Treatment for Prostate Cancer

The four types of treatment for prostate cancer are active surveillance, surgery, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy.

By The Survivors Club Staff
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Types of Prostate Cancer Treatment

There are four main types of treatment for prostate cancer:

Watchful Waiting (aka Active Surveillance)

ACS: Prostate Cancer - Expectant Management (Watchful Waiting)

Surgery

Radiation Therapy

Hormone Therapy

ACS: Prostate Cancer - Hormone (Androgen Deprivation) Therapy

Other Therapies

Chemotherapy is sometimes used to treat prostate cancer as well:

ACS: Prostate Cancer - Chemotherapy

Possible Treatment Side Effects

Common side effects for prostate cancer treatment include urinary problems, erectile dysfunction, and rectal bleeding. Side effects vary widely, depending on severity of disease and the type of treatment:

Prostate Cancer Foundation: Side Effects

New Therapies

Gene therapy and immune therapies are currently being investigated, but are presently only being used in experimental treatments on a very small scale:

Holistic Treatments

There are a number of holistic treatments and diets recommended for prostate cancer patients:

Communicating with Your Health Care Providers

  • Bring a friend or family member with you to your appointments, not only to provide support but to lend an extra ear and ask questions you may not have thought of.
  • Don't be afraid to ask any questions you feel you need the answer to, even if you may be scared of the answer.
  • Write down any questions ahead of time and jot down the answers as your health-care provider walks you through them.  Don't be afraid to ask for clarification on anything.

After Treatment for Prostate Cancer

After you've finished treatment for prostate cancer you are beginning a new phase in your survivor journey: recovery. This can be a good time to assess and share with others how you feel emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. By telling your story, you can not only put into perspective your thoughts and feelings but you can provide hope to others who are going through a similar journey themselves, whether it be with prostate cancer, another form of cancer, or a completely different disease or crisis.

Remission & Recovery

Finishing treatment doesn't necessarily mean that any worries about your health go away. Make sure you keep up with the check-ups your doctor schedules for you, and do all you can to lower your risk for a recurrence:

Recurrence

Sometimes, unfortunately, prostate cancer does return: 
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