There are various methods of treatment for prostate cancer from surgery to radiation and therapy. Once you have been diagnosed, it is vital that you collaborate with your doctor to determine which treatment option is best for you. Treatment options for men with prostate cancer include:

Monitoring the cancer in the prostate closely through various scheduled tests such as the PSA, DRE, and ultrasound. Biopsies for your prostate may also be options in order to make sure the cancer is not becoming more aggressive. Simply monitoring for any changes in symptoms is a less intensive method that will help decide what further treatment is needed.

Using high energy x-rays and other types of radiation, radiation therapy for prostate cancer treatment kills cancer cells or can limit the growth of these cancer cells. Radiation therapy can sometimes miss and leave some cancer behind as you are banking on random biopsies. When men are treated with radiation therapy for their prostate cancer, they increase their risk of having bladder and/or colon cancer by 2-5%. Radiation therapy can also cause impotence, urinary problems, and over time can lead to inflammation of the surrounding tissue.

Although there is not enough long-term data available to support this treatments effectiveness, the Cyberknife Robotic Radiosurgery System is a non-surgical procedure that delivers high doses of radiation to the prostate in various treatment sessions called prostate stereotactic body radiotherapy. Side effects may include erectile dysfunction, urinary retention, and injuries to rectal or bladder walls.

High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a new and lesser-known technique that applies heat (85°-95° C) to the prostate gland through an endorectal probe in order to destroy the cancer. Due to the lack of data and history of this treatment, the true effectiveness is still unclear.

With surgery the doctor is able to get the most accurate staging of the prostate cancer. Surgery will also tell the doctor whether the cancer is more or less than originally diagnosed and will tell you exactly how much cancer is in the prostate. Surgery options may include the following:

While under anesthesia, a skin incision is made in the lower abdomen or in the perineum and the cancer of the prostate is removed. At times lymph nodes may also be removed to be lab tested for cancer cells.

While under anesthesia, several smaller incisions are made to the skin and special surgical tools are used to remove the cancerous prostate. With one of these tools outfitted with a special video camera to provide the surgeon with direct visuals, the surgeon will hold and maneuver these tools by hand and remove the cancer.

The latest in minimally invasive surgery, offering the most recent advances in robotics and computer technology for a patient with prostate cancer is the da Vinci Robotic Prostatectomy. Although every patient is treated with a case-by-case method, when opting for surgery, the da Vinci Robotics Prostatectomy is the preferred method over all others as it allows experienced surgeons such as Dr. David Samadi, more visibility, maneuverability, and precision when ridding cancer from the prostate and it has the most crucial advantages for the patient such as:

• Faster recovery
• Minimal transfusion
• Less cauterization
• Shorter hospital stay
• Key-hole incisions
• Limited pain
• Minimal blood loss
• Low risk of infection
• Quick healing
• Small scars
• Minimal risk of becoming impotent or incontinent