A prostate cancer diagnosis can bring many questions and decisions. Treatment depends on the type of prostate cancer you have, how advanced it is and your overall health. Some prostate cancers grow slowly and may not need treatment right away. Others need more active care.
At Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, prostate cancer care is personalized and coordinated. A multidisciplinary team works together to guide treatment decisions and support you at every stage of care.
There isn’t one treatment plan that works for everyone. Treatment decisions are made together by you and your care team. You will talk openly about options, risks and benefits.
Things that help decide treatment include:
In many cases, prostate cancer treatment plans are reviewed by a multidisciplinary tumor board. This group of specialists works together to make sure all options are considered.
Precision medicine helps your care team tailor treatments to the specific features of your prostate cancer. This approach looks beyond standard test results to better understand what is driving your cancer.
This might include:
Using this information, your team can help match you with treatments that are most likely to work for your cancer, avoid therapies that may not be helpful and identify targeted therapies or clinical trials when appropriate.
Treatment depends on how advanced the cancer is, risk level and your personal goals. Some men might get just one type of treatment, while others may need a combination of therapies.
Active surveillance might be an option for men with low-risk prostate cancer or if the cancer is not causing symptoms.
This may include:
The goal is to closely monitor the cancer while avoiding unnecessary treatments and side effects. If the tumor shows signs of growth or change, treatment can begin.
Surgery removes the prostate and might be recommended for prostate cancer that is only in one place (localized).
Types of surgery include:
Recovery may involve a short hospital stay, a temporary catheter and a gradual return to daily activities. Your care team will help manage side effects and support your healing.
Radiation therapy uses powerful beams of energy to destroy cancer cells. It can be used alone or with hormone therapy.
Types of radiation therapy include:
Your radiation oncologist will help decide the best treatment for your cancer and health. Side effects are watched closely and treated to help you feel better.
Prostate cancer often depends on testosterone to grow. Hormone therapy reduces or blocks the amount of testosterone in the body to help slow down the cancer.
Hormone therapy may be used:
Treatment may be short- or long-term, depending on how serious the cancer is. Side effects are managed with medicines, lifestyle guidance and supportive care.
Systemic treatments travel throughout the body and are often used for aggressive or metastatic prostate cancer.
Your care team will explain which options may be appropriate for you.
Theranostics is an advanced treatment that combines diagnosis and therapy:
Theranostics might be an option for some advanced prostate cancers.
Supportive care focuses on comfort, recovery and quality of life during and after treatment.
Some treatments may affect bladder control. Support may include:
Changes in sexual function are common and treatable. Support may include:
Radiation therapy may cause bowel changes. Care may include:
A cancer diagnosis can cause stress, fear or anxiety. Support services include:
Pain caused by cancer or treatment is treated proactively. Palliative care services focus on comfort, symptom relief and emotional support at any stage of care.
Clinical trials offer access to new and emerging prostate cancer treatments:
Ask your provider if a clinical trial may be right for you.
Care does not end when prostate cancer treatment is finished. Follow-up and survivorship care are important parts of long-term health and peace of mind. These visits help your care team monitor recovery, manage side effects and watch for signs that cancer may return.
After treatment, regular follow-up visits help track how your body is healing and how well the treatment worked. Most men continue to get PSA blood tests on a schedule set by their care team. Your provider will explain what the results mean and how often testing is needed.
Some side effects of prostate cancer treatment may last longer or appear months after treatment ends. Support may include help with:
If you received hormone therapy, your care team may also monitor bone health and recommend steps to reduce the risk of bone loss.
As time passes, care often shifts from active cancer treatment to long-term wellness. Survivorship programs help you focus on overall health and quality of life.
These programs may offer:
Your care team works with you to create a survivorship plan that supports your goals and helps you move forward with confidence.
Our nationally recognized team combines leading edge cancer treatment with compassionate care. Our patients have access to advanced technology, clinical trials and coordinated care close to home. Every step of care is focused on treating the cancer and supporting the whole person.
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