In developing a treatment plan, you and your doctor should discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each treatment. In addition, the Prostate Health Partnership has a trained professional adviser with whom you may speak. Please ring and someone will be available to talk with you.
 
Telephone:     Monday - Friday            9am-5.30pm        01761 418234       
Telephone:     Other Times                                                 0044 7717774556       
Email:              info@prostatehealthpartnership.co.uk     

The benefits of treatment depend on how large the cancer already is and how far it may have spread. This is called its ‘stage.’ It is important for your doctor to determine the stage of your prostate cancer because only by knowing how the cancer is growing and exactly where it is located in the body can you and your healthcare professional choose the best treatment for you.

Treatment of ‘early stage’ or ‘organ confined’ prostate cancer may be curative. Later stages of cancer, which have spread outside the prostate, may not be amenable to cure, however treatment can extend life and help relieve symptoms. In the United States, 68% of men diagnosed with all stages of prostate cancer are still alive 10 years after beginning treatment, and 52% survive 15 years.

As a result of new and improved developments in treatment, men with prostate cancer are now living longer with less discomfort and fewer treatment-related side effects.

Prostate cancer can be treated by one or more of the following methods:

Surgery(Radical Prostatectomy)
Radiation Therapy
HIFU Therapy
Hormone Therapy
Bracytherapy
Cryotherapy

Potentially curative treatment for organ confined disease:

HIFU (High Intensity Focused Ultrasound)
Description:
Non-invasive use of intersecting, precision-focused ultrasound waves to ablate diseased tissue

Selected Risks:

• Incontinence – 0-1%
• Erectile Dysfunction – 5%-20%
• Eradication of cancer in 88%-99% of patients
• Treatment can be repeated as necessary
• No hospital stay required
• Pain free procedure

Radical Prostatectomy
Description:
Major open or laproscopic surgery to remove prostate

Selected Risks:

• Eradication of cancer in 70% of men at 10 years 
• Incontinence – 40%, Severe Incontinence – 5%
• Impotence – 70%
• Urinary obstruction is common
• 3 days in hospital followed by 3 to 5 weeks to recover

• Eradication of cancer in 70% of men
• Incontinence – 20%-30%
• Impotence – 20%-30%
• Urinary obstruction is less common than with cryotherapy or radical prostatectomy
• Occasional abnormal bowel functions and cystitis
• Five daily treatments per week for 6 to 8 weeks, up to 2 months fatigue after full course of treatment

• Prolonged urinary symptoms
• Impotence – 10%-30%
• Potential radiation hazard for patient and family
• Urinary incontinence – 0-1%
• Migration of seeds to lungs found in 36% of patients
• Up to 1 week of residual pain, bruising and rectal problems
• 78% negative biopsy, long-term

• Incontinence – 4%-5%
• Impotence – 90%
• Urinary obstruction less likely than with radical prostatectomy
• Resume a normal lifestyle after 2-3 days of minor discomfort
• 97% negative biopsy at 1 year; 82% negative at 5 years