Today, when a man is diagnosed with prostate cancer he is faced with a number of effective treatment options. Developments in medical science have changed the singular approach once used to treat this complex and variable disease. Due to this variability, many factors need to be considered in order for the man and his loved ones to determine the most appropriate form of treatment

Surgical Options

• Retropubic prostatectomy – During this surgery, the prostate is removed through an incision just above the pubic bone in the lower abdomen. This gives the surgeon a better chance to spare the nerves located next to your prostate that control the bladder and erections.

• Perineal prostatectomy - This type of surgery, which is not used as often, reaches the prostate through an incision between your scrotum and anus. This approach is used when the cancer is confined to the prostate.

Radiation Therapy Options

• External beam radiation – During this procedure, a machine aims radiation at your prostate cancer cells. It rotates around your body, sending radiation from many directions. The latest types of this therapy include Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) and 3-D Conformal Therapy.

• Brachytherapy - This is a type of internal radiation therapy. Radiation is delivered inside your body by implanting tiny radioactive seeds in your prostate that deliver treatment. Permanent or temporary seeds can be implanted.

Systemic Therapy Options

• Hormone therapy - The male sex hormone, testosterone, causes the growth of the prostate gland. Testosterone continues to contribute to the growth of the organ even past the age of puberty. Prostate cancer hormone therapy removes the chemical that “feeds” cells and can stop or slow the growth and spread of the tumor.

• Chemotherapy - Prostate cancer chemotherapy is almost always a salvage therapy for advanced prostate cancer. The severe and sometimes dangerous side effects of chemotherapy drugs have often outweighed their benefits as an early prostate cancer treatment. However, for patients with advanced disease, chemotherapy can be beneficial in both extending the life and decreasing pain.

* Treatment option information obtained from the National Cancer Institute website and www.prostate-cancer.com.