Treatment FAQ

what is the preferred treatment for prostate cancer

by Theron Harber MD Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Active surveillance, surgery, and radiation therapy are the standard therapy choices for men with early-stage prostate cancer (see Types of Treatment, starting on page 8). Each has benefits (how treatments can help) and risks (problems treatment may cause). There is seldom just one right treatment choice.

Medication

If the cancer is contained in your prostate, surgery or a second attempt at radiation is suggested. If you've had a radical prostatectomy, radiation therapy is a good option. If you had radiation, radical prostatectomy might be the best approach. Cryosurgery might also be an option.

Procedures

Natural Remedies for Prostate Cancer

  1. Vitamin C. Vitamin C does an extraordinary job in the case of boosting your immune system and increasing the white blood cell production.
  2. Pumpkin Seed Oil. Research published in Nutrition Research and Practice ( source) found that pumpkin seed oil was able to reduce symptoms of an enlarged prostate within three months.
  3. Lycopene. ...
  4. Cayenne Pepper. ...

More items...

Therapy

“Small doses of radiation over several weeks can eradicate most prostate cancers,” Dr. Runz said. However, because the areas around the prostate are also exposed to radiation, the neurovascular bundles also get radiated.

Self-care

The main types of doctors who treat prostate cancer include:

  • Urologist: A surgeons who treat diseases of the urinary system and male reproductive system (including the prostate)
  • Radiation oncologist: A doctor who treats cancer with radiation therapy
  • Medical oncologist: A doctor who treats cancer with medicines such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and immunotherapy

Nutrition

What is the best treatment for early stages of prostate cancer?

What is the natural remedy to prostate cancer?

What is the most successful prostate cancer treatment?

How beneficial are alternative treatments for prostate cancer?

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What is the most common treatment for early-stage prostate cancer?

Radiation and surgery are the main treatments for early-stage prostate cancer. But other options include: Cryosurgery. This treatment uses very cold gas to freeze and kill cancer cells.

What is the newest treatment for prostate cancer?

The treatment is called lutetium-177-PSMA-617, or LuPSMA, and it has two components: a compound that targets a cancer cell protein called prostate-specific membrane antigen, or PSMA, and a radioactive particle that destroys the cells.

Is radiation or prostatectomy better?

Both radiation and surgery are equally effective treatments to cure prostate cancer." The choice of which treatment is best is up to individual patients and their care teams, Dr. King says. "Make sure you talk with a surgeon and a radiation oncologist before you make your decision.

What is the gold standard for prostate cancer treatment?

Radical prostatectomy remains the gold-standard treatment for clinically localised prostate cancer. Cumulative data suggest that it has a survival advantage over radiotherapy, but it is troubled by surgical morbidity especially erectile dysfunction and incontinence.

What are the 5 warning signs of prostate cancer?

5 Warning signs are bone pain, compression of the spine, Painful urination, erectile dysfunction, and blood in the urine.

Does prostate removal shorten your life?

Based on the natural history of localized prostate cancer, the life expectancy (LE) of men treated with either radical prostatectomy (RP) or definitive external-beam radiotherapy (EBRT) should exceed 10 years.

When is prostate removal recommended?

1. There are two main reasons for prostate removal. Your doctor may recommend prostate surgery to treat BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) or prostate cancer. BPH is an enlargement of the prostate gland that happens with age.

At what age is prostate surgery not recommended?

Radical prostatectomy is the preferred treatment for men with prostate cancer that has not spread to other organs, but many doctors do not recommend the procedure for men over age 70 due to a perceived higher potential risk for complications.

Which Treatments Are Used For Prostate Cancer?

Depending on each case, treatment options for men with prostate cancer might include: 1. Watchful waiting or active surveillance 2. Surgery 3. Radi...

Which Doctors Treat Prostate Cancer?

The main types of doctors who treat prostate cancer include: 1. Urologists: surgeons who treat diseases of the urinary system and male reproductive...

Making Treatment Decisions

It’s important to discuss all of your treatment options, including their goals and possible side effects, with your doctors to help make the decisi...

Help Getting Through Treatment

Your cancer care team will be your first source of information and support, but there are other resources for help when you need it. Hospital- or c...

How to kill prostate cancer?

Cryotherapy or Cryosurgery. If you have early prostate cancer, your doctor might choose to kill cancer cells by freezing them. They’ll put small needles or probes into your prostate to deliver very cold gasses that destroy the cells. It’s hard to say for sure how well it works.

What are the side effects of prostate cancer?

Side effects can include: Bowel problems. Lower sex drive. Erectile dysfunction. Loss of your ability to get a woman pregnant. Leaky bladder or loss of bladder control. You might also need to pee a lot more often.

Why do we need radiation after surgery?

You also might have it after surgery to get rid of any cancer cells left behind. It also helps for cancer that has spread to the bone. There are two types of radiation: External: A machine outside your body directs rays at the cancer.

What to think about when choosing a treatment?

Side effects are another thing to think about when you’re choosing a treatment. If they’re too tough to handle, you might want to change your approach. Talk to your doctor about what you can expect. They can also help you find ways to manage your side effects.

Can you treat prostate cancer with active surveillance?

Your doctor might suggest waiting to see if your tumor will grow or spread before you treat it. Most prostate cancer grows slowly. Some doctors think it’s better not to treat it unless it changes or causes symptoms.

Can prostate cancer be removed?

It’s an option if you're healthy and your cancer hasn't spread. There are several types. Your doctor may only remove your prostate gland. Or they might take it and the tissue around it. The most common side effects from an operation are problems controlling your urine and trouble getting and keeping an erection. Sometimes they go away on their own after surgery, especially bladder control issues. Talk to your surgeon beforehand to see if they think they'll be able to protect the nerves around your prostate to prevent these side effects.

What is the procedure to remove prostate cancer?

Surgery. A prostatectomy is an operation where doctors remove the prostate. Radical prostatectomy removes the prostate as well as the surrounding tissue. Radiation therapy. Using high-energy rays (similar to X-rays) to kill the cancer. There are two types of radiation therapy—. External radiation therapy.

What is the best way to monitor prostate cancer?

Closely monitoring the prostate cancer by performing prostate specific antigen (PSA) and digital rectal exam (DRE) tests and prostate biopsies regularly , and treating the cancer only if it grows or causes symptoms. Surgery.

How does ultrasound help with cancer?

High-intensity focused ultrasound. This therapy directs high-energy sound waves (ultrasound) at the cancer to kill cancer cells.

What kind of doctor is best for early stage cancer?

For early-stage cancers, it is natural for surgical specialist s, such as urologists, to favor surgery and for radiation oncologists to lean more toward radiation therapy. Doctors specializing in newer types of treatment may be more likely to recommend their therapies.

Can prostate cancer spread?

For most men diagnosed with prostate cancer, the cancer is found while it's still at an early stage -- it's small and has not spread beyond the prostate gland. These men often have several treatment options to consider.

How to treat prostate cancer?

Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill rapidly growing cells, including cancer cells. Chemotherapy can be administered through a vein in your arm, in pill form or both. Chemotherapy may be a treatment option for treating prostate cancer that has spread to other areas of the body.

Why is hormone therapy used for prostate cancer?

Hormone therapy is often used to treat advanced prostate cancer to shrink the cancer and slow its growth. Hormone therapy is sometimes used before radiation therapy to treat cancer that hasn't spread beyond the prostate. It helps shrink the cancer and increases the effectiveness of radiation therapy.

What is the best way to monitor prostate cancer?

In active surveillance, regular follow-up blood tests, rectal exams and prostate biopsies may be performed to monitor progression of your cancer. If tests show your cancer is progressing, you may opt for a prostate cancer treatment such as surgery or radiation.

How does cryoablation work for prostate cancer?

Cryoablation or cryotherapy for prostate cancer involves using a very cold gas to freeze the prostate tissue. The tissue is allowed to thaw and the procedure repeats. The cycles of freezing and thawing kill the cancer cells and some surrounding healthy tissue. Heating prostate tissue.

What tests are done to determine if prostate cancer is spread?

If your doctor suspects your cancer may have spread beyond your prostate, one or more of the following imaging tests may be recommended: Bone scan. Ultrasound. Computerized tomography (CT) scan.

What is the most common scale used to evaluate prostate cancer?

The most common scale used to evaluate the grade of prostate cancer cells is called a Gleason score . Gleason scoring combines two numbers and can range from 2 (nonaggressive cancer) to 10 (very aggressive cancer), though the lower part of the range isn't used as often.

What does it mean when your PSA is high?

However, if a higher than usual level is found, it may indicate prostate infection, inflammation, enlargement or cancer.

What is the treatment for prostate cancer?

Radiation (external beam plus brachytherapy) with a course of hormone therapy. Radical prostatectomy in selected cases (often with removal of the pelvic lymph nodes ).

What to do if prostate cancer doesn't go away?

The options above are for the initial treatment of prostate cancer at different stages. But if these treatments aren’t working (the cancer continues to grow and spread) or if the cancer comes back, other treatments might be used, such as immunotherapy. (See Treating Prostate Cancer That Doesn’t Go Away or Comes Back After Treatment .)

How is prostate cancer staged?

Prostate cancer is staged based on the extent (how much the cancer has spread) of the cancer (using T, N, and M categories) and the PSA level and Gleason score (Grade Group) when it is first diagnosed. For prostate cancers that haven't spread (stages I to III), doctors also use risk groups (based on how far the prostate tumor has grown, PSA level, ...

What stage of prostate cancer is not spread?

For prostate cancers that haven't spread (stages I to III), doctors also use risk groups (based on how far the prostate tumor has grown, PSA level, and prostate biopsy results) to help determine treatment options.

What are the risk groups for cancer?

Risk groups range from very low risk to very high risk, with lower risk group cancers having a smaller chance of growing and spreading compared to those in higher risk groups. Other factors, such as your age, overall health, life expectancy, and personal preferences are also taken into account when looking at treatment options. ...

Can prostate cancer grow outside the prostate?

These prostate cancers are small (T1 or T2) and have not grown outside the prostate. They have low Gleason scores (6 or less) and low PSA levels (less than 10). They usually grow very slowly and may never cause any symptoms or other health problems.

Can stage 4 cancer be cured?

Stage IV cancers have already spread to nearby areas such as nearby lymph nodes or to distant organs such as the bones. Most stage IV cancers can’t be cured, but are treatable. The goals of treatment are to keep the cancer under control for as long as possible and to improve a man’s quality of life.

What is done after prostate cancer diagnosis?

After prostate cancer has been diagnosed, tests are done to find out if cancer cells have spread within the prostate or to other parts of the body.

Why is it important to know the stage of prostate cancer?

The information gathered from the staging process determines the stage of the disease. It is important to know the stage in order to plan treatment. The results of the tests used to diagnose prostate cancer are often also used to stage the disease. (See the General Information section .)

What is the purpose of a transrectal biopsy?

A biopsy is done to diagnose prostate cancer and find out the grade of the cancer (Gleason score). A transrectal biopsy is used to diagnose prostate cancer. A transrectal biopsy is the removal of tissue from the prostate by inserting a thin needle through the rectum and into the prostate.

What is the most common cancer in older men?

Anatomy of the male reproductive and urinary systems, showing the prostate, testicles, bladder, and other organs. Prostate cancer is most common in older men. In the U.S., about 1 out of 5 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer.

What are the signs of prostate cancer?

Signs of prostate cancer include a weak flow of urine or frequent urination. Tests that examine the prostate and blood are used to diagnose prostate cancer.

What does grade 3 mean in cancer?

For example, if the most common tissue pattern is grade 3 and the secondary pattern is grade 4, it means that most of the cancer is grade 3 and less of the cancer is grade 4. The grades are added for a Gleason score of 7, and it is a medium-grade cancer.

Why do we do clinical trials?

Clinical trials are done to find out if new cancer treatments are safe and effective or better than the standard treatment.

How many men will get prostate cancer?

And unfortunately, roughly one in 9 guys will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society. Fortunately, a prostate cancer diagnosis is far from a death sentence.

What is radiation therapy?

Radiation therapy involves using high-energy X-rays or particles like protons to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Thanks to modern technology, doctors are able to vary intensity of the rays to better target the different areas of the prostate.

Is radiation therapy safe for prostate cancer?

That's because surgery and radiation therapy come with their own set of risks, such as post-treatment incontinence. It is recommended for early stage I and II prostate cancers. Using this method, doctors.

Is prostate cancer slow growing?

Many prostate cancer cases tend to be slow-growing, Dr. Howard Adler, medical director of the prostate care program at Stony Brook Medicine, explains to MensHealth.com. This means that the tumors grow so slowly that they’re unlikely to be life-threatening or impact quality of life.

Can a man have a prostatectomy?

Guys may undergo a prostatectomy to remove the entire prostate gland , since it’s not possible to simply remove the tumor due to the shape of the prostate, says Adler. Generally, surgery is preferred for younger men, who have a better chance of not developing post-surgery side effects such as impotence and incontinence, Adler says.

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Diagnosis

Treatment

Clinical Trials

Alternative Medicine

Medically reviewed by
Dr. Pawan Katti
Your provider will work with you to develop a care plan that may include one or more of these treatment options.
Treatments include chemotherapy, medications to stop hormone activity, radiation therapy, and surgery. These can be used alone or in combinations to treat cancer.
Medication

Hormone therapy - Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) agonists: Drugs to prevent production of the hormone testosterone.

Leuprorelin . Goserelin . Triptorelin


Anti-androgens: Drugs to prevent testosterone from reaching cancer cells.

Bicalutamide . Nilutamide


Chemotherapy: Drugs to kill cancer cells.

Taxotere . Cabazitaxel

Procedures

Radical prostatectomy: Removal of prostate gland, surrounding tissues, and lymph nodes by making small incisions in the lower abdomen.

Orchiectomy: Removing the testicles to reduce testosterone levels in the body.

Cryoablation: Freezing the prostate tissue to kill cancer cells.

Therapy

Radiation therapy:Uses high energy rays to kill cancer cells.

Self-care

Always talk to your provider before starting anything.

Take medications as prescribed, follow up regularly, remain physically active.

Nutrition

Foods to eat:

  • NA

Foods to avoid:

  • NA

Specialist to consult

Urologist
Specializes in the urinary tract disease.
Oncologist
Specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Coping and Support

Preparing For Your Appointment

  • Your prostate cancer treatment options depend on several factors, such as how fast your cancer is growing, whether it has spread and your overall health, as well as the potential benefits or side effects of the treatment.
See more on mayoclinic.org

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