Prostate Cancer Treatment Options

Dr. Peter Slocum, Chairman of Urology at Columbia St. Mary’s

Posted: Sept. 1, 2004

Most men will experience prostate health problems at some point in their lives. Prostate cancer grows slowly in the majority of men, and most never know they have prostate cancer until it becomes advanced and affects other health areas.

“There are really no symptoms of early prostate cancer,” said Dr. Peter Slocum, chairman of urology at Columbia St. Mary’s. “The key is to find it early through regular screening exams–before it spreads.”

Peter Slocum, M.D., Chairman of Urology at Columbia St. Mary’s "The key is to find it early through regular screening exams–before it spreads."

Surgery Options
Surgery is one of the more effective ways for prostate cancer to be treated. There are currently three types being used: laparoscopy, traditional open surgery, and robotic surgery.

Laparoscopy consists of making four small incisions, one-half to one centimeter in length, to complete the process. Traditional open surgery requires one cut about eight centimeters long, and robotic surgery uses six, one-centimeter long incisions.

Other Treatment Options
“Other treatment options for prostate cancer may be useful for treating various stages of prostate cancer,” Slocum said. These include:

• Hormone therapy, which may involve the use of injections to reduce a man’s testosterone level. Male hormones, especially testosterone, stimulate the growth of cancer celles in the prostate. Hormone therapy reduces the man’s testosterone level to “starve” the cancer cells. This treatment is usually done when the cancer has spread beyond the prostate and may be done in conjunction with radiation therapy.
• Radiation therapy, which uses radiation to kill cancer cells.
• Brachytherapy, which uses surgically implanted radioactive “seeds” to kill the cancer from the inside.
• Cryotherapy, which uses extreme cold to kill cancer cells. It is ideal for a man who has had radiation therapy for prostate cancer and whose cancer has returned. Unlike radiation or surgery, cryotherapy can be repeated if necessary.

“Presently, there is no adequate chemotherapy for prostate cancer,” Slocum said.

Ultimately, if prostate cancer is detected early, when it’s still confined to the prostate gland, a man has a better chance of successful treatment with minimal side effects.

We Have Answers Do you have medical questions or need help finding a doctor? The experts at Columbia St. Mary's and Advanced Healthcare can help. Click here.