Prostate Cancer Stages
Prostate cancer stages define the type of the patient’s treatment. Hence, different types of treatments are available for patients with prostate cancer. Some treatments are standard (the currently used treatment), and some are being tested in clinical trials.
Prostate Cancer Treatment Options by Stage - Prostate Cancer Stages
Standard treatment of stage I prostate cancer may include the following:
- Watchful waiting.
- Active surveillance. If the cancer begins to grow, hormone therapy may be given.
- Radical prostatectomy, usually with pelvic lymphadenectomy. Radiation therapy may be given after surgery.
- External radiation therapy. Hormone therapy may be given after radiation therapy.
- Internal radiation therapy with radioactive seeds .
- A clinical trial of high-intensity–focused ultrasound therapy.
- A clinical trial of photodynamic therapy.
- A clinical trial of cryosurgery.
- Watchful waiting.
- Active surveillance. If the cancer begins to grow, hormone therapy may be given.
- Radical prostatectomy, usually with pelvic lymphadenectomy. Radiation therapy may be given after surgery.
- External radiation therapy. Hormone therapy may be given after radiation therapy.
- Internal radiation therapy with radioactive seeds.
- A clinical trial of cryosurgery.
- A clinical trial of high-intensity–focused ultrasound therapy.
- A clinical trial of proton beam radiation therapy.
- A clinical trial of photodynamic therapy.
- Clinical trials of new types of treatment, such as hormone therapy followed by radical prostatectomy.
Standard treatment of stage III prostate cancer may include the following:
- External radiation therapy. Hormone therapy may be given after radiation therapy.
- Hormone therapy. Radiation therapy may be given after hormone therapy.
- Radical prostatectomy. Radiation therapy may be given after surgery.
- Watchful waiting.
- Active surveillance. If the cancer begins to grow, hormone therapy may be given.
Treatment to control cancer that is in the prostate and lessen urinary symptoms may include the following:
- External radiation therapy.
- Internal radiation therapy with radioactive seeds.
- Hormone therapy.
- Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).
- A clinical trial of new types of radiation therapy.
- A clinical trial of cryosurgery.
Standard treatment of stage IV prostate cancer may include the following:
- Hormone therapy.
- Hormone therapy combined with chemotherapy.
- Bisphosphonate therapy.
- External radiation therapy. Hormone therapy may be given after radiation therapy.
- Alpha emitter radiation therapy.
- Watchful waiting.
- Active surveillance. If the cancer begins to grow, hormone therapy may be given.
- A clinical trial of radical prostatectomy with orchiectomy.
Treatment to control cancer that is in the prostate and lessen urinary symptoms may include the following:
- Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).
- Radiation therapy.
Standard treatment of recurrent or hormone-resistant prostate cancer may include the following:
- Hormone therapy.
- Chemotherapy for patients already treated with hormone therapy.
- Biologic therapy with sipuleucel-T for patients already treated with hormone therapy.
- External radiation therapy.
- Prostatectomy for patients already treated with radiation therapy.
- Alpha emitter radiation therapy.
Prostate Cancer New Types of Treatment / Prostate Cancer Stages / Clinical Trials
Cryosurgery is a treatment that uses an instrument to freeze and destroy prostate cancer cells. Ultrasound is used to find the area that will be treated. This type of treatment is also called cryotherapy.
Cryosurgery can cause impotence and leakage of urine from the bladder or stool from the rectum.
High-intensity–focused ultrasound therapy is a treatment that uses ultrasound (high-energy sound waves) to destroy cancer cells. To treat prostate cancer, an endorectal probe is used to make the sound waves.
A cancer treatment that uses a drug and a certain type of laser light to kill cancer cells. A drug that is not active until it is exposed to light is injected into a vein. The drug collects more in cancer cells than in normal cells. Fiberoptic tubes are then used to carry the laser light to the cancer cells, where the drug becomes active and kills the cells. Photodynamic therapy causes little damage to healthy tissue. It is used mainly to treat tumors on or just under the skin or in the lining of internal organs.
The information contained on this website is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, you should always consult a qualified healthcare professional. Cannabidiol (CBD) and other cannabis plant constituents should not be used as a substitute for conventional medical care. CBD and other cannabis plant constituents may interfere with medical treatment.
Prostate Cancer Treatment“ (PDQ®)–Patient Version was originally published by the National Cancer Institute.”
PDQ® Adult Treatment Editorial Board. PDQ Prostate Cancer Treatment. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute. Updated <06/12/2019>. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/types/prostate/patient/prostate-treatment-pdq. Accessed <12/11/2019>. [PMID: 26389353]