Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner and freelance healthcare writer with over a decade of medical oncology and hematology experience.
Jamin Brahmbhatt, MD, is a board-certified urologist and Chief of Surgery at Orlando Health South Lake Hospital.
Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer other than skin cancer in people who have a prostate (an organ that secretes fluid to protect and nourish sperm). Depending upon the stage of the cancer, different treatment options are available. These treatment options include:
This article will review how surgery and radiation are used to treat prostate cancer. Both can be very effective forms of treatment in men with the disease. Although they may have the same goals of therapy, there are differences between these treatments.
Be sure to see your healthcare provider for the diagnosis, so you can receive the best treatment for you.
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Surgical treatment for prostate cancer may be considered when the cancer has not spread outside the prostate.
There are multiple types of surgery that can be used.
Radical prostatectomy (open or robotic-assisted laparoscopic): During this procedure, the prostate is removed from the space between the bladder and urethra. An additional lymph node dissection (removal for lab analysis) can be done during the procedure if the surgeon feels it is needed for accurate staging (determining the amount of cancer and how far it has spread).
An open prostatectomy is done through an incision in either the lower abdomen or in the perineum, which is the area between the rectum and the penis. Most laparoscopic removal (in which multiple small incisions are made and instruments inserted to remove the prostate) is now done with robotic assistance.
Cryoablation : This is a surgical procedure done as primary treatment for prostate cancer or when cancer may return after radiation (salvage). Needles are placed into the prostate to deliver cold fluid that becomes ice balls, which destroy the tissues they contact.
Focal therapy: This is done with probes that deliver cold or hot energy into areas targeted within the prostate. With focal therapy, only select areas of the prostate are ablated (destroyed) to minimize side effects.
Side effects from prostate surgery can include:
The cost of a radical prostatectomy varies depending on insurance status and location of surgery.
Costs may include hospital fees, anesthesia fees, and surgeon fees. The average cost of hospital fees for prostatectomy in the United States is about $34,000. Anesthesiologist and surgeon fees average about $8,000. What out-of-pocket expenses the person being treated incurs will depend on their insurance.
The location of the procedure can be with a local surgeon, or the person being treated may travel to see a regional or national expert.
Radiation treatment uses high energy X-ray beams directed to cancer cells to kill them.
There are multiple types of radiation treatments that can be used for prostate cancer.
External beam radiation: This treatment is administered through a specialized machine that directs beams of radiation to targeted areas in the prostate. It is usually given in daily doses five days a week for about six weeks.
Stereotactic radiation : This type of radiation uses advanced images of the prostate with a different type of radiation machine. This may also be referred to as Gamma Knife or CyberKnife.
This type of radiation often uses much higher doses than standard external beam radiation. However, it is given in such a way that healthy tissue around the prostate is spared from high doses of radiation. Because of the high doses of radiation, this type of treatment may only need five or fewer treatments.
Brachytherapy : During this type of radiation, radioactive seeds (about the size of a grain of rice) are placed into the prostate. These radiation seeds emit radiation for a period of time and remain in the prostate even after the radiation has left.
Radiation is typically administered in an outpatient cancer center, although stereotactic radiation may be done in more specialized cancer centers. Brachytherapy seeds are placed under anesthesia in an operating room.
Side effects of radiation therapy can include:
External beam radiation is typically available at most cancer centers. More specialized centers may provide other forms of radiation such as stereotactic radiation. They are all performed in an outpatient setting, with the exception of brachytherapy, which is done in an operating room.
The costs of radiation therapy vary depending upon the type of radiation given. The average cost of external beam radiation is about $57,000. Stereotactic radiation averages about $50,000, and brachytherapy is about $20,000.
The exact type of treatment that is best for you can depend upon many factors, such as the stage of the cancer, where in the prostate the cancer is located, and individual factors. These are all taken into account by the treating healthcare team when creating a personalized treatment plan.
When you meet with your healthcare provider, they will give you the options that will be the most effective in treating your case of prostate cancer.
For stage 1 prostate cancer, treatment may include:
For stage 2 prostate cancer, treatment may include:
For stage 3 prostate cancer, treatment may include:
For stage 4 prostate cancer, treatment may include:
If both surgery and radiation are in the treatment plan for prostate cancer, surgery is usually done before radiation. Radiation may be given to the area around the prostate after removal to help reduce the risk of cancer returning.
This is often done proactively in people in whom staging after surgery shows high-grade disease with a high risk for recurrence.
The side effects of both surgery and radiation can vary from mild to more severe and potentially significantly impact someone’s life.
The side effects of urinary and bowel problems can be distressing. There are ways to help manage these, such as with pelvic floor exercise, bladder training, and incontinence products. Other coping strategies include:
Sexual dysfunction related to prostate cancer treatment can also be an unwelcome side effect. Helpful ways to cope with this can include:
Fatigue is a common symptom of prostate cancer treatment. Ways to manage fatigue include:
Surgery and radiation are two commonly used treatments for prostate cancer. Although they are different and how they work, they both have the goal of eliminating or reducing the amount of prostate cancer in the body. Side effects of both treatments can include sexual dysfunction, bowel and bladder problems, and fatigue.
Prostate cancer is a very common and treatable cancer, with many options for care. If you receive a diagnosis of prostate cancer, make sure to talk about all of the treatment options that are available for you with your oncologist (cancer specialist).
No single treatment is right for everyone. It’s also very important to discuss any potential long-term side effects from whatever treatment you received.
Limiting processed foods and red meats can help ward off cancer risk. These recipes focus on antioxidant-rich foods to better protect you and your loved ones. Sign up and get your guide!
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prostate cancer statistics.
National Cancer Institute. Prostate cancer treatment.
Hoffman KE, Penson DF, Zhao Z, et al. Patient-reported outcomes through 5 years for active surveillance, surgery, brachytherapy, or external beam radiation with or without androgen deprivation therapy for localized prostate cancer. JAMA. 2020;323(2):149-163. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.20675
Imber BS, Varghese M, Ehdaie B, Gorovets D. Financial toxicity associated with treatment of localized prostate cancer. Nat Rev Urol. 2020;17(1):28-40. doi:10.1038/s41585-019-0258-3
American Cancer Society. Radiation therapy for prostate cancer.
American Cancer Society. Bladder and bowel incontinence.
American Cancer Society. Managing male sexual problems related to cancer.
American Cancer Society. Managing fatigue or weakness.
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