How is Prostate Cancer Treated-Treatment Options - Lists of Prostate Cancer Treatment Options

How is Prostate Cancer Treated?
Primary Therapy–Treatments of Curative Intent
In general, treatments of curative intent (primary therapy) are performed for prostate cancer that has not yet spread (metastasized) and is still localized, or locally advanced, at the time of initial diagnosis.
Treatments of curative intent aim to remove and eliminate all prostate cancer tissues and cells from the body. Treatments of curative intent for localized prostate cancer include radical prostatectomy, certain forms of external beam radiation therapy, brachytherapy, and cryotherapy. Treatments of curative intent for locally advanced prostate cancer may include combinations of the options mentioned above, and under certain circumstances, additional hormonal therapy.
In some cases, treatments of curative intent are not chosen and instead the patient undergoes watchful waiting, also known as expectant therapy or surveillance. Watchful waiting is the decision not to treat localized prostate cancer with surgery, radiation, hormonal therapy, or any other treatment options. The doctor monitors the patient's prostate cancer by checking PSA levels and looking for signs and symptoms of cancer growth. If the PSA levels start to go up, or the signs and symptoms of cancer growth become more obvious, treatment may be started.
Treatments of curative intent for metastatic prostate cancer, even at the time of initial diagnosis, do not eliminate the prostate cancer completely. Currently, metastatic prostate cancer is usually treated with hormonal therapy, which is frequently effective for a certain period of time, but not curative. At this time, chemotherapy is generally used at the later stages of metastatic prostate cancer.
Palliative Treatment
A treatment that can help reduce the severity of advanced prostate cancer is called palliative treatment. This treatment is also used to treat symptoms of advanced prostate cancer such as bone pain.
How are Treatment Methods Chosen?
The method selected to treat prostate cancer depends on your stage and other factors.
When talking with your doctor, you will frequently hear the following terms regarding the stages of prostate cancer: localized, locally advanced, and metastatic. Localized prostate cancer is a cancer that is contained within the prostate gland. Locally advanced prostate cancer is a cancer that has spread beyond the prostate to surrounding tissue and may also have spread to pelvic lymph nodes. Metastatic prostate cancer is a cancer that has spread beyond the prostate and pelvic lymph nodes into other distant parts of the body, such as the bones.
It is also important to consider the benefits and potential side effects for each treatment option that is available to you. These factors should be discussed thoroughly by you and your doctor. Certain treatments are chosen more frequently than others for each stage of prostate cancer.
The benefits of early detection of prostate cancer and effective treatment can be substantial. In the United States, 91% of men diagnosed with prostate cancer survive at least 10 years after diagnosis, and 76% survive 15 years.1
References
American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts and Figures 2008. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/STT/content/
STT_1x_Cancer_Facts_and_Figures_2008.asp. Accessed April 14, 2008.