The prostate is a small gland located at the base of the bladder in men. It plays an important role in manufacturing the liquid component of semen. According to MayoClinic.com, prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer to affect men. In many cases, prostate cancer grows slowly, but it can be aggressive and spread to surrounding tissue. Most prostate cancer cases require medical treatment.
Incidence
According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the second most common form of cancer in American men and the second leading cause of cancer death. Although prostate cancer accounts for about 11 percent of male cancer-related deaths, the American Cancer Society notes that the five-year prostate cancer survival rate is almost 100 percent, while the 10-year survival rate is 91 percent.
Treatment Types
FamilyDoctor.org notes that prostate cancer treatment depends on the individual being treated and the nature of the tumor. Tumors confined to the prostate are usually treated with radiation therapy or a type of minimally invasive surgery called radical prostatectomy, which removes the prostate gland and nearby lymph nodes. In some cases, "watchful waiting" is employed, which means that treatment is withheld until the tumor grows. FamilyDoctor.org states that watchful waiting may be best for very old men who are likely to die from an ailment other than prostate cancer.
Treatment Benefits
The short-term risks of radical prostatectomy are low if the patient is young and in good health, says FamilyDoctor.org. Surgery is mostly pain-free and the patient can return to work within a month of treatment. In addition, surgery can often remove all cancerous tissue, leaving the patient cancer-free. Radiation therapy is quick and non-invasive, and patients receiving a type of radiation called external beam radiation therapy do not require an anesthetic. The main advantage of watchful waiting is the avoidance of treatment-related side effects, which for some men may outweigh the benefits of treatment.
Treatment Disadvantages
The main disadvantages of radical prostatectomy are incontinence and impotence following surgery. However, FamilyDoctor.org notes that these problems do not affect all men, and do improve with time. Radiation therapy may also cause impotence in some men. Around 50 percent of patients become impotent within five years of having radiation therapy, says FamilyDoctor.org. Approximately 15 percent to 30 percent of men also experience urinary bleeding, frequent urination and rectal discomfort after radiation therapy. Watchful waiting may cause anxiety for some men as there is often no indication how quickly the tumor is growing.
Outcomes
At 10 years post-treatment, cure rates are similar for radiation therapy and radical prostatectomy, says FamilyDoctor.org. However, a 2007 research article published in "Archives of Internal Medicine" found that at 10 years, patients treated with radiotherapy or watchful waiting had a higher risk of death from prostate cancer compared with patients who underwent surgery. Researchers found that the 10-year survival rate was 83 percent for patients who had radical prostatectomy, 75 percent for patients who underwent radiotherapy and 72 percent for patients who chose watchful waiting. The authors of the research concluded that surgery offers the best chance of long-term survival from prostate cancer.
