The prostate is part of the male reproductive system that wraps around the urethra and aids in making seminal fluid. While prostate cancer can occur in men at any age, it typically occurs in older men, according to the National Cancer Institute. Watchful waiting is an option, depending on the stage of cancer, but aggressive treatment is also used.
Surgery
While the are various kinds of surgery for prostate cancer, a radical prostatectomy is an aggressive choice. This surgery involves removing the prostate, nearby tissue and seminal vesicles. The prostate can be removed via a cut made in the abdomen, or through the perineum, which is the area between the testicles and anus. Lymph nodes in the pelvis may also be removed to see if cancer has spread to the nodes.
Radiation Therapy
External radiation may be used in treating prostate cancer, but brachytherapy is also an option. This is a more invasive, aggressive kind of radiation that involves placing radioactive seeds into the prostate gland to work directly on the cancer.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is not a standard treatment for prostate cancer, but it is used if the cancer has spread past the prostate gland, and if other therapies are not working, according to the American Cancer Society. Some studies are experimenting with it to see if it could be a standard option in the future. Drugs used in treating prostate cancer include doxorubicin (brand name Adriamycin), paclitaxel (brand name Taxol) and carboplatin (brand name Paraplatin).
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are studies that enable scientists to work with patients in trying new treatments to see if they are more effective than the standard treatments. Participants are closely monitored, and can leave the study at any time. Treatments that are being studied include various regimens of chemotherapy drugs, biological treatments that work with the immune system in fighting the cancer and other types of surgery.
