Doctors can diagnose prostate cancer early if one goes for periodic screening. In many cases, since the cancer is diagnosed only at an advanced stage, doctors start aggressive treatment right after diagnosis. The goal of the treatment is to stop and control the spread of cancer as quickly as possible. They will combine one or more treatment methods based on your medical history, overall health, and stage. Read on to know the common treatment methods for prostate cancer.

1. Active Surveillance
This is recommended to men with early-stage prostate cancer. Doctors track cancer closely via frequent screening tests like DRE, PSAs, and biopsies. To arrest any growth, they will recommend surgery or radiation therapy. Active surveillance prevents avoidable costs and side effects that are associated with cancer treatment.

2. Surgery
Since prostate affects men above 60 years of age, surgery is recommended only for good overall health, and if the cancer is still at an early stage. Doctors remove the prostate through a procedure called Prostatectomy. This type of surgery to ensure that cancer has not spread to the nearby lymph nodes. Doctors also use non-invasive procedures like laparoscopy, where small cuts are made, and the prostate is removed. Another rarely used surgery is perineal Prostatectomy, where doctors make a cut between the anus and scrotum and remove the prostate.

3. Radiation therapy
It is ideal for early-stage prostate cancer and men who are older and have other comorbidities. There are two types of radiation therapy.

External beam radiation: A machine moves above the body and sends radiation to the prostate’s exact marked spot from multiple directions. Treatment is done five days a week for about 6 to 9 weeks. This therapy targets only cancer avoiding radiation to other tissues nearby.

Brachytherapy: Radioactive material is directly placed in the prostate. Doctors use both low-dose and high-dose radiation to eliminate cancerous cells from the prostate. The radiation is imparted through seeds smaller than the size of a rice grain that is placed on the prostate through catheters. The biggest advantage of such treatment is that you can have radioactive material implanted and go home without the need for hospitalization. However, the catheters will be removed only after the entire treatment is completed.

4. Hormone therapy
Male sex hormones known as testosterone can aid in the growth of prostate cancer. Hormone therapy slows down the growth of these hormones in the cancer cells. This therapy can be combined with radiation therapy and is normally recommended for low-risk prostate cancer, for men above 70 years of age, and if a person is under active surveillance.

5. Cryosurgery
Another yet to be approved treatment is cryosurgery. It works by freezing cancer cells in the prostate. Liquid nitrogen is injected either through the skin or through an incision between the scrotum and anus. The freezing stops the cancer cells from growing further.