Understanding one's prostate cancer treatment options is a vital part of easing anxiety about the diagnosis and making informed care decisions. Those newly diagnosed must sort through a lot of information; our oncology team is here to help. This brief overview of how prostate cancer treatment works aims to help patients make sense of their options.
Prostate cancer gets its name due to it beginning in the prostate, the small walnut-sized gland in a man's pelvic area that produces seminal fluid. It is one of the most common types of cancer in men. The American Cancer Society reports about one in nine men will be diagnosed with it in their lifetime.
Risk factors include a family history of the disease and being over the age of 50. In addition, prostate cancer develops more often in African American men and Caribbean men of African ancestry than men of other races. However, if caught early, most cases respond well to treatment.
Treatment is tailored to each patient's circumstances and usually involves a combination of therapies. In addition to an oncologist, other specialists, such as a urologist, may be part of a patient's care team. Treatment decisions are made between the patient and their care team and are influenced by the following factors:
The patient's feelings are also considered, including their concerns over the possible side effects of treatment.
There is no one-size-fits-all prostate cancer treatment. Our team evaluates each patient individually when planning treatment, considering a patient's age and overall health, how fast the cancer is growing, and the benefits and side effects of treatment. The most effective plans are often a combination of one or more of the following approaches to prostate cancer treatment. Each approach has its own set of advantages and side effects to consider.
This approach involves regular tests and exams to monitor the cancer. Treatment may start with this if the cancer is caught at an early stage, is slow-growing, is confined to a small area, and is not showing symptoms. Active surveillance includes regular blood tests, rectal exams, and prostate biopsies to track the cancer's progression. We may also recommend this approach for those of an advanced age or with another serious health condition that would make other prostate cancer treatments difficult.
Surgery may be an option for cancer confined to the prostate. In addition, it may benefit those with more advanced cancer when combined with other treatments, such as chemotherapy. Surgery can involve the removal of the prostate gland, some of the surrounding tissue, and lymph nodes.
This common cancer treatment uses radiation or high-powered energy to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy is often combined with surgery or other treatment and can target cancer confined to the prostate or slow the growth of cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. It is possible to administer this treatment in a series of sessions of external beam radiation therapy or by placing a source of steady low-dose radiation in the prostate.
Testosterone helps prostate cancer cells grow. Hormone therapy aims to stop the body from producing testosterone, killing the cells, or slowing their growth. Hormone therapy typically involves medication and can help shrink advanced cancers. Hormone therapy may be used before radiation treatments to help increase their effectiveness.
If the cancer does not respond to hormone therapy, chemotherapy may be an option. This therapy employs drugs given orally or through IV to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy may also be combined with other therapies and is an option for cancer that has spread to other areas of the body.
This therapy is considered for treating small prostate cancers when surgery is not an option. There are two main approaches to ablative therapy: cryoblation and high-intensity focused ultrasound. Cryoblation employs very cold gas to freeze prostate tissue, killing the cancer cells and some of the surrounding tissue. High-intensity focused ultrasound, or HIFU uses heat energy to do this.
This therapy can help the body's immune system fight the cancer through medication or preparation using the patient's immune cells. Cancer cells produce proteins to help hide them from the immune system, but this therapy impairs that process. Through targeted drug therapy, doctors use medication designed to attack cancer cells, killing them, blocking their growth, or preventing their spread. These therapies are an option for treating advanced cancers that do not respond to hormone therapy.
Facing a cancer diagnosis is never easy. However, the team at Lindenberg Cancer & Hematology Center is here to help ease your anxieties and match you with the most effective treatment. Call our team today to learn more about your prostate cancer treatment options.
Request an appointment here: https://lindenbergcancer.com or call Lindenberg Cancer & Hematology Center at (856) 475-0876 for an appointment in our Marlton office.
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