Hormone Therapy
In advanced prostate cancer, the tumor has often spread beyond the prostate and nearby lymph nodes, making surgery an ineffective option because you just can't get all of the cancer. Hormone therapy is often used to treat advanced prostate cancer, states the Mayo Clinic. This treatment prevents the release of the hormone testosterone, which promotes cancer cell growth. Without testosterone, the tumor shrinks, and it may then be able to be treated with surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Chemotherapy
Drugs that destroy cancer cells, called chemotherapy, are usually reserved for cases of advanced prostate cancer. These drugs--specifically mitoxantrone and prednisone administered together--are often used to alleviate pain and symptoms of advanced prostate cancer, according to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Unfortunately, chemotherapy is not generally used to treat or cure the cancer--only to manage symptoms.
Radiation Therapy
This type of cancer treatment can be used on both early and advanced prostate cancer and is often used in conjunction with another therapy. There are several types of radiation therapy, including brachytherapy (using radioactive "seeds" placed near the prostate), external beam radiation and proton therapy. Radioactive waves or materials use energy to destroy cancer cells.
