The Best Treatment for Prostate Cancer

The best treatment for prostate cancer depends on a patient's age and general health. The size and aggressiveness of the cancer are other important factors. Consult with a physician to determine the best treatment for your particular cancer diagnosis.

Prostate Removal

• The Mayo Clinic states that for most men, a procedure called a prostatectomy is appropriate. This treatment, which involves surgical removal of the entire prostate gland, is recommended for younger men, men who are healthy enough to withstand surgery and/or men with more aggressive cancer. When the cancer is local to the prostate, a prostatectomy can provide a complete cure. It has a better prognosis than radiation and other alternative methods of killing cancer cells, because removal of the prostate gland ensures that the cancer will not return.

Surgical Alernatives

• A procedure called cryotherapy may be possible when surgery is not possible. Cryotherapy involves freezing the prostate gland instead of removing it surgically. The freezing process kills the cancer cells. The Mayo Clinic states that this is an option for men unable to undergo surgery, and effectively removes the cancer in the short term. However, the long-term results are not usually as good as with surgical removal because the prostate glands can become infected again.

Radiation

• Radiation is usually the best alternative to surgery. Radiation involves using radioactive energy to kill the cancer cells. It is usually administered five days a week for several weeks. Two specific forms of radiation may be recommended. First, intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) involves implanting gold markers in the prostate to help target radiation beams specifically to the cancer. The second method involves brachytherapy, the implantation of rice-sized radioactive seeds directly into the prostate. Radiation can be effective as an alternative to surgery or an accompanying therapy.