home > treatment & research > treatment options overview

Prostate Cancer Treatment Options

Every man is different, and every case of prostate cancer is different.

There are a number of options for treating prostate cancer.

No one method has proven to be more effective overall, and they all have their pros and cons.

The decision is up to you, with your loved ones and medical team.

For early or local prostate cancer that has not spread outside the prostate gland or nearby area, the most common treatment options are:

• Watchful Waiting: deferring treatment, and watching closely for signs the disease is progressing.
• Surgery: the surgical removal of part or all of the prostate, and other nearby areas if necessary, also known as prostatectomy.
• Radiation: killing cancer cells with radiation, either with an external beam of radiation, or by implanting tiny radioactive “seeds.”

For Prostate Cancer Recurrence or cancer that has returned after initial surgery or radiation therapy, options vary depending on the individual case. Some may require observation, some ‘salvage’ radiation treatment and some may proceed to hormone therapy. Recurrence is usually determined by a rising PSA level after treatment.

For advanced or metastatic prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, the most common treatment options are:

• Hormone Therapy: starving the cancer cells of the testosterone by using drugs that inhibit testosterone production.
• Chemotherapy and Radiotherapeutic Agents: medications that are toxic to cancer cells. Generally used to treat cancers that have become resistant to hormone therapy.
• Bisphosphonates: medications that strengthen bone, to prevent damage and pain from bone metastasis, and to counteract bone weakness that can be caused by hormone therapy.
  

For all patients:

• Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAM): treatments in addition to, or instead of conventional treatments. They can include natural medicines and supplements, therapies using the influence of the mind, massage and other physical therapies, or whole medical systems.
• Investigational Treatment: Some patients enroll in experiments to try therapies or techniques that are promising but still in the research phase. For more on experimental options, please visit the Research and Investigational Treatment section.

Research and Investigational Treatment