Prostate Cancer Treatment: Do Your Homework, Know Your Options
According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men, after skin cancer, and nearly 175,000 new cases will have been diagnosed by the end of 2020. When men are diagnosed with prostate cancer, they have to make sense of a variety of treatment options presented to them and fully understand the risks and side effects that come with each of the prostate cancer treatments. This allows them to make an educated choice.
Two standard options have dominated treatments – radical prostatectomy and/or radiotherapy. However, a newer, minimally invasive treatment called high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) has emerged in the U.S. and is known to reduce the side effects of urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction, often associated with surgery and radiation. HIFU is an appropriate, non-invasive choice for prostate cancer patients who meet certain criteria.
In their quest for the best solution for themselves, men must learn from the overview of treatments provided by their urologist, research medical websites and journals at home for themselves, and learn from the experience of their peers. Recently, Dr. Bruno Nahar, Urologist and Assistant Professor of Urologic Oncology and Robotic Surgery at University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, hosted a video panel of three prostate cancer survivors who each had different treatment options. The men spoke frankly about their challenges and triumphs. Listening to discussions like theirs is one of the best ways to make an informed decision.
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