment. Now, it is
more common to watch the patient closely with regular PSA tests, rectal
exams, and ultrasounds to see if the cancer is growing. If the cancer
does seem to be growing or getting worse, the doctor may suggest
starting treatment. Some doctors still think of as watchful waiting,
while others call it "active surveillance." Not every doctor means the
same thing when they say "watchful waiting," so it is important to ask
your doctor what he or she means if they use this term.
Right now, not all experts agree how often testing should
occur for active surveillance. There is also debate about when is the
best time to start treatment. Still, some early studies have shown that
men who choose active surveillance and go on to be treated do just as
well as those who decide to start treatment right away.
Either of these methods may be a good choice if the cancer is
not causing any symptoms, is likely to grow slowly, and is small and
contained in one place in the prostate. It is less often a choice if
you are young, healthy, and have a cancer that is growing fast.
Some men choose watchful waiting because, in their view, the
side effects of strong treatments outweigh the benefits. Others are
willing to accept the possible side effects of active treatments in
order to try to remove or destroy the cancer.
Surgery
Radical prostatectomy is surgery that is done to cure prostate
cancer. It is used most often if it looks like the cancer has not
spread outside of the gland. In this operation, the surgeon removes the
whole prostate gland plus some of the tissue around it, including the
seminal vesicles.
Types of radical prostatectomy
Radical
retropubic prostatectomy: This approach is most common.
The cut (incision) is made in the lower belly (abdomen), as shown in
the picture below. You will either be in a deep sleep (under general
anesthesia) or be given medicine to numb the lower half of the body (an
epidural) along with drugs to make you sleepy (sedation).
Your doctor may first remove lymph nodes near the prostate and
have them looked at under a microscope. If any of the nodes contain
cancer, it means the cancer has spread. Since the cancer probably can't
be cured by taking out the prostate, the doctor may stop the operation.
The nerves that control erections are very close to the
prostate. During this operation, it is sometimes possible to avoid
harming these nerves (called a nerve-sparing approach). This lowers,
but does not do away with, the risk of impotence (being unable to have
an erection) after surgery. If you were able to have erections before,
the doctor will try not to injure these nerves. Of course, if the
cancer is growing into them, the doctor will have to remove them. Even
if the nerves have been spared, it takes at least a few months after
surgery to have an erection. This is because the nerves have been
handled during the operation and won't work properly for a while.
Radical perineal
approach: In the perineal approach, the surgeon makes the
cut (incision) in the skin between the anus and the scrotum, as shown
in the picture below. Nerve-sparing operations are harder to do with
the perineal approach, and lymph nodes cannot be removed. Still, the
surgeon can remove some lymph nodes another way, if needed. Because
this operation is often shorter, it might be used for men who don't
want the nerve-sparing procedure and who don't need to have lymph nodes
removed. It also might be used if you have other medical problems that
make retropubic surgery hard to do.

Retropubic approach
Perineal
approach
Either of these operations lasts from 1½ to 4
hours. The perineal approach often takes less time than the retropubic
approach. They are followed by an average hospital stay of 3 days. The
average time away from work is 3 to 5 weeks.
In most cases, you will be able to donate your own blood
before surgery. The blood can be given back to you during the
operation, if needed. Usually a tube for draining urine (called a
catheter) is put into the bladder through the penis after surgery,
while you are still asleep. The catheter stays in for 1 to 3 weeks and
allows you to pass urine easily while you are healing. You will be able
to urinate on your own after the catheter is removed.
Laparoscopic
radical prostatectomy (LRP): Both of the operations
described above use an "open" approach in which the surgeon makes a
long cut (incision) to remove the prostate. A newer method involves
making several smaller cuts and using special long instruments to
remove the prostate. It is called laparoscopic radical prostatectomy or
LRP and is being used more and more in this country.
LRP has advantages over the open approach: less blood loss and
pain, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery time. Nerve-sparing
is possible with LRP, and the side effects seem to be about the same as
for open prostatectomy.
LRP has been used in the United States since 1999. It is done
in community and university centers. Because it is still somewhat new,
results of long-term studies are not in yet. If you are thinking about
treatment with LRP, find out as much as you can about this approach.
Also be sure to find a surgeon with a lot of experience doing LRP.
Robotic-assisted
laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: An even newer
approach is to do LRP remotely using a robotic interface. The surgeon
sits at a panel near the operating table and controls robotic arms to
do the operation through several small cuts (incisions) in the
patient's belly (abdomen). For the patient, there is little difference
between direct and remote (robotic) LRP, either during surgery or
recovery.
Robotic LRP has been in use in the United States since 2003.
The machines themselves cost a lot, and are found in only a few medical
centers across the country. Still, this approach has become more
popular in recent years. Again, the most important factors are likely
to be the skill and experience of your surgeon.
Transurethral
resection of the prostate (TURP): This procedure is done
to relieve symptoms, such as trouble passing urine, in men who can't
have other types of surgery. It is not done to cure the disease or to
remove all the cancer. The same operation is used even more often to
relieve symptoms of non-cancerous prostate swelling called BPH.
During this operation, a tool with a small loop of wire on the
end is placed through the end of the penis into the urethra. The wire
is heated and cuts out the part of the prostate that is pressing in on
the urethra. No cut (incision) is needed for TURP. Either spinal
anesthesia, where you are made numb from the waist down, or general
anesthesia, which outs you into a deep sleep, is used.
The operation takes about an hour. You can usually leave the
hospital after 1 to 2 days and go back to work in 1 to 2 weeks. After
surgery you will need a tube for draining urine (called a catheter) for
about 2 or 3 days. There may be some blood in your urine for a short
time after surgery.
Risks and side effects of radical
prostatectomy
There are possible risks and side effects with any type of
surgery for prostate cancer.
Surgical risks:
The risks with this surgery are like those of any major surgery. They
can include problems from the drugs used during the operation
(anesthesia), a small risk of heart attack, stroke, blood clots in the
legs, infection, and bleeding. Your risk depends, in part, on your
overall health, your age, and the skill of your doctors.
The main possible side effects of radical prostatectomy are
lack of bladder control (incontinence) and not being able to get an
erection (impotence). These side effects can also happen with other
kinds of treatment but they are described here in more detail.
Urinary
incontinence: Incontinence means you can't control your
urine or you have trouble with leaking. There are different types of
incontinence. Having this problem can affect you not only physically
but emotionally and socially, too.
There are 3 types of incontinence:
- Stress
incontinence is the most common type of incontinence after
prostate surgery. Men with stress incontinence leak urine when they
cough, laugh, sneeze, or exercise.
- Men with overflow
incontinence take a long time to urinate and have a
dribbling stream with little force.
- Men with urge
incontinence have a sudden need to go to the bathroom and
pass urine.
In rare cases, men lose all ability to control their urine.
This is called continuous
incontinence.
Normal bladder control returns for many men within several
weeks or months after surgery. Doctors can't predict how any one man
will do after prostate surgery.
Most large cancer centers, where this surgery is done more
often and surgeons have more experience, report fewer problems with
incontinence. If you have problems with incontinence, let your doctors
know. Doctors who treat men with prostate cancer should know about
incontinence, and should be able to suggest ways to help you. There are
exercises (called Kegel exercises) you can learn that might help to
strengthen your bladder. There are medicines or even surgery that might
help. There are also products to help keep you dry and comfortable.
Impotence:
Impotence means that a man can't get an erection strong enough to have
sex. The nerves that allow men to get erections may be damaged during
surgery, radiation treatment, or other treatments. During the first 3
to 12 months after surgery, you will probably not be able to get an
erection without using medicine or some other treatment. Later, some
men will be able to get an erection and some will still have trouble.
Whether or not you will be able to get an erection depends on your age
and the type of surgery that was done. The younger you are, the more
likely it is that you will be able to get an erection. If you are able
to get an erection the feeling of pleasure (orgasm) during sex will
still be there. The orgasm will be "dry," though, since semen is not
being made.
If you are concerned about erection problems, be sure and talk
to your doctor. There are ways to help. There are medicines and even
devices such as vacuum pumps and penile implants that could prove
useful.
For more information to help you understand and cope with the
sexual side effects of prostate cancer treatment, please see Sexuality for the Man with Cancer.
Sterility: A
radical prostatectomy cuts the tubes between the testicles (where sperm
are made) and the urethra. This means that a man can no longer father a
child by natural means. Often this is not an issue as men with prostate
cancer tend to be older. But if this is a concern for you, talk to your
doctor about "banking" your sperm before the operation.
Lymphedema:
A rare side effect of removing many of the lymph nodes around the
prostate is lymphedema, which causes swelling and pain. Lymph nodes
provide a way for fluid to return from all around the body to the
heart. When the nodes are removed, fluid can collect in the legs or
genital region. Lymphedema can often be treated with physical therapy,
but it might not go away completely.
Change in penis
length: Another possible side effect of surgery is a
decrease in penis length. Doctors are not sure what causes this.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is treatment with high-energy rays (such as
x-rays) to kill cancer cells or shrink tumors. The radiation may come
from outside the body (external radiation) or from radioactive
materials placed directly in the tumor (brachytherapy or internal
radiation).
Radiation is sometimes used as the first treatment for
low-grade cancer that has not spread outside the prostate gland, or has
spread only to nearby tissue. It is also sometimes used if the cancer
is not completely removed or comes back (recurs) in the area of the
prostate after surgery. Cure rates for men treated with radiation seem
to be about the same as for men having surgery. If the cancer is more
advanced, radiation may be used to shrink the tumor and provide pain
relief.
External beam radiation therapy (EBRT)
This treatment is much like getting a regular x-ray, but for a
longer time. Each treatment lasts only a few minutes. Men usually have
5 treatments per week in an outpatient center over a period of 7 to 9
weeks. The treatment itself is quick and painless.
Today, standard EBRT is used much less often than in the past.
Newer methods allow doctors to be more accurate in treating the
prostate gland while reducing the radiation exposure to nearby healthy
tissues. Some of these methods you may hear about are 3-dimensional
conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT), intensity modulated radiation
therapy (IMRT), and conformal proton beam radiation therapy. These
methods seem to offer better chances of increasing the success rate and
reducing side effects. If you are having one of the newer methods, your
doctor can tell you more about it.
Possible side effects of external beam
radiation therapy
The possible side effects below relate to standard external
radiation therapy, which is now used much less often than in the past.
The risks of the newer treatment methods mentioned above are likely to
be lower.
Bowel problems:
During and after treatment with external beam radiation therapy, you
may have diarrhea, sometimes with blood in the stool, rectal leakage,
and an irritated large intestine. Most of these problems go away over
time, but in rare cases normal bowel function does not return after
treatment ends.
Bladder problems:
You might find yourself needing to urinate more often, have burning
while passing urine, and maybe see blood in your urine. Bladder
problems last in about 1 out of 3 patients, with the most common
problem being the need to urinate often.
Urinary
incontinence: Incontinence means you can't control your
urine or you have trouble with leaking. Although this side effect is
less common than after surgery, the chance of incontinence goes up each
year for several years after radiation treatment. For more information,
see the above section on incontinence under the surgery side effects.
Impotence:
Impotence means that a man can't get an erection strong enough to have
sex. After a few years, the impotence rate after radiation is about the
same as that of surgery. It usually does not happen right after
radiation therapy, but slowly develops over a year or more. As with
surgery, the older you are, the more likely it is you will become
impotent. Impotence may be helped by treatments such as those listed in
the surgery section above, including erectile dysfunction medicines.
Feeling tired:
Radiation therapy may also cause severe tiredness called fatigue. It
may not go away until a few months after treatment stops.
Lymphedema:
Fluid build-up in the legs or genitals (described in the surgery
section of this document) is possible if the lymph nodes receive
radiation.
Brachytherapy (internal radiation)
Permanent or
low dose brachytherapy uses small radioactive pellets
(each about the size of a grain of rice) that are put into the
prostate. Sometimes these pellets are referred to as "seeds." Because
they are so small, they cause little discomfort and are often left in
place after their radioactive material is used up.
Another form of brachytherapy is called temporary or high dose
brachytherapy. In this type, needles are used to place
soft tubes (called catheters) in the prostate. A strong radioactive
substance is placed in these catheters for 5 to 15 minutes and then
taken out. (The catheters are left in place.) You will stay in the
hospital for this treatment. Usually 3 treatments are given over a
couple of days. After the last treatment the catheters are removed.
Often this treatment is combined with external radiation, given at a
lower dose than it would be if used alone. For about a week after this
treatment you may have some pain in the area between your scrotum and
rectum, and your urine may be reddish-brown.
Possible risks and side effects of
brachytherapy
If you have pellets that are left in place, they will give off
small amounts of radiation for several weeks. Even though the radiation
doesn't travel far, you may be told to stay away from pregnant women
and small children during this time. You may be asked to be careful in
other ways, too, such as wearing a condom during sex.
For about a week after the pellets are put in place, there may
be some pain in the area and a red-brown color to the urine. There is
also a small risk that some of the seeds might move to other parts of
the body, but this is rare. Like external radiation treatment, this
approach can have side effects such as problems with the bladder and
bowel and impotence. Talk to your doctor if you have any problems.
Often there are medicines or other methods to help.
Cryosurgery
Cryosurgery is sometimes used to treat prostate cancer by
freezing the cells with cold metal probes. It is used only for prostate
cancer that has not spread, but may not be a good option for men with
large prostate glands. The probes are placed through cuts (incisions)
between the anus and the scrotum. Cold gases are then passed through
the probes, which creates ice balls that destroy the prostate gland.
Some type of drug to make you numb and sleepy (anesthesia) is used
during this procedure.
A catheter is also put into the bladder (usually through the
lower belly) so that when the prostate swells (as it often does after
this treatment) urine is not trapped in the bladder. The catheter is
removed a couple of weeks later. After the procedure, there will be
some bruising and soreness in the area where the probe was inserted.
You may have some blood in the urine for the first few days. Short-term
swelling of the penis and scrotum after cryosurgery is also common. You
may need to stay in the hospital for a day, but many patients can leave
the same day.
Possible side effects of cryosurgery
There are benefits and drawbacks to cryosurgery. Because it is
less invasive than radical surgery, there is less loss of blood, a
shorter hospital stay, shorter recovery time, and less pain. But
freezing can damage nerves near the prostate and cause impotence and
incontinence. These side effects may occur more often with cryosurgery
than they do after radical prostatectomy. Freezing may also damage the
bladder and intestines. This can cause pain, a burning sensation, and
the need to empty the bladder and bowels often.
Compared to surgery or radiation treatment, doctors know much
less about how well this method works in the long run. For this reason,
most doctors do not include cryosurgery among the first options they
recommend for treating prostate cancer.
Hormone therapy
The goal of hormone therapy (also called androgen deprivation)
is to lower the levels of the male hormones (or androgens), such as
testosterone. Androgens, which are made mostly in the testicles, cause
prostate cancer cells to grow. Lowering androgen levels often makes
prostate cancer shrink or grow more slowly. Hormone therapy can
control, but will not cure the cancer. It does not take the place of
treatments aimed at a cure.
Hormone therapy is often used in these cases:
- In men who do not have surgery or radiation as good
treatment options.
- For men whose cancer has spread to other parts of the body
or has come back after earlier treatment.
- Along with radiation in men who are at high risk of having
the cancer return after treatment.
- Sometimes it is used before surgery or radiation to shrink
the cancer.
While hormone therapy does not cure the cancer, it can provide
relief from symptoms. Some doctors think that hormone therapy works
better if it is started as early as possible after the cancer has
reached an advanced stage. But not all doctors agree with this.
Because nearly all prostate cancers become resistant to
hormone therapy over time, some doctors use an on-again, off-again
approach (this is called intermittent
therapy). The drugs are given for a while, then stopped,
then started again. One advantage is that some men are able to avoid
the side effects (impotence, loss of sex drive, etc.) for a time.
Studies are now going on to see whether this new approach is better or
worse than giving the drugs non-stop.
Types of hormone therapy
There are several types of hormone therapy. They involve
either surgery or the use of drugs to lower the amount of testosterone
or block the body's ability to use androgens.
Orchiectomy:
Even though this is a type of surgery, its main effect is as a form of
hormone therapy. In this operation, the surgeon removes the testicles,
where more than 90% of the androgens, mostly testosterone, are made.
While this is a fairly simple procedure and is not as costly as some
other options, it is permanent and many men have trouble accepting this
operation. Most men who have this surgery lose the desire for sex and
cannot have erections.
LHRH analogs
(luteinizing hormone-releasing analogs): These drugs lower
testosterone levels just as well as orchiectomy. LHRH analogs (also
called LHRH agonists) are given as shots or as small pellets of
medicine put under the skin. Depending on the drug used, they are given
anywhere from every month, every 3 or 4 months, up to once a year. Even
though this treatment costs more and means more doctor visits, most men
choose this method over surgery to remove the testicles.
When LHRH analogs are the first given, the testosterone level
goes up briefly before going down to low levels. This is called
"flare." Men whose cancer has spread to the bones may have bone pain
during this flare. To reduce flare, drugs called anti-androgens can be
given for a few weeks before starting treatment with LHRH analogs.
LHRH antagonists:
Abarelix (Plenaxis®) was an LHRH
antagonist drug. It lowered testosterone levels quickly and did not
cause a flare. In 2005, the company making abarelix decided to take it
off the market. Men already taking abarelix could keep on taking this
drug, but no new patients could be started on it. It is no longer
available.
Degarelix (Firmagon®) is a new
LHRH antagonist. It was approved for use by the FDA in 2008 to treat
advanced prostate cancer. It is given as a monthly shot under the skin.
Like abarelix, degarelix quickly lowers testosterone levels. The most
common side effects are pain, redness, and swelling at the place where
the shot was given and increased levels of liver enzymes on lab tests.
Anti-androgens:
These drugs block the body's ability to use any androgens. Even after
the testicles are removed or during LHRH treatment, the adrenal glands
still make a small amount of androgens. Anti-androgens may be used
along with orchiectomy or the LHRH analogs to provide combined androgen blockade (CAB),
or total blocking of all androgens produced by the body. There is still
debate about whether CAB is better than using the other treatments
alone.
Other drugs to
lower androgen levels: At one time estrogens (female
hormones) were used to treat men with prostate cancer. Because of side
effects, LHRH analogs and anti-androgens are now used more often. But
estrogen or some other drugs, such as ketoconazole (Nizoral®),
may be used if other hormone treatments are no longer working.
Side effects of hormone therapy
Orchiectomy, LHRH analogs, and LHRH antagonists all cause side
effects because of changes in the levels of hormones. These side
effects can include:
- less sexual desire
- impotence (not being able to get an erection)
- hot flashes (these may get better or even go away with
time)
- breast tenderness and growth of breast tissue
- bone thinning (osteoporosis) which can lead to broken bones
- low red blood cell counts (anemia)
- decreased mental sharpness
- loss of muscle mass
- weight gain
- extreme tiredness (fatigue)
- increased cholesterol
- depression
The risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart attacks
is also higher in men treated with hormone therapy.
Many side effects can be prevented or treated. For example,
hot flashes can be helped by treatment with certain antidepressants.
Brief radiation treatment to the breasts can help prevent their
enlargement. There are drugs available to prevent and treat
osteoporosis. Depression can be treated by antidepressants or
counseling. Exercise can help reduce many side effects, including
fatigue, weight gain, and the chance of loss of bone and muscle mass.
If anemia occurs, it is often very mild and usually doesn't cause
symptoms.
There is growing concern that hormone therapy for prostate
cancer may lead to problems with thinking, concentration, or memory.
But this link has not been studied well in men getting hormone therapy
for prostate cancer. Different studies have shown changes in different
types of memory. Some have even found that while some types of memory
get worse, another type got better. Other studies found no effect at
all. More studies are being done to look at this issue.
Debates about hormone therapy
Many issues about hormone therapy are not yet resolved, such
as the best time to start and stop it and the best way to give it.
Studies looking at these issues are now going on. If you are thinking
about hormone therapy, ask your doctor to explain which treatments will
be used and what side effects you might expect to have.
Chemotherapy (chemo)
Chemo is the use of drugs to treat cancer. The drugs are often
injected into a vein (given IV). Some can be swallowed in pill form.
Once the drugs enter the bloodstream, they spread throughout the body
to reach and destroy the cancer cells.
Chemo is sometimes used if prostate cancer has spread outside
of the prostate gland and hormone therapy isn't working. It is not a
standard treatment for early prostate cancer, but some studies are
looking to see if chemo could be helpful if given for a short time
after surgery.
Like hormone therapy, chemo is unlikely to result in a cure.
This treatment is not expected to destroy all the cancer cells, but it
may slow the cancer's growth and reduce symptoms, resulting in a better
quality of life.
There are many different chemo drugs. Often 2 or more are
given at the same time for better effect.
Side effects of chemo
While chemo drugs kill cancer cells, they also damage some
normal cells and this can lead to side effects. The side effects of
chemo depend on the type of drugs, the amount taken, and the length of
treatment. They could include:
- nausea and vomiting
- loss of appetite
- hair loss
- mouth sores
Because normal cells are also damaged, you may have low blood
cell counts. This can cause:
- increased risk of infection (from a shortage of white blood
cells)
- bleeding or bruising after minor cuts or injuries (from a
shortage of blood platelets)
- tiredness (from low red blood cell counts)
Also, each drug may have its own unique side effects.
Most side effects go away once treatment is over. If you have
problems with side effects, talk with your doctor or nurse about what
can be done. There is help for many chemo side effects. For example,
there are drugs to prevent or reduce nausea and vomiting. Other drugs
can be given to boost blood cell counts.
Treating pain and other symptoms
Most of this article talks about ways to remove or destroy
cancer cells or to slow their growth. But it is important to know that
having a good quality of life is also an important goal. Be sure to
talk to your doctor or nurse about pain or any symptoms that are
bothering you. There are ways to treat these. And getting good
treatment can help you feel better and allow you to focus on things
that are important in your life.
Pain medicines
Pain medicines work very well. When the drugs are being used
as directed to treat cancer pain, you do not need to worry about
addiction or dependence. You may have symptoms like tiredness and
itching, but these usually go away after you get used to the medicine.
Constipation is the most common problem, but there are things you can
do to prevent this. Side effects can often be managed by changing the
dosage or by adding other medicines.
Bisphosphonates
This is a group of drugs that can help relieve bone pain
caused by cancer that has spread to the bones. They may also slow the
growth of the cancer and strengthen bones in men who are getting
hormone treatment.
Bisphosphonates can cause side effects, such as flu-like
symptoms and bone pain. Some men have had a very rare, but distressing
side effect from these drugs. They have pain in the jaw and their
doctors find that part of the jaw bone has died. This can lead to loss
of teeth or infections of the jaw bone. Doctors don't know why some
people develop these jaw problems or how to prevent them. So far, the
only treatment has been to stop the bisphosphonate treatment. Some
cancer doctors recommend that patients have a dental check-up and have
any tooth or jaw problems treated before they start taking
bisphosphonates.
Steroids
Steroids can relieve bone pain and increase appetite for some
men.
Radiation therapy
While radiation therapy can be used as the main treatment for
prostate cancer, it can also be used to treat bone pain caused by
cancer that has spread to the bone.
Drugs called radiopharmaceuticals
are also used for this purpose. This is a group of drugs that have
radioactive elements. They are given into a vein. They settle in areas
of bones that contain cancer and the radioactive part kills the cancer
cells there. About 8 out of 10 prostate cancer patients with bone pain
are helped by this treatment. The main side effect is a lowering of
blood cell counts. This could increase your risk of getting an
infection or bleeding easily.
Last Medical Review: 08/21/2009 Last Revised: 08/21/2009
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