Treatment options by stage
Your doctor will discuss with you the various treatment options that are available depending on the stage of prostate cancer that you are diagnosed with. The following is a guide to the treatment options that may be suggested
Standard treatments to control the prostate cancer.
- Active surveillance.
- Radical prostatectomy, usually with pelvic lymphadenectomy.
- External beam radiotherapy.
- Brachytherapy – interstitial implants of radioactive seeds.
- Clinical trials of new therapies may be an option.
Standard treatments to control the prostate cancer.
- Active surveillance.
- Radical prostatectomy, usually with pelvic lymphadenectomy. Radiotherapy may also be given after surgery.
- External beam radiotherapy. Hormone therapy may be recommended after the radiotherapy.
- Brachytherapy.
- Clinical trials with new therapies may be an option.
Treatments usually include a combination of brachytherapy, radiotherapy, hormonal therapy and surgery to alleviate urinary symptoms. Patients at stage III are at high risk for metastatic spread of prostate cancer. The treatment goal is to maximally destroy the cancer and reduce the possibility of further spread. Some patients may have untraceable metastatic spread which requires indefinite systemic hormonal treatment.
- External radiotherapy. Hormone therapy is consistently recommended with and after the radiotherapy.
- Hormone therapy, usually in conjunction with other treatment method and may be continued indefinitely.
- Radical prostatectomy is uncommon and performed only in selected patients and typically followed by external radiation and hormone therapy.
- Brachytherapy and external radiotherapy routinely together with hormone therapy.
- Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) to alleviate urinary symptoms.
- Watchful waiting (observation).
- Clinical trials with new therapies may be an option.
The goals of treatment focus on slowing disease progression, improving quality of life and increasing survival time.
- Hormone therapy.
- Chemotherapy in combination with hormone therapy.
- Palliative external radiotherapy to control symptoms or prevent fracture of affected by cancer bones.
- Palliative internal radiotherapy.
- Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).
- Watchful waiting (observation).
EM-183447. June 2025
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