It may sound trite, but just like we are all individuals, so too is every treatment regimen unique. To determine the most appropriate course will likely involve a number of conversations with your cancer care team in order to arrive at a plan that fits your age, any other health conditions, the stage and grade of your cancer, etc.
In the previous posts on Prostate Cancer we’ve looked at causes, risk factors and detection, in this post we’ll lay out some of the treatment options. Of course, you will want to discuss these (and any others) with your physician prior to making any decisions. There are four primary methods of treatment:
- surgery – if the prostate cancer has not spread outside the gland, surgery may often be considered. In this option your surgeon will attempt to remove your entire prostate gland, along with the surrounding seminal vesicles.
- radiation therapy – another option for cancer that hasn’t spread very far is to use high-energy rays in an effort to kill the cancer cells.
- hormone therapy – androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) aims to reduce the levels of male hormone (called androgens) in your body. Androgens will stimulate the growth of the prostate cancer cells, so lowering their concentration will often slow the growth of, or even diminish the size of your prostate—however, it does not cure prostate cancer.
- chemotherapy – if prostate cancer has spread beyond the prostate gland, and hormone therapy is ineffective, chemotherapy may be used.
For a comprehensive list of prostate cancer treatment options check out the [National Comprehensive Cancer Network](http://www.nccn.org “”) (the NCCN develops treatment guidelines for doctors) and the [National Cancer Institute](http://www.cancer.gov “”) (the NCI provides treatment guidelines via its website and its telephone information center at 1-800-4-CANCER).
In my next post we’ll look at the questions you should ask your doctor, along with a look at “life after treatment.”
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