Not all prostate cancers (PCs) are the same. They include everything from cancer of the prostate gland to cancer that spreads outside of it to the lymph nodes (clusters of cells that help the immune system), bones, or other parts of the body. It varies from person to person.
Your treatment options may be influenced by the:
- Stage of the cancer: how far it has spread already
- Aggressiveness of the cancer: how quickly it will spread and grow
- Your health, age, and medical history
- Your treatment choices and treatment goals
Click through the stages of PC to see treatment options, so you can Talk That Talk with your doctor about pros, cons, possible side effects of any treatment options, and which option will be best for you:
When prostate cancer (PC) is limited to the prostate.
ACTIVE SURVEILLANCE
Your doctor may closely monitor your PSA (prostate-specific antigen) levels over time for increases that indicate changes in your PC before recommending treatment. Other tests may be done at this stage to help determine your treatment choices, or treatment may only be recommended to relieve the symptoms of PC.
SURGERY
If the cancer is only found in your prostate, your doctor may recommend removing your prostate to prevent the cancer from spreading. The procedure is called a radical prostatectomy.
MINIMALLY INVASIVE PROCEDURE
Minimally invasive procedures use small incisions and microscopic tools to reduce pain, speed up recovery, and lessen complications after surgery. Some minimally invasive procedures include:
- Robotic surgery: Surgery that involves using a robotic device and a computer to control its movement
- Cryosurgery: Surgery that consists of freezing and removing parts of the prostate
- High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound: A procedure where high-energy sound waves are used to destroy cancer cells
RADIATION THERAPY
This treatment uses high-energy radiation to destroy cancer cells. Radiation treatment is sometimes combined with a treatment called androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), which keeps PC cells from spreading.
If your PSA (prostate-specific antigen) levels increase after treatment to your prostate — including surgery to remove the prostate or radiation — it is known as PSA failure, and you may require more treatment to prevent the cancer from spreading. Here are a few options:
ANDROGEN DEPRIVATION THERAPY (ADT)
ADT is a type of medicine that helps to block your body from making male hormones, specifically testosterone. Testosterone plays a major role in prostate cancer growth, so blocking it helps stop the cancer.
RADIATION THERAPY
This treatment uses high-energy radiation to destroy cancer cells. Radiation treatment is sometimes combined with a treatment called androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), which keeps PC cells from spreading.
ACTIVE SURVEILLANCE
Your doctor may closely monitor your PSA (prostate-specific antigen) levels over time for increases that indicate changes in your PC before recommending treatment. Other tests may be done at this stage to help determine your treatment choices, or treatment may only be recommended to relieve the symptoms of PC.
SURGERY
If the cancer is only found in your prostate, your doctor may recommend removing your prostate to prevent the cancer from spreading. The procedure is called a radical prostatectomy.
Prostate cancer (PC) that has not spread to other parts of the body and still responds to treatment that lowers testosterone.
ANDROGEN DEPRIVATION THERAPY (ADT)
ADT is a type of medicine that helps to block your body from making male hormones, specifically testosterone. Testosterone plays a major role in prostate cancer growth, so blocking it helps stop the cancer.
SURGERY
An orchiectomy is a surgical option that involves the removal of both testicles. This procedure prevents the body from producing the male hormones (androgens) that fuel prostate cancer growth.
ANTI-ANDROGENS
Anti-androgens work by preventing the male hormones (androgens) from attaching to the outside of prostate cancer cells. PC cells can grow and spread when androgens are present, so these medications block that process.
ACTIVE SURVEILLANCE
Your doctor may closely monitor your PSA (prostate-specific antigen) levels over time for increases that indicate changes in your PC before recommending treatment. Other tests may be done at this stage to help determine your treatment choices, or treatment may only be recommended to relieve the symptoms of PC.
This is prostate cancer (PC) that has not spread to other parts of the body but no longer responds to treatment that lowers testosterone.
ANDROGEN DEPRIVATION THERAPY (ADT)
ADT is a type of medicine that helps to block your body from making male hormones, specifically testosterone. Testosterone plays a major role in prostate cancer growth, so blocking it helps stop the cancer.
ANTI-ANDROGENS
Anti-androgens work by preventing the male hormones (androgens) from attaching to the outside of prostate cancer cells. PC cells can grow and spread when androgens are present, so these medications block that process.
OBSERVATION
Depending on the stage of prostate cancer, your doctor gathers information about your prostate cancer but may not need to treat you. You'll have regular prostate exams and PSA (prostate-specific antigen) tests to make sure the cancer is not getting worse.
Prostate cancer (PC) that has spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body but still responds to treatment that lowers testosterone.
ANDROGEN DEPRIVATION THERAPY (ADT)
ADT is a type of medicine that helps to block your body from making male hormones, specifically testosterone. Testosterone plays a major role in prostate cancer growth, so blocking it helps stop the cancer.
ANTI-ANDROGENS
Anti-androgens work by preventing the male hormones (androgens) from attaching to the outside of prostate cancer cells. PC cells can grow and spread when androgens are present, so these medications block that process.
CHEMOTHERAPY
Chemotherapy is a treatment for prostate cancer that uses medication to kill cancer cells. The medications can be taken by mouth or injected into a vein or muscle.
Prostate cancer that has spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body and no longer responds to medical or surgical treatment that lowers testosterone.
ANDROGEN DEPRIVATION THERAPY (ADT)
ADT is a type of medicine that helps to block your body from making male hormones, specifically testosterone. Testosterone plays a major role in prostate cancer growth, so blocking it helps stop the cancer.
ANTI-ANDROGENS
Anti-androgens work by preventing the male hormones (androgens) from attaching to the outside of prostate cancer cells. PC cells can grow and spread when androgens are present, so these medications block that process.
IMMUNOTHERAPY
Prostate cancer can have a serious impact on your immune system because healthy cells die off and weaken your body's ability to defend itself. Immunotherapy is a treatment to boost or restore the ability of the immune system to fight cancer.
CHEMOTHERAPY
Chemotherapy is a treatment for prostate cancer that uses medication to kill cancer cells. The medications can be taken by mouth or injected into a vein or muscle.
RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS
Radiopharmaceuticals are medications that contain radioactive components. They can be used in the treatment of cancer that has spread to bones and also helps reduce pain related to bone cancer. Once injected into the vein, these medicines target the prostate cancer cells and the radioactive component kills the prostate cancer cells. They can also be used for diagnostic purposes.
OBSERVATION
Depending on the stage of prostate cancer, your doctor gathers information about your prostate cancer but may not need to treat you. You’ll have regular prostate exams and prostate-specific antigen tests to make sure the cancer is not getting worse.
PALLIATIVE CARE
Palliative care is a special type of medical care offered to patients with serious or end-of-life illnesses. The treatment goal of palliative care is to keep you comfortable. You can expect relief from pain and other symptoms, as well as support for your loved ones who are helping you.
CLINICAL TRIALS
Clinical trials help scientists understand which treatments under clinical investigation work best for different people because our bodies can react differently to medicines based on factors like sex, age, race, and ethnicity. However, Black communities remain underrepresented in clinical trials because we often don't know enough about them.
Participating in clinical trials not only helps to change a long history of misunderstanding about the impact of medicine on Black people, but it's also a good way of getting research-based treatments that aren't yet available to the public.
When it comes to personalized prostate cancer care, clinical trials can help scientists tailor our treatment.