Treatments for Localized Prostate Cancer Treatments for localized or early stage prostate cancer include active surveillance, surgery, and radiation. Focal therapy might also be an option. Jump To Jump To Treatment Options Experimental Treatments Early stage, or localized, prostate cancer refers to cancer that is still confined to the prostate—either Stage I or Stage II. If you have been diagnosed with early stage prostate cancer you will be able to choose which kind of treatment is best for you. You have time to do the research you need to make the right decision for you. Consider including those you love and respect as part of your journey, as they can provide support, insight, and help.While all prostate cancer treatment can have side effects, the most common side effects of surgery and radiation are erectile dysfunction (loss of erections) and urinary incontinence (leaking urine). It is important to talk with your doctor to understand potential side effects of each treatment option available to you. Ask your doctor questions and try to talk to other men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Most common treatment options Most men with early stage prostate cancer have several treatment options. The most common treatment options for early stage, or localized, prostate cancer include: Active surveillance Active surveillance is the close monitoring of the status of low-risk prostate cancer through regular office visits and repeat medical tests, such as the PSA test and the prostate biopsy. Learn more. Surgery (Prostatectomy) Surgery usually involves a radical prostatectomy, which is the removal of the entire prostate by a surgeon. Learn more. Radiation therapy Radiation therapy uses radiation to destroy the cancer cells in the prostate while leaving the prostate in the body. Learn more about the different types of radiation therapy. Play Video Close Difference between treatment options for localized prostate cancer Dr. Shaakir Hasan dives into the different treatment options for localized cancer including active surveillance, surgery, and radiation. Learn about the pros and cons of these treatments. Other experimental treatment options Active surveillance, surgery, and radiation remain the standard treatment for localized prostate cancer. However, there are several experimental treatment options that have emerged, many of which are still under study. Expand All Focal therapy Focal therapy is a broad term used to describe a variety of non- or minimally invasive techniques for targeting and destroying small tumors inside the prostate while sparing the normal tissue. Options that may be available to prostate cancer patients include:Ultrasound, such as HIFU or the TULSA procedure, uses heat to kill the prostate cancer cellsCryotherapy is the freezing of the tumor to destroy the cancer cellsFocal laser ablation (currently available only in clinical trials)Focal therapy may be a treatment option for early stage prostate cancer that is visible using imaging scans. Focal therapy is thought to “bridge the gap” between radical prostatectomy and active surveillance treatment options.Some advantages to focal therapy may include:Improved accuracy of treatmentReduced urinary and sexual function side effectsIncreased likelihood of preserving normal prostate tissue and functionOften performed as an outpatient therapyResearchers in clinical trials are working to better understand which prostate cancer patients are the best candidates for focal therapy and how long patients remain disease-free after treatment. Primary hormone therapy Hormone therapy, also known as androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), stops or slows the body’s ability to make testosterone, aiming to stop tumor growth and/or shrink the tumor. It has always been an important treatment for advanced prostate cancer, and is increasingly used in combination with radiation therapy to treat early stage prostate cancer. Studies have shown that ADT combined with radiation increases long-term survival.However, hormone therapy alone is not effective in treating localized prostate cancer. Hormone therapy alone has been shown in long-term studies to have worse survival than when it is used in combination with radiation. Which treatment is best for you?Your treatment options will depend on many factors, most importantly the characteristics of your cancer, including stage, grade, and risk category. Other factors that are unique to you include:Other health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, or other chronic conditionsPrevious prostate surgeryAgeYour personal preferencesGet a second opinionAsking for a second opinion is common practice. Gathering more knowledge about your diagnosis and the available treatment options may help you feel more comfortable with the decisions you make.At ZERO, we suggest that anyone diagnosed with prostate cancer consider having a consultation with a medical oncologist before making treatment decisions, particularly if you have high risk disease. While your treatment will most likely be managed by a urologist or radiation oncologist, meeting with a medical oncologist will help you to have a full picture of all treatment options available to you. This is especially important should your cancer return at some point in the future. 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. Treatment Side Effects Want to learn more? Visit the webinars and videos section of our website to find upcoming webinars as well as more educational videos about prostate cancer, treatment options, side effects, and treatment advances. View educational videos
Early stage, or localized, prostate cancer refers to cancer that is still confined to the prostate—either Stage I or Stage II. If you have been diagnosed with early stage prostate cancer you will be able to choose which kind of treatment is best for you. You have time to do the research you need to make the right decision for you. Consider including those you love and respect as part of your journey, as they can provide support, insight, and help.While all prostate cancer treatment can have side effects, the most common side effects of surgery and radiation are erectile dysfunction (loss of erections) and urinary incontinence (leaking urine). It is important to talk with your doctor to understand potential side effects of each treatment option available to you. Ask your doctor questions and try to talk to other men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Most common treatment options Most men with early stage prostate cancer have several treatment options. The most common treatment options for early stage, or localized, prostate cancer include: Active surveillance Active surveillance is the close monitoring of the status of low-risk prostate cancer through regular office visits and repeat medical tests, such as the PSA test and the prostate biopsy. Learn more. Surgery (Prostatectomy) Surgery usually involves a radical prostatectomy, which is the removal of the entire prostate by a surgeon. Learn more. Radiation therapy Radiation therapy uses radiation to destroy the cancer cells in the prostate while leaving the prostate in the body. Learn more about the different types of radiation therapy.
Play Video Close Difference between treatment options for localized prostate cancer Dr. Shaakir Hasan dives into the different treatment options for localized cancer including active surveillance, surgery, and radiation. Learn about the pros and cons of these treatments.
Other experimental treatment options Active surveillance, surgery, and radiation remain the standard treatment for localized prostate cancer. However, there are several experimental treatment options that have emerged, many of which are still under study. Expand All Focal therapy Focal therapy is a broad term used to describe a variety of non- or minimally invasive techniques for targeting and destroying small tumors inside the prostate while sparing the normal tissue. Options that may be available to prostate cancer patients include:Ultrasound, such as HIFU or the TULSA procedure, uses heat to kill the prostate cancer cellsCryotherapy is the freezing of the tumor to destroy the cancer cellsFocal laser ablation (currently available only in clinical trials)Focal therapy may be a treatment option for early stage prostate cancer that is visible using imaging scans. Focal therapy is thought to “bridge the gap” between radical prostatectomy and active surveillance treatment options.Some advantages to focal therapy may include:Improved accuracy of treatmentReduced urinary and sexual function side effectsIncreased likelihood of preserving normal prostate tissue and functionOften performed as an outpatient therapyResearchers in clinical trials are working to better understand which prostate cancer patients are the best candidates for focal therapy and how long patients remain disease-free after treatment. Primary hormone therapy Hormone therapy, also known as androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), stops or slows the body’s ability to make testosterone, aiming to stop tumor growth and/or shrink the tumor. It has always been an important treatment for advanced prostate cancer, and is increasingly used in combination with radiation therapy to treat early stage prostate cancer. Studies have shown that ADT combined with radiation increases long-term survival.However, hormone therapy alone is not effective in treating localized prostate cancer. Hormone therapy alone has been shown in long-term studies to have worse survival than when it is used in combination with radiation.
Which treatment is best for you?Your treatment options will depend on many factors, most importantly the characteristics of your cancer, including stage, grade, and risk category. Other factors that are unique to you include:Other health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, or other chronic conditionsPrevious prostate surgeryAgeYour personal preferencesGet a second opinionAsking for a second opinion is common practice. Gathering more knowledge about your diagnosis and the available treatment options may help you feel more comfortable with the decisions you make.At ZERO, we suggest that anyone diagnosed with prostate cancer consider having a consultation with a medical oncologist before making treatment decisions, particularly if you have high risk disease. While your treatment will most likely be managed by a urologist or radiation oncologist, meeting with a medical oncologist will help you to have a full picture of all treatment options available to you. This is especially important should your cancer return at some point in the future.
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. Treatment Side Effects
Want to learn more? Visit the webinars and videos section of our website to find upcoming webinars as well as more educational videos about prostate cancer, treatment options, side effects, and treatment advances. View educational videos
