• It is advised in elderly patients who are below 70 years of age with the tumor restricted to the prostate gland.

• It involves complete removal of the prostate gland.

• It requires a hospital stay of 2–3 days and full activity can be resumed after a month of the surgery.

• It offers a long-term cure rate.

• Side-effects are rare and can include incontinence and impotence.

• It is advised in patients above 70 years of age with the tumor restricted to the prostate gland.

• If the tumor is exposed to radiation at controlled doses daily for 4–6 weeks or pellets that emit radiation at a controlled rate at surgically implanted near the prostate gland.

• It does not require hospital stay; no risks related to surgery and anesthesia; no risk of incontinence.

• Cure rate similar to that of surgery

• Disadvantages include higher risk of recurrence; risk of impotence

• This is advised in elderly patients with concomitant significant medical conditions that negates the possibility of surgery or radiotherapy; and if the tumor size is small.

• It involves administration of medications to control the production of testosterone.

• The side–effects, risks of surgery and radiotherapy are eliminated.

• The major disadvantage is curative treatment cannot be carried out if the cancer progresses.

• This has been studied extensively

• This is advised in cases that do not respond to watchful waiting protocol.

• It involves of administration of drugs such as estramustine that restrict the abnormal growth of cells

• This is associated with various side-effects such as hair loss, nausea, mouth sores and stomach upsets.^1,2 

Next page: Causes of prostate cancer

Written by: Healthplus24 team
Date last updated: April 20, 2012