According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, prostate cancer is one of most common form of cancers in American men. It’s also one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths. So, if you or someone you know has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, access to timely treatment, compassionate care and cutting-edge techniques is key.
We’ve discussed prostate cancer risk factors, symptoms and screenings. Now, we’re raising awareness about common treatment options. Depending on each case, treatment options for men with prostate cancer might include:
- Watchful waiting
- This method is generally used for older men with prostate cancer who have no symptoms.
- Treatment is held off until symptoms appear.
- Ongoing tests such as digital rectal exam, prostate specific antigen (PSA) test, transrectal ultrasound and transrectal needle biopsy monitor if the cancer is growing, at which point treatment is given to slow or cure the cancer.
- Radiation therapy
- The type of radiation therapy depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated.
- Treatment can include external radiation therapy (sent from a machine into the body directly at the cancer), internal radiation therapy (placing a radioactive substance sealed in needles, seeds, wires or catheters directly into or near the cancer) or radiopharmaceutical therapy (using a radioactive substance to treat cancer).
- Note: Radiation therapy for prostate cancer can increase the risk for bladder and/or gastrointestinal cancer.
- Hormone therapy
- This treatment prevents prostate cancer cells from growing by blocking, reducing or removing hormones, and can include:
- Blocking luteinizing hormone (LH) to stop the testicles from making testosterone
- Blocking the adrenal glands from making androgens
- Using estrogens to prevent the testicles from making testosterone (rarely used because of risk of serious side effect)
- Orchiectomy (surgical removal of one or both testicles)
- This treatment prevents prostate cancer cells from growing by blocking, reducing or removing hormones, and can include:
- Chemotherapy
- Treatment works by stopping the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by preventing them from growing.
- Chemotherapy drugs can be given orally, injected into a vein or muscle (systemic chemotherapy) or placed directly into the cerebrospinal fluid
- Cryotherapy
- Treatment uses low temperatures during medical therapy to destroy prostate cancer cells.
- This is sometimes used if the cancer has recurred after radiation therapy.
- Can be used to treat men who cannot have surgery or radiation therapy.
- Transurethral ultrasound ablation
- This is an incision-free procedure used to destroy prostate tissue by combining real-time magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with robotic-assisted, surgeon-led directional thermal ultrasound therapy.
- This treatment can involve whole-gland or partial prostate tissue.
- Surgery
- Generally used for patients in good health whose tumor is localized in the prostate gland.
- Can include any of the following types of surgical procedures:
- Radical prostatectomy: Removes the prostate, surrounding tissue and seminal vesicles. If there’s a reasonable chance the cancer may have spread to nearby lymph nodes, the surgeon may also remove these (known as a pelvic lymphadenectomy or pelvic lymph node dissection).
- Open prostatectomy: This can either be a retropubic prostatectomy where the surgeon makes an incision in the lower abdomen from the belly button to the pubic bone, or a perineal prostatectomy where the surgeon makes an incision between the scrotum and the anus.
- Laparoscopic prostatectomy: The surgeon makes several small incisions in the abdominal wall and uses special instruments with a video camera to see inside the body in order to remove the prostate.
- Robotic-assisted prostatectomy: A type of laparoscopic surgery in which the surgeon uses a robotic system to remove the prostate. The surgeon is present in the operating room and controls the robotic arms using a special control panel.
- Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP): Uses a resectoscope to remove tissue from the prostate, treat benign prostatic hypertrophy, relieve symptoms caused by the tumor, or treat men who cannot have a radical prostatectomy.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer, please know that high-quality, compassionate care is not far away. Since 1993, Methodist Healthcare has been one of the country's most trusted providers of adult and pediatric cancer programs. Our highly-skilled, compassionate providers support patients and their families throughout their cancer journeys — from diagnosis through treatment and survivorship. Our commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-focused care has been recognized nationally with accreditations from The Commission on Cancer, The Joint Commission, the American College of Radiology and more.
Methodist Healthcare is part of Sarah Cannon, the Cancer Institute of HCA Healthcare. Our family of hospitals provides comprehensive cancer services with convenient access to cutting-edge therapies for people facing cancer in our communities. If you have questions about how to stay healthy during treatment, call askSARAH at (210) 597-0941 to speak to a nurse who is specially trained to help with your cancer questions.
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