Prostate cancer treatments

Once you receive the news that your loved one has prostate cancer, you may be anxious for him to start treatment as soon as possible.

If your man has had a biopsy, it is likely that he will need some time for the biopsy site to heal. This is good, because it gives you some time to learn about the different prostate cancer treatments.

Finding the best treatment for prostate cancer

Only your loved one's doctor can tell you what the best treatment option will be for your specific case. There are many types of treatments for prostate cancer. There are also different doctors who specialize in them. For example, a urologist typically specializes in surgery for prostate cancer, while a radiologist specializes in radiation therapy. Bear in mind that the type of specialty may influence a physician’s opinion or recommendation.

Try to learn as much as you can about all the options before you visit with different specialists. This may help make your discussions more productive. You can start by reading about the different treatments below:

• Radical retropubic prostatectomy
• Radical perineal prostatectomy
• Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy
• Robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy

• Internal radiation therapy
• External radiation therapy

There are many factors that may guide your decision. Some include hard facts, such as the stage and grade of your loved one’s cancer, his age, and if he has any other serious health problems. But there are a lot of emotional factors too, including how your man feels about the treatment itself, the anticipated recovery time, and the risk of side effects.

While the risk of urinary incontinence or impotence may seem acceptable to you if a treatment cures your loved one’s cancer, it may not be acceptable to him. That’s why it’s important to discuss the pros and cons of each option together with the doctor.

Knowledge is key

The reason that knowledge is so important is that the final decision is ultimately up to you and your loved one.

Updated 9/09

Always discuss everything you read on this web site with a qualified medical professional.



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