Once prostate cancer has been confirmed, and the diagnostic tests have allowed determining the phase of the disease, it is really important to evaluate which treatment works best for you.
The treatment for prostate cancer, as in other tumours, requires a multidisciplinary team. Many specialists work together to combine therapies and achieve healing.
Types of treatment for prostate cancer
The treatment for prostate cancer must adapt as much as possible to the individual characteristics of each patient, such as the tumour stage, age, and clinical situation. There are treatments for curative purposes (such as surgery and radiotherapy). Also, for palliative purposes (with the aim of increasing the survival and quality of life of patients, such as hormone therapy).
Surgery
The surgical treatment for prostate cancer is a radical prostatectomy. It is an operation to remove the prostate gland and tissues surrounding it.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy in prostate cancer is used in those cases where the disease has spread and especially when it stops responding to hormone-blocking or “chemical castration” treatment.
The drugs used in this type of treatment are known as antineoplastic or chemotherapy drugs. These drugs reach practically all the tissues of the body and that is where they exert their action on both malignant and healthy cells. Due to the action of medicines on the latter, a series of more or less intense and generally transient symptoms (side effects) may appear.
The main objective of this treatment is not to kill all the cancer cells, but it can slow the growth of cancer and reduce the pain of early prostate cancer.
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy is the use of ionizing radiation for the local treatment of certain tumours. It uses X-rays with high doses of irradiation.
Ionizing radiation can potentially destroy tumour cells in the area where they are applied. Radiotherapy is a very effective treatment for this disease. It is a local treatment whose objective is to cure cancer.
Hormone therapy
Prostate cancer is a tumour, in most cases, dependent on hormones and, particularly, on androgens.
Hormonal treatments are used when the disease is widespread. Also, as a complement to any of the local treatments or in relapses that may occur after such treatments.
The effectiveness of hormonal treatment is based on suppressing testosterone from the blood. Therefore, it has an effect on this type of cancer, which occurs in 80% of cases.
Our specialists at Harley Street Hospital are highly qualified to treat this disease. We will recommend and explain the therapeutical options for your case, so you can make the right decision. Book an appointment to get a checkup.
You might also want to read: Hormone therapy for prostate cancer
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