How is prostate cancer treated?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:The treatment for prostate cancer depends on the stage the cancer is caught:
- Stage 1: Watchful waiting; prostatectomy and/or radiation
- Stage 2: Similar to stage 1, with cryosurgery and other options added
- Stage 3: Some combo of surgery, radiation, cryosurgery and more
- Stage 4: Similar to stage 3, with more extensive surgery
The treatment for prostate cancer depends on the stage the cancer is caught: Stage 1: Watchful waiting; prostatectomy and/or radiation Stage 2: Similar to stage 1, with cryosurgery and other options added Stage 3: Some combo of surgery,... More -
Dr. Edward Schaeffer of Johns Hopkins Medicine answered:Treatment of prostate cancer can vary depending on the stage of the disease.
With early diagnosis, treatment options include surgical removal of the entire prostate, with either an open or laparoscopic/robotic operation or radiation therapy.
For more advanced cases when the cancer has spread beyond the prostate or when cancer has returned after primary treatment, oncologists utilize both hormonal treatment with medications that turn off production of testosterone and chemotherapy/immunotherapy to slow the progression of the disease.
Research studies are underway looking into various other agents for treatment.
Helpful? 1 person found this helpfulTreatment of prostate cancer can vary depending on the stage of the disease. With early diagnosis, treatment options include surgical removal of the entire prostate, with either an open or laparoscopic/robotic operation or radiation therapy.... More -
Dr. Marc Garnick answered:There are several options for treating prostate cancer: active surveillance; surgically removing the prostate gland; radiation, including external beam or implanted pellets; cryotherapy; high-intensity focused ultrasound (still considered experimental in the United States); hormone therapy; and chemotherapy. These treatments may be used alone or in combination, depending on a man's age, the stage of the cancer, and personal preferences regarding the side effects of the treatments and the lifestyle changes they may entail. These treatments are continuously being improved and refined in ways that increase their effectiveness and reduce the unwanted side effects, such as urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction.
But the wide variety of treatments can be confusing for patients and doctors alike. In fact, the American Urological Association's Prostate Cancer Clinical Guidelines Panel concluded that, at present, no treatment can be proved to be better than another. For example, the panel recommends that men with early prostate cancer, depending upon certain cancer characteristics, be given a choice of active surveillance, radiation, or surgery.
As you evaluate your treatment options, think not only about your situation today, but also about where you expect to be in five or 10 years -- because chances are, you'll still be alive. For example, if you look forward to spending as many years as possible with your spouse and grandchildren, you might choose the treatment that gives you the best chance of survival, with less regard for possible side effects. On the other hand, if you are a sexually active single man, you may want to focus on treatment options that give you the best chance to preserve sexual function.There are several options for treating prostate cancer: active surveillance; surgically removing the prostate gland; radiation, including external beam or implanted pellets; cryotherapy; high-intensity focused ultrasound (still considered... More
