Prostate Cancer Treatment
Updated: Feb 15, 2020
Prostate cancer represents approximately 10 percent of all new cancer diagnoses in the United States. The good news is, approximately 90 percent of all prostate cancer cases are detected early, before the disease has had a chance to spread, so the cure rate is very high.
Prostate cancer treatment options
Some types of prostate cancer grow quite slowly and need monitoring, however, other types of prostate cancer are aggressive and require radiation, surgery, hormone therapy, chemotherapy or other treatments, depending on what’s right for you. The skilled physicians at The START Center for Cancer Care have a few recommended treatments. These include:
Watchful waiting/active surveillance
Surgery
Radiation therapy
Cryotherapy
Hormone therapy
Chemotherapy
Vaccine treatment
Bone-directed treatment
These treatment options are typically used one at a time, although may be combined in some cases.
What to consider when choosing a treatment option
Each treatment option comes with its own set of pros and cons. If given the option, and before deciding on any treatment, here are a few things you should consider:
Is active surveillance something you would be comfortable with, even if it requires frequent follow-up visits to a cancer specialist?
Are you interested in exploring new technology, which may have theoretical advantages, or do you prefer treatment methods that are better proven?
Which potential side effects (e.g., incontinence, impotence, bowel problems) are most worrisome for you?
Are you comfortable without knowing the results of the treatment for a while, as with radiation, or do you think you would want to know right away, as with surgery?
How important are issues like recovery and treatment time?
You are not alone in these decisions. Our skilled cancer specialists are with you each step of the way. However, it is a good idea to be prepared and understand your own personal preferences. If you are interested in scheduling an appointment with one of The START Center for Cancer Care’s highly trained, highly experienced cancer specialists for you or a loved one, please call 210-593-5790. We are eager to treat your prostate cancer and to help improve your quality of life.