Prostate Cancer Treatment

Prostate Cancer can be diagnosed in about 13-15% of men of European descent. Men of African or African-American descent are twice as likely to have prostate cancer cells as men of European descent. Millions of men are diagnosed with prostate cancer... there is a lot you can learn from us.

If you are reading this, you are not dead. Even diagnosed with prostate cancer, chances are good that your cancer won't kill you anytime soon.

There are many choices in the treatment of prostate cancer. The main options include surgery, radiation, hormonal therapy, chemotherapy, and watchful waiting. In deciding which treatment option is most appropriate for you, you and your doctor will consider several factors, including the cancer stage and expected benefits and risks of treatment.

In this section, you will find information on benefits of each treatment option, and the most common side effects. Although prostate cancer is best treated when detected at an early stage, therapies are available that can help even after the cancer has spread outside of the prostate. Your doctor will determine which of these treatments is most appropriate for you.

Prostate cancer is found mainly in older men. As men age, the prostate may get bigger and block the urethra or bladder. This may cause difficulty in urination or can interfere with sexual function. The condition is called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and although it is not cancer, surgery may be needed to correct it. The symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia or of other problems in the prostate may be similar to symptoms of prostate cancer. Normal prostate and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). A normal prostate does not block the flow of urine from the bladder. An enlarged prostate presses on the bladder and urethra and blocks the flow of urine.

Possible signs of prostate cancer include a weak flow of urine or frequent urination.

These and other symptoms may be caused by prostate cancer. Other conditions may cause the same symptoms. A doctor should be consulted if any of the following problems occur:

Weak or interrupted flow of urine.

Frequent urination (especially at night).

Trouble urinating.

Pain or burning during urination.

Blood in the urine or semen.

A pain in the back, hips, or pelvis that doesn't go away.

Painful ejaculation.