Prostate cancer treatments depend on factors such as the stage of cancer, PSA level, Gleason score, age, and overall health. Here’s a clear overview:

🩺 1. Active Surveillance (Watchful Waiting)

Used for slow-growing or early-stage cancers that aren’t causing symptoms.

• Regular PSA tests, digital rectal exams, and biopsies

• No immediate treatment—monitor for signs of progression

Best for: Older men or those with low-risk prostate cancer

💊 2. Hormone Therapy (Androgen Deprivation Therapy, ADT)

Prostate cancer cells need testosterone to grow.
This treatment reduces or blocks testosterone.

Options:

• LHRH agonists/antagonists (e.g., leuprolide, degarelix)

• Antiandrogens (e.g., bicalutamide, enzalutamide)

• Orchiectomy (surgical removal of testicles, rarely used now)

Used for: Advanced or recurrent prostate cancer

☢️ 3. Radiation Therapy

Destroys cancer cells using high-energy rays.

Types:

• External Beam Radiation (EBRT): Focused from outside the body

• Brachytherapy: Radioactive seeds placed directly into the prostate

Side effects: Fatigue, urinary or bowel irritation, erectile dysfunction

🔪 4. Surgery (Radical Prostatectomy)

Complete removal of the prostate gland and some surrounding tissue.
Can be:

• Open surgery

• Laparoscopic or robotic-assisted surgery (less invasive)

Risks: Urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction

💉 5. Chemotherapy

Used mainly for metastatic (spread) or castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Common drugs: Docetaxel, cabazitaxel

⚙️ 6. Targeted Therapy

Drugs that attack specific mutations or pathways in cancer cells.
Examples:

• PARP inhibitors (olaparib, rucaparib) — for men with BRCA mutations

🧬 7. Immunotherapy

Stimulates the body’s immune system to fight cancer.

• Sipuleucel-T (Provenge): personalized vaccine therapy

• Pembrolizumab (Keytruda): used in certain genetic cases

🌱 8. Clinical Trials

New therapies and combinations are constantly being tested, especially for advanced cases.