Prostate Cancer Treatment
There are currently four main options:
Surgery
The entire prostate gland is removed in an operation called a ‘prostatectomy’.
Radiotherapy
High energy x-rays are used to destroy the prostate cancer cells.
Brachytherapy
A treatment where radioactive ‘seeds’ are implanted directly into the tumour.
Hormone treatment
Drugs can be used to lower the level of testosterone in the blood, which has the effect of slowing or stopping the growth of the cancerous prostate tumour. However, some prostate tumours develop the ability to grow without testosterone.
These treatments carry the risk of side-effects including incontinence and long-term impotence.
Other Options
Active Surveillance
Some types of prostate cancer grow so slowly that they will never cause the patient any problems. Doctors can monitor prostate cancer closely, with PSA tests and biopsies, and recommend treatment only if the cancer starts to grow.
Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy
In recent years Everyman scientists have developed Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy, a new, more accurate, method of delivering radiotherapy which may lead to a reduction in side effects, and therefore allows the possibility of giving higher doses leading to an increased cure rate.
Everyman is working hard to develop more improved treatments for men with prostate cancer
