TREATMENTS | Path

Prostate Cancer Treatments

What are they?

Click on the tabs below to learn more about the different treatments

Prostatectomy

Removal of parts of or all of the prostate gland with surgery. This can be done through minimally invasive surgery (small incisions with robot assistance) or traditional open surgery (larger incision). Effective when cancer hasn't spread past the prostate glands and can also be paired with radiation or hormone therapy [13].
Modified Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy

Surgery to remove entire prostate as well as tissue around it such as the seminal vesicles (gland for semen). Nearby Lymph nodes can also be removed if there's evidence of spread [19]. Done through an incision in the lower abdomen right behind the pubic bone.

Androgen Ablation Therapy

Technically a surgery but has effects to reduce the male hormones (androgens). Androgens contribute to the growth of prostate cancer so this therapy aims to reduce the levels [1]. These androgens are mostly produced in the testicles but the adrenal glands and prostate cancer itself makes them too [1]. Done through orchiectomy (surgical castration) to remove the testicle where most of the androgens are produced.

Brachytherapy

Form of radiation therapy [12]. Radioactive sources are placed into the prostate gland. There are two types.

High dose rate brachytherapy:

Temporary source with high doses of radiation that may involve multiple sessions [12].

Low dose rate brachytherapy:

Permanent source where radioactive seeds are placed into the prostate gland. Radiation is then slowly released over several months [12].

Prostate Cancer Treatments

Prostatectomy

Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP Procedure)

Androgen Ablation Therapy

Leteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone Agonists (LHRH Agonists)

Brachytherapy