Treatment Options for Prostate Cancer
The medical provider will use the tumors grade and stage to determine which treatment options will be most beneficial and effective. Active surveillance: Since prostate cancer grows slowly, doctors may choose to delay treatment in men with other serious health issues and instead actively monitor its growth. If chosen, this approach would involve close monitoring of tumor growth with regular testing to ensure that the tumor remains relatively small, is not invading other tissues, and is not causing other health issues. Surgery: Surgery is used to remove the tumor manually. The most common surgery is a radical prostatectomy, which involves removing the prostate gland and surrounding tissues. The side effects of prostate surgery can be severe and include urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, bleeding, blood clots, and infections at the surgery site. Radiation: Radiation can be applied externally (external beam radiation) or internally inside the tumor (brachytherapy). The purpose of radiation is to completely get rid of low-grade tumors that have remained within the prostate gland, or to relieve symptoms and control tumor growth in men with high-grade tumors. The side effects of radiation include urinary, erectile and bowel problems in addition to fatigue, swelling, and pain. Cryotherapy: Cryotherapy is a method that quickly freezes and kills prostate cancer tissue.