The treatment option used for prostate cancer would depend on a multitude of factors, the spread of cancer, how fast it is growing, and the potential side effects or the benefits of the applied treatment. Usually, men with prostate cancer of low-risk do not need immediate treatment. A few men with cancer might never even need the treatment. However, those with high-risk would require immediate treatment. Here, we’ll discuss the most common treatment methods for prostate cancer. 

Active surveillance
Active surveillance involves continuous follow-up rectal exams, blood tests, and even biopsies to study prostate cancer progression. If these examinations depict cancer progression, you’ll have to undergo immediate treatment. Active surveillance is an ideal treatment method only in people with no symptoms because of cancer, or when the cancer is restricted to a limited area, or when cancer progresses slower than usual. It could also seem ideal for people who have a critical health condition. Further, someone who is at an age where treatment would only complicate things further, even then this method seems best.  

Surgery
In this treatment method for prostate cancer, the doctor will surgically remove the affected prostate gland along with some lymph nodes, and a section of the surrounding tissue. There are potential risks of this surgery, like erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence.  

Radiation therapy
In this treatment measure, the doctor administers high-beam energy on the unhealthy cells to combat the cancer cells. It can take place in two different ways. 

Brachytherapy
In this treatment method for prostate cancer, the doctor will place several tiny radioactive sources in the prostate tissue, which will release a low radiation dosage over a prolonged period.  

The common side effect of this treatment method is that it can lead to frequent, urgent, and painful urination. It might also lead to rectal symptoms like painful passing and loose stools. Another side effect of radiation is erectile dysfunction.

Hormone therapy
It is a treatment measure that stops the production of testosterone hormone in the body. Because the spread of prostate cancer is linked with testosterone, ending its production will curtail it. 

The key options in hormone therapy are:

• Medications, which completely stop the production of testosterone
• Medicines, which does not let testosterone to reach the cancer cells
• Orchiectomy or removal of the testicles with surgery

The common side effects for this treatment include hot flashes, erectile dysfunction, reduced libido, weight gain, and low bone mass. 

Cryosurgery or cryotherapy
This treatment method for prostate cancer involves freezing the tissue for combating cancerous cells. 

Chemotherapy
In this method, certain medicines are used for killing the cancerous cells. It is a treatment measure used for men who do not show any progress after hormone therapy.

Immunotherapy
In this treatment method for prostate cancer, your immune system is put into action to combat the cancerous cells.