Prostate cancer treatments and solutions

There are four ways to approach initial prostate cancer treatment and management: active surveillance, radical prostatectomy, radiation therapy, and androgen deprivation therapy. Here is a brief look at each one:

Active surveillance

With active surveillance, you monitor your prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels for changes and undergo regular digital rectal examinations and occasional prostate biopsies.

Radical prostatectomy

This surgical procedure involves removing the entire prostate gland and surrounding affected tissue. Since this is a delicate operation, there is a risk of cutting essential nerves involved in getting and maintaining an erection.

Radiation therapy

In general, radiation treatments tend to cause less nerve damage compared with radical prostatectomy. The amount of damage depends on the dosage needed and the number of sessions.

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT)

 Prostate cancer can be fuelled by testosterone; ADT aims to slow cancer growth by shutting down testosterone production. Since testosterone (the sex hormone) is cut off, men often experience fatigue and diminished libido.