Prostate Cancer Treatment: Local Versus Systemic Therapy
Prostate cancer treatment involves either local therapy or systemic therapy:
- Local therapy: Surgery and radiation therapy are local prostate cancer treatments. They remove or destroy cancer in the prostate. When prostate cancer has spread to other parts of the body, local therapy may be used to control the disease in those specific areas.
- Systemic therapy: Hormone therapy is systemic therapy. Hormones are given to control cancer that has spread.
Prostate Cancer Treatment Options
The prostate cancer treatment that is right for you depends on:
- The stage of the cancer
- The grade of the tumor
- Your symptoms of prostate cancer
- Your general health.
The treatment that is best for one man may not be best for another. Your doctor will describe your treatment choices and the expected results.
Prostate cancer treatment may involve:
In addition, you may have a combination of prostate cancer treatments.
You should consider both the expected benefits and possible side effects of each treatment option. You may want to discuss with your doctor the possible effects on sexual activity. You can work with your doctor to create a prostate cancer treatment plan that reflects your medical needs and personal values.
Previous
Add this article to your Favorites
Email this article
Print