Prostate Cancer Treatments If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, it's essential to understand the various treatment options available. It's also important to know that there is lots of reason for hope with many available prostate cancer treatments. The best prostate cancer treatment for you depends on several factors, including the stage and grade of your cancer, your age, overall health, and personal preferences. Here, we'll explore the most common prostate cancer treatment options, their benefits, and potential side effects. Jump To Jump To Local Therapies Systemic Therapies Clinical Trials Side Effects Treatment Tool There are many prostate cancer treatment choices to consider. Your treatment options will depend on the stage and grade of your tumor—if the cancer has spread and how aggressive the cancer may be. Other factors in treatment decisions include your age, overall health, family history of cancer, and the results of genetic testing and/or biomarker testing. Learning about all available treatment options for your prostate cancer will help you make the right decision for you.Here are some ways you can make an informed choice about your treatment options:Find a treatment team you are comfortable withAsk questionsUnderstand the stage and grade of your tumor, as well as your risk groupDo your own researchSeek a second opinionFind out how different treatments can affect the quality of your daily life, including side effects during and after treatmentFor more information about the treatment options based on the stage (location) of your cancer:Treatment for localized prostate cancerTreatment for advanced prostate cancer Types of prostate cancer treatment There are many prostate cancer treatment choices to consider. There is no blanket treatment plan. Learn more about the available treatment options (active surveillance, local therapies, systemic therapies and clinical trials), advances in treatment, and possible side effects of treatment so you can be better positioned to make an informed choice and the right decision for you. Active surveillance For men with low-risk, slow-growing prostate cancer, active surveillance may be the most appropriate approach. This prostate cancer management strategy involves closely monitoring the disease through regular PSA tests, digital rectal exams (DRE), and biopsies. The goal of active surveillance is to avoid or delay unnecessary treatments and their potential side effects while ensuring that the cancer is carefully tracked. If there are signs of cancer progression, your healthcare team may recommend transitioning to a more active treatment plan. Learn more Local Therapies Local therapy is a treatment that is directed to a specific organ or limited area of the body, such as the prostate. Local therapies for prostate cancer include: Prostatectomy (Prostate Cancer Surgery) Prostate cancer surgery, known as a radical prostatectomy, involves removing the entire prostate gland and surrounding tissues. This procedure is typically recommended for men with localized prostate cancer who are in good overall health. Surgical options include traditional open surgery, laparoscopic surgery, and robotic-assisted surgery. The choice of surgical technique depends on various factors, such as the size and location of the tumor, the surgeon's expertise, and available technology. Radiation Radiation therapy, or radiotherapy, uses various forms of radiation to safely and effectively treat prostate cancer. The goal of radiation is to kill the tumor while sparing as much healthy tissue as possible. Radiation therapy can be given externally (directed from outside the body) or internally (placed inside the body). Radiation is a key option for those with localized or locally advanced prostate cancer, but may also be used to relieve pain from bone metastases. Ultrasound and High Intensity Focused Ultrasound High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a minimally invasive, experimental procedure for the treatment of prostate cancer. It destroys prostate cancer cells through precise and focused ultrasound energy, or sound waves. Ultrasound may be a treatment option for patients whose prostate cancer is considered low- to intermediate-risk and is confined to the prostate. Cryotherapy Cryotherapy, also known as cryoablation or cryosurgery, is a prostate cancer treatment option that involves freezing the prostate tissue to destroy cancer cells. This minimally invasive procedure may be suitable for men with localized or locally advanced prostate cancer. While cryotherapy is not as common as other prostate cancer treatments like surgery or radiation therapy, it may be an option for certain patients. Your healthcare team will consider factors such as the stage and grade of your cancer, your overall health, and your personal preferences when determining if cryotherapy is appropriate for you. Systemic therapies Systemic therapies refers to any type of treatment that targets or travels through the entire body. Systemic therapies for prostate cancer include: Hormone Therapy (Androgen-Deprivation) Prostate cancer cells typically rely on male hormones (androgens) like testosterone to grow. Hormone therapy, also known as androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), hormone deprivation therapy, or hormone suppression therapy, aims to reduce androgen levels in the body, slowing or stopping cancer growth. Hormone therapy is especially important for those with advanced disease, whose cancer has returned (recurrence) after surgery or radiation, or whose cancer is considered high-risk for metastasis (spread). Chemotherapy Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill rapidly dividing cancer cells throughout the body. It is typically reserved for advanced or metastatic prostate cancer that has spread beyond the prostate gland and is no longer responding to hormone therapy. Chemotherapy drugs are given intravenously (through the veins) or orally (as a pill), depending on the drug, and in cycles, with periods of treatment followed by rest periods. Immunotherapy Immunotherapy is a relatively new approach to treating prostate cancer that harnesses the power of the body's immune system to fight cancer cells. The most common type of immunotherapy for prostate cancer is the vaccine Sipuleucel-T (Provenge), which is designed to stimulate the immune system to target and attack prostate cancer cells. Immunotherapy may be an option for men with advanced prostate cancer who have limited treatment options. Radiopharmaceuticals Radiopharmaceutical therapy (molecular radiotherapy) is a targeted prostate cancer treatment that delivers radiation directly to tumor cells using a radioactive drug. This innovative approach minimizes radiation exposure to healthy tissue and may be suitable for advanced prostate cancer cases. The benefits of radiopharmaceutical therapy include its precision in targeting cancer cells, the ability to treat tumors that have spread to multiple areas of the body, and the potential for fewer side effects compared to conventional radiation therapy. Targeted Therapy Targeted therapy drugs specifically target cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy cells. These medications work by interfering with specific molecules involved in cancer cell growth and survival. A targeted therapy approach is a form of personalized cancer treatment, also known as precision medicine, and may have fewer side effects than other treatments. For prostate cancer, targeted therapy options include PARP inhibitors, PSMA targeted therapy, radioligand therapy, and others. Targeted therapy may be used in combination with other treatments, such as hormone therapy or chemotherapy, to improve outcomes for men with advanced prostate cancer. Clinical trials Clinical Trials A clinical trial is a research study investigating experimental treatment to see if it is safe to use and effective in fighting a disease. Clinical trials are offered across all stages of disease, but they can be an important option for advanced prostate cancer patients in particular. All treatments used today for prostate cancer are available because of past clinical trials. Find a Clinical Trial It's important to ask and learn about clinical trials when you are making a treatment decision. Find out if one might be an option for you or your loved one. Learn about side effects All treatment options have side effects that can impact your quality of life. Two of the most common are urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction. Before deciding on a treatment, talk with your doctor and learn about possible side effects and how to manage them. Prostate Cancer Side Effects Play Video Close Treatment tool for advanced prostate cancer Need help deciding on the right treatment? Use our Interactive Decision Support Tool, developed in partnership with Clinical Care Options! This tool provides you with expert guidance on treatment options for advanced prostate cancer, based on characteristics you enter. Share the results with your care team and make the right choices together. Patient Interactive Treatment Tool
There are many prostate cancer treatment choices to consider. Your treatment options will depend on the stage and grade of your tumor—if the cancer has spread and how aggressive the cancer may be. Other factors in treatment decisions include your age, overall health, family history of cancer, and the results of genetic testing and/or biomarker testing. Learning about all available treatment options for your prostate cancer will help you make the right decision for you.Here are some ways you can make an informed choice about your treatment options:Find a treatment team you are comfortable withAsk questionsUnderstand the stage and grade of your tumor, as well as your risk groupDo your own researchSeek a second opinionFind out how different treatments can affect the quality of your daily life, including side effects during and after treatmentFor more information about the treatment options based on the stage (location) of your cancer:Treatment for localized prostate cancerTreatment for advanced prostate cancer
Types of prostate cancer treatment There are many prostate cancer treatment choices to consider. There is no blanket treatment plan. Learn more about the available treatment options (active surveillance, local therapies, systemic therapies and clinical trials), advances in treatment, and possible side effects of treatment so you can be better positioned to make an informed choice and the right decision for you.
Active surveillance For men with low-risk, slow-growing prostate cancer, active surveillance may be the most appropriate approach. This prostate cancer management strategy involves closely monitoring the disease through regular PSA tests, digital rectal exams (DRE), and biopsies. The goal of active surveillance is to avoid or delay unnecessary treatments and their potential side effects while ensuring that the cancer is carefully tracked. If there are signs of cancer progression, your healthcare team may recommend transitioning to a more active treatment plan. Learn more
Local Therapies Local therapy is a treatment that is directed to a specific organ or limited area of the body, such as the prostate. Local therapies for prostate cancer include: Prostatectomy (Prostate Cancer Surgery) Prostate cancer surgery, known as a radical prostatectomy, involves removing the entire prostate gland and surrounding tissues. This procedure is typically recommended for men with localized prostate cancer who are in good overall health. Surgical options include traditional open surgery, laparoscopic surgery, and robotic-assisted surgery. The choice of surgical technique depends on various factors, such as the size and location of the tumor, the surgeon's expertise, and available technology. Radiation Radiation therapy, or radiotherapy, uses various forms of radiation to safely and effectively treat prostate cancer. The goal of radiation is to kill the tumor while sparing as much healthy tissue as possible. Radiation therapy can be given externally (directed from outside the body) or internally (placed inside the body). Radiation is a key option for those with localized or locally advanced prostate cancer, but may also be used to relieve pain from bone metastases. Ultrasound and High Intensity Focused Ultrasound High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a minimally invasive, experimental procedure for the treatment of prostate cancer. It destroys prostate cancer cells through precise and focused ultrasound energy, or sound waves. Ultrasound may be a treatment option for patients whose prostate cancer is considered low- to intermediate-risk and is confined to the prostate. Cryotherapy Cryotherapy, also known as cryoablation or cryosurgery, is a prostate cancer treatment option that involves freezing the prostate tissue to destroy cancer cells. This minimally invasive procedure may be suitable for men with localized or locally advanced prostate cancer. While cryotherapy is not as common as other prostate cancer treatments like surgery or radiation therapy, it may be an option for certain patients. Your healthcare team will consider factors such as the stage and grade of your cancer, your overall health, and your personal preferences when determining if cryotherapy is appropriate for you.
Systemic therapies Systemic therapies refers to any type of treatment that targets or travels through the entire body. Systemic therapies for prostate cancer include: Hormone Therapy (Androgen-Deprivation) Prostate cancer cells typically rely on male hormones (androgens) like testosterone to grow. Hormone therapy, also known as androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), hormone deprivation therapy, or hormone suppression therapy, aims to reduce androgen levels in the body, slowing or stopping cancer growth. Hormone therapy is especially important for those with advanced disease, whose cancer has returned (recurrence) after surgery or radiation, or whose cancer is considered high-risk for metastasis (spread). Chemotherapy Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill rapidly dividing cancer cells throughout the body. It is typically reserved for advanced or metastatic prostate cancer that has spread beyond the prostate gland and is no longer responding to hormone therapy. Chemotherapy drugs are given intravenously (through the veins) or orally (as a pill), depending on the drug, and in cycles, with periods of treatment followed by rest periods. Immunotherapy Immunotherapy is a relatively new approach to treating prostate cancer that harnesses the power of the body's immune system to fight cancer cells. The most common type of immunotherapy for prostate cancer is the vaccine Sipuleucel-T (Provenge), which is designed to stimulate the immune system to target and attack prostate cancer cells. Immunotherapy may be an option for men with advanced prostate cancer who have limited treatment options. Radiopharmaceuticals Radiopharmaceutical therapy (molecular radiotherapy) is a targeted prostate cancer treatment that delivers radiation directly to tumor cells using a radioactive drug. This innovative approach minimizes radiation exposure to healthy tissue and may be suitable for advanced prostate cancer cases. The benefits of radiopharmaceutical therapy include its precision in targeting cancer cells, the ability to treat tumors that have spread to multiple areas of the body, and the potential for fewer side effects compared to conventional radiation therapy. Targeted Therapy Targeted therapy drugs specifically target cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy cells. These medications work by interfering with specific molecules involved in cancer cell growth and survival. A targeted therapy approach is a form of personalized cancer treatment, also known as precision medicine, and may have fewer side effects than other treatments. For prostate cancer, targeted therapy options include PARP inhibitors, PSMA targeted therapy, radioligand therapy, and others. Targeted therapy may be used in combination with other treatments, such as hormone therapy or chemotherapy, to improve outcomes for men with advanced prostate cancer.
Clinical trials Clinical Trials A clinical trial is a research study investigating experimental treatment to see if it is safe to use and effective in fighting a disease. Clinical trials are offered across all stages of disease, but they can be an important option for advanced prostate cancer patients in particular. All treatments used today for prostate cancer are available because of past clinical trials. Find a Clinical Trial It's important to ask and learn about clinical trials when you are making a treatment decision. Find out if one might be an option for you or your loved one.
Learn about side effects All treatment options have side effects that can impact your quality of life. Two of the most common are urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction. Before deciding on a treatment, talk with your doctor and learn about possible side effects and how to manage them. Prostate Cancer Side Effects
Play Video Close Treatment tool for advanced prostate cancer Need help deciding on the right treatment? Use our Interactive Decision Support Tool, developed in partnership with Clinical Care Options! This tool provides you with expert guidance on treatment options for advanced prostate cancer, based on characteristics you enter. Share the results with your care team and make the right choices together. Patient Interactive Treatment Tool