What are the treatments for localized prostate cancer?
• Surgery takes out the prostate and any nearby tissue that may contain cancer, including lymph nodes. This surgery is called a radical prostatectomy (say “pros-tuh-TEK-tuh-mee”). A doctor can do it as open surgery by making a cut, or incision, in your belly or groin. Or he or she can do laparoscopic surgery by putting a lighted tube, or scope, and other surgical tools through much smaller cuts in your belly or groin. The doctor is able to see your prostate and other organs with the scope. Some doctors may do robot-assisted surgery. The surgeon controls the robotic arms that hold the tools and scope. • Radiation uses X-rays and other types of radiation to kill the cancer cells. This may be done with: • External-beam radiation, in which a machine aims high-energy rays at the cancer. • Brachytherapy (say “bray-kee-THAIR-uh-pee”), in which tiny pellets of radioactive material are injected into or near the cancer. • Both kinds of radiation. For many men, radiation and surgery work about eq
