Prostate Cancer Options

Depending on how advanced prostate cancer is, there are varying options for treatment. If caught early, prostate cancer can often be treated successfully, but once it has spread to the surrounding bone it is often impossible to cure. In that situation treatments focus on reducing symptoms and prolonging life.

Prostate cancer is a slowly developing cancer, and can take up to 15 years to spread from the prostate gland to surrounding bone. Because of this, many men die of other causes without ever knowing they have the cancer. There are many different treatment options, and if diagnosed with prostate cancer you will receive advice from specialists. The final decision for your treatment will always be your own though.

Option 1 – Watchful Waiting
If the cancer is diagnosed very early when it is causing no symptoms, it may be possible to wait to see whether any symptoms do develop. Because of the slow growth of prostate cancer, this is often advised for older men.

Option 2 – Active Waiting
This is similar to option 1 but is recommended for younger men. The cancer will be monitored for signs that it is spreading outside of the prostate. If it is, then treatment will be required. If it doesn’t, it may not be necessary to undergo treatment at all.

Option 3 – Treatment
If the cancer does require treatment there are many more options, including “Radical prostatectomy” which is where the prostate is removed, radiotherapy where cancer cells are killed by radiation, hormone therapy and chemotherapy. All have their own side effects, and you will always be given the choice as to whether you want to receive a certain treatment or not.

Sometimes, treatments may be used together to achieve the greatest results, such as hormone therapy before radiotherapy.

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