Prostate cancer is one of the slow-growing cancers in men. If diagnosed at an early stage, it is mostly curable. Even advanced stage prostate cancer is very well treatable with men living for 5 to 10 years and even more. 

The treatment of prostate cancer depends on many factors such as type of prostate cancer, stage, and patient age. In the early stages of cancer, both surgery and radiation treatment are feasible. Both modalities have their advantages and disadvantages. So, it is prudent to understand all pros and cons of treatment from your cancer specialist before deciding.

The risks associated with radiation and surgery have dramatically reduced due to the technological advancements in the last decade. Prostate cancer radiation was given for 40 sittings to a man previously. However, these days we can deliver the same effective dose to eliminate cancer with just 20 sittings; or, in some cases, in just 5 to 7 sittings (SBRT technique). Similarly, the surgical field has also seen advancements. The major breakthrough is the advent of the robotic surgical system into the operating room. Opening up the abdomen to remove the tumor is now a thing of the past. Robotic surgery allows the surgeon to precisely resect out cancer with minimal blood loss and lesser risks.

 Another boon for prostate cancer patients is the introduction of hormonal treatment. Until a few years ago, advanced prostate cancer patients were managed with the removal of testicles as the male hormone fuels cancer growth. Instead of this psychologically upsetting surgical procedure, presently, patients are given hormonal injections to suppress the male hormone in his body. Usually, these hormone injections are given once in 3 or 6 months, depending on the dose. For those diagnosed with advanced-stage cancer that has spread to bones, apart from hormonal treatment, tablets are given. Imagine treating an advanced-stage cancer patient with just oral medications!

Technological advancements do not stop there. Innovations have come up in the field of radiation as well. Now, we can deliver painless radiation treatment with practically negligible side effects to those areas of bones where cancer has spread. This type of radiation is called stereotactic radiotherapy or SBRT. It usually takes 1 to 5 sittings of radiation. This treatment has proven to improve the overall survival of the cancer patient while maintaining an excellent quality of life.

Therefore, do not compare your disease with your relative's or neighbour's case. They would have had a different type of cancer, stage, and cancer biology. And most importantly, they would have had their treatment in an era different from what you live in now. For you, luckily, things have changed for the better.

Caution: The article above is only a brief overview of the management of prostate cancer patients in general. If you or your close one is diagnosed with cancer, please consult your oncologist for further information. Remember that every patient case is unique, and the treatment should be customized according to a multitude of other factors.