There are currently four main options:
Surgery
The entire prostate gland is removed in an operation called a ‘prostatectomy’.
Radiotherapy
High energy rays are used to destroy the cancer cells.
Hormone treatment
Drugs can be used to lower the level of testosterone in the blood, which has the effect of slowing or stopping the growth of the cancerous tumour. However, some prostate tumours develop the ability to grow without testosterone.
Brachytherapy
A treatment where radioactive ‘seeds’ are implanted directly into the tumour. These treatments carry the risk of side-effects including incontinence and long-term impotence.
Other Options
Active Surveillance (or Watchful Waiting)
Some types of cancer grow so slowly that they may not cause the patient any problems for many years. In this situation you may not need to have any treatment, but your doctor will monitor you closely and if the cancer does start to grow you can be given appropriate treatment. Find out more about Active Surveillance
Conformal Radiotherapy
In recent years we have developed Conformal Radiotherapy, a new, more accurate method of delivering radiotherapy which leads to a major reduction in side effects, and therefore the possibility of giving higher doses leading to an increased cure rate.
Everyman is working hard to develop more improved treatments for men with prostate cancer.