Once a person is diagnosed, it can be confusing to figure out which prostate cancer treatment options are best. Every year, there will be hundreds of thousands of men who are newly diagnosed with this type of cancer. Although it would be great if picking out the right plan was simple, there are a number of factors that have to be considered. Two men, both with prostate cancer, may have very different options, due to variables such as age, stage of cancer and other factors.
Also, nearly every prostate cancer treatment option has side effects, even dietary changes. The final choice of therapy, of course, is up to the patient but there are some tips that can help make the decision easier. At no point should patients blindly follow medical advice. Instead, they should be active participants every step of the way, knowing fully the pros and cons of every option chosen. Never fail to ask questions of the doctor, including these: what are the survival rates for this type of prostate cancer treatment and my stage of the disease? Do I have any other health concerns to be considered? What side effects can I anticipate? What unusual or rare side effects could occur?
Being informed helps reduce anxiety. As for the treatment options, the only one with minimal to no side effects is called watchful waiting. This is an appropriate type of prostate cancer treatment for those with low PSA levels and no sign of advanced cancer. Tumors should not be large enough to be felt. If they are, this option may not be acceptable. While the risk of side effects is practically zero with watchful waiting, patients may have to visit the doctor’s office more often for monitoring and to make sure the disease has not progressed.
Depending on patient age, watchful waiting may be all that is necessary and a normal lifespan can occur. For more advanced cancer, a type of prostate cancer treatment called a prostatectomy (removal of the prostate) may be advised. Because of potential side effects, this option is best for those who are young or no older than their mid 70’s. It is also not advisable for those whose cancer has spread beyond the prostate gland or has involved the lymph nodes. Side effects include blood clots, strokes and other serious conditions. Anyone with a heart condition is generally discouraged from having a prostatectomy.
Radiation therapy is another type of prostate cancer treatment option. It is one of the most widely accepted and effective ways of dealing with the disease. A major advantage of radiation therapy is that it can be targeted to a very specific area of the cancer, killing those cells. Side effects are generally minimal and include tiredness, painful urination and skin irritation. However, compared to a prostatectomy, there are far less severe risks. Radiation treatment can consume a great deal of time, however, taking over a month of weekly visits, sometimes as often as 5 to 6 times per week. Happily, the success rate with this prostate cancer treatment is very high.
Hormone therapy is yet another choice and works to reduce the body’s production of testosterone. Without testosterone, the cancer will stop growing and it can be a very effective choice of treatment. There are many ways of suppressing testosterone, including a method which essentially results in castration. When one’s life is at stake, however, this may be the best choice available, especially if other methods have not worked well. Even so, hormone therapy does not get rid of the cancer but is generally used along with other prostate cancer treatment options. Side effects include immediate impotence, weight gain, appetite changes, breast enlargement and other unpleasant conditions. This is not a treatment to be taken lightly and patents should speak at length with their doctor before making this choice.
There are many other prostate cancer treatment options, each with their pros and cons. These include cyrotherapy, chemotherapy and brachytherapy. Cyrosurgery or cyrotherapy generally involved using very cold gases to freeze the cancer and usually requires only an overnight stay in the hospital or even outpatient treatment. It is best for early stage prostate cancer. Chemotherapy is generally used with other types of prostate cancer treatments have stopped working and the cancer is more advanced. Chemotherapy can cause significant side effects, including hair loss (which does not occur in all patients), mouth sores and other conditions.
With all the treatment options out there, the rate of survival and long-term remission or cure for prostate cancer has gone up. New treatments are being researched all the time and patients who take a pro-active stance, are informed and prepared for their treatments are likely to have good results.