Cancer. The word grabs attention and often leaves one feeling morose. But it will be uplifting to learn that while cancer cases are increasing, the number of people recovering is also going up. With medical advancements, many treatment options are available these days. Here, we will discuss the treatment options for prostate cancer, a common type of cancer seen in men.

Treatments for prostate cancer
Many crucial factors determine the course of cancer treatment, including the size of the tumor, how far it has spread, the growth rate, and the patient’s age and preferences. In some cases, immediate intervention in terms of treatment may not be necessary. Low-grade tumors typically necessitate only active surveillance, that is, regular tests. Here are the treatment options for prostate cancer:

1. Surgery
If cancer has not spread and if the patient is healthy, doctors often recommend surgery. The typical process is a radical prostatectomy, where experts remove the prostate, some surrounding tissues, and a few lymph nodes. There are naturally some risks with any surgery. This treatment can cause bladder control issues and erectile dysfunction. One can speak to a surgeon and oncologist before deciding on surgery as a treatment option. In some cases, surgery need not be enough, and doctors might use other treatments in combination.

2. Radiation
While, on the one hand, cancer can be caused by exposure to radiation, the treatment can also involve high-energy beams of radiation. Radiation therapy is preferred when the tumor is limited to the prostate or when the bones are affected. This treatment is also used to get rid of cancer cells that surgery may have left behind. The radiation can be given externally, where a machine directs rays at the tumor, or internally, where a radioactive “seed” is surgically placed near the cancerous growth.

3. Hormone therapy
The male hormone testosterone plays a role in enabling the growth of prostate cancer cells. So hormone therapy aims to deprive the cells of androgens, earning it the name androgen deprivation therapy. Some drugs lower testosterone levels, while others block the functioning of the hormone. In severe cases, the gland producing androgens, the testicles, are removed surgically.

4. Chemotherapy
While it sounds rather scary, chemotherapy simply involves using “chemicals” for a therapeutic purpose. These drugs can be administered orally or via IV and are typically given in multiple doses. The chemicals travel through the body and target only cancer cells. It is usually used when hormone therapy fails. However, there are some unpleasant side effects to chemotherapy like nausea and weight loss, but overall the good outweighs the bad.

5. Other treatments
Besides the treatments mentioned above, there are other possibilities as well. However, a disclaimer: these treatments are often experimental and lack large-scale studies on side effects and effectiveness:

• High-intensity ultrasound: works like radiation therapy and kills cancer cells by delivering heat.
• Immune-modulatory therapy: aims at aiding the immune system to target and kill tumor cells.
• Cryotherapy: the tumors are frozen with cold gases.