Prostate cancer treatment options
Watchful waiting
Watchful waiting entails simply waiting, taking a blood test to check the prostate specific antigen (PSA) level from time to time, and giving treatment if it is needed to control symptoms.
Surgery
This usually involves the removal of the entire prostate in the hope of removing all the cancer (this is called a radical prostatectomy).
Radiotherapy
External beam radiation can be used for both early and late stage prostate cancer.
Brachytherapy or internal radiotherapy is a form of radiation treatment in which tiny seeds containing radioactive material are implanted into the prostate.
In high dose treatments tiny wires are placed for just a short period of time. This is a relatively new form of treatment for early stage disease.
Hormone therapy
Hormone therapy is used to slow down the growth of the prostate gland and to control symptoms caused by a prostate cancer that has spread outside the gland.
For further information and advice, call the Cancer Helpline on 13 11 20.
Last Reviewed: 08 November 2001
