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🔹 How Prostate Cancer Treatment Is Decided Treatment depends on several factors: Cancer stage and grade (Gleason score) PSA levels Age and general health How fast the cancer is growing Personal preference (some men choose less aggressive treatments) 🌟 Main Prostate Cancer Treatment Options 1. 🔍 Active Surveillance / Watchful Waiting For low-risk or slow-growing prostate cancer. Regular PSA tests, digital rectal exams (DRE), and sometimes biopsies. No immediate treatment unless cancer progresses. Good for older men or those with other health issues. 2. 💉 Hormone Therapy (Androgen Deprivation Therapy, ADT) Lowers testosterone, which fuels prostate cancer growth. Often used for: Advanced or metastatic cancer In combo with radiation Types: Injections (like Lupron, Zoladex) Surgery to remove testicles (orchiectomy) Side effects: Hot flashes Loss of libido Weight gain Fatigue Bone thinning (osteoporosis) 3. ☢️ Radiation Therapy ▪️ External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT) Targets prostate from outside the body. Typically 5 days/week for several weeks. ▪️ Brachytherapy (Internal Radiation) Radioactive seeds implanted directly into the prostate. Side effects: Urinary issues (frequency, urgency) Bowel problems (diarrhea, rectal irritation) Sexual dysfunction 4. 🧬 Surgery – Radical Prostatectomy Removes the entire prostate gland and some nearby tissue. Approaches: Open surgery Laparoscopic Robotic-assisted (e.g., da Vinci system) Side effects: Erectile dysfunction Urinary incontinence Infertility 5. 🧪 Chemotherapy Usually for advanced or hormone-resistant prostate cancer. Drugs like docetaxel may be used. Side effects: Fatigue Hair loss Nausea Increased infection risk 6. 🧬 Targeted Therapy & Immunotherapy Still evolving, mostly for advanced or resistant cancers. Drugs may target specific mutations (like BRCA) or boost immune response (like Keytruda in some cases). 🧘‍♂️ Lifestyle Support Diet & Exercise can help with side effects and long-term outcomes. Pelvic floor exercises can improve bladder control after surgery. Counseling or support groups for mental and emotional health.

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