Prostate Cancer Treatments There is lots of reason for hope with many available prostate cancer treatments. Your treatment options will depend on many factors, most notably the stage and grade of your cancer. Learn more about your options. Jump To Jump To Local Therapies Systemic Therapies Clinical Trials Side Effects 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 genomic 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 tumorDo 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 Active surveillance is a disease management strategy for low risk, early stage (localized) prostate cancer. This strategy monitors the disease for signs of progression (with regular PSA testing, DREs, biopsies and/or imaging) but avoids immediate treatment with surgery or radiation. If test results change, treatment may be warranted. 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: Treatments for Localized Prostate Cancer Prostatectomy (Prostate Cancer Surgery) Surgery removes all or part of the prostate, also known as a prostatectomy, with the goal to remove all of the prostate cancer. It is an option for those with localized or locally advanced prostate cancer. 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 called cryoablation or cryosurgery, freezes prostate tissue, causing cancer cells to die. Cryotherapy, while uncommon, is an option for those with localized or locally advanced prostate cancer. 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) Hormone therapy is also called androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), hormone deprivation therapy, or hormone suppression therapy. Hormone therapy stops or slows the body’s ability to make testosterone, aiming to stop tumor growth and/or shrink the tumor. 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 is a type of prostate cancer treatment that is used to kill cancer cells throughout the body. They are given intravenously (through the veins) or orally (as a pill), depending on the drug. Chemotherapy may be used when a patient’s prostate cancer has metastasized (spread). Immunotherapy Immunotherapy treats the whole body by attempting to activate a person’s immune system so that it will recognize and destroy prostate cancer cells. This may be a treatment option for advanced prostate cancer patients. Radiopharmaceuticals Radiopharmaceutical therapy is also called molecular radiotherapy. This therapy targets cancer cells with a radioactive drug and brings the radiation directly to the tumor cells, limiting radiation exposure to healthy tissue. Targeted Therapy Targeted therapy uses drugs that are designed to find and attack cancer cells. 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. Different types of targeted therapies for advanced prostate cancer include PARP inhibitors, PSMA targeted therapy, radioligand therapy, and others. 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
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 genomic 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 tumorDo 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 Active surveillance is a disease management strategy for low risk, early stage (localized) prostate cancer. This strategy monitors the disease for signs of progression (with regular PSA testing, DREs, biopsies and/or imaging) but avoids immediate treatment with surgery or radiation. If test results change, treatment may be warranted. 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: Treatments for Localized Prostate Cancer Prostatectomy (Prostate Cancer Surgery) Surgery removes all or part of the prostate, also known as a prostatectomy, with the goal to remove all of the prostate cancer. It is an option for those with localized or locally advanced prostate cancer. 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 called cryoablation or cryosurgery, freezes prostate tissue, causing cancer cells to die. Cryotherapy, while uncommon, is an option for those with localized or locally advanced prostate cancer.
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) Hormone therapy is also called androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), hormone deprivation therapy, or hormone suppression therapy. Hormone therapy stops or slows the body’s ability to make testosterone, aiming to stop tumor growth and/or shrink the tumor. 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 is a type of prostate cancer treatment that is used to kill cancer cells throughout the body. They are given intravenously (through the veins) or orally (as a pill), depending on the drug. Chemotherapy may be used when a patient’s prostate cancer has metastasized (spread). Immunotherapy Immunotherapy treats the whole body by attempting to activate a person’s immune system so that it will recognize and destroy prostate cancer cells. This may be a treatment option for advanced prostate cancer patients. Radiopharmaceuticals Radiopharmaceutical therapy is also called molecular radiotherapy. This therapy targets cancer cells with a radioactive drug and brings the radiation directly to the tumor cells, limiting radiation exposure to healthy tissue. Targeted Therapy Targeted therapy uses drugs that are designed to find and attack cancer cells. 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. Different types of targeted therapies for advanced prostate cancer include PARP inhibitors, PSMA targeted therapy, radioligand therapy, and others.
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
