If you’ve been recently informed that you have prostate cancer, you may have many concerns. The aftermath of the diagnosis can be stressful. The more information you compile, the more active your role in treatment can be. While your care provider can answer questions specific to your situation, the general answers to common inquiries below may prove helpful. 

A Patient’s Guide to Prostate Cancer

What treatments are available?

A few different types of doctors and a variety of methods may be involved in your treatment plan. Medical oncologists prescribe medicines, such as hormone therapy and chemotherapy, while radiation oncologists are tasked with providing radiotherapy. You may also undergo treatment from a urologist, or a doctor that specializes in diseases of the male urinary and reproductive system. These doctors may confer to determine the best possible treatment for you. 

Will I undergo surgery?

If the cancer hasn’t spread, surgery may be recommended. This often entails a prostatectomy, which involves the removal of the prostate and any surrounding tissues. There are also laparoscopic procedures, which require smaller incisions and minimal disruption to the surgical site. Incontinence and erectile dysfunction are two possible side effects of surgery, though these can be managed in consultation with a doctor. 

What side effects can I expect with radiation?

Your oncologist may also recommend radiotherapy as a treatment. Side effects can be similar to prostate surgery, but may also include a feeling of fatigue while treatment is ongoing, as well as lymphedema, which is when the lymph nodes surrounding the prostate become swollen due to damage caused by radiation. 

What is hormone therapy? 

Hormone therapy is another common treatment for prostate cancer. Hormones known as androgens can actually stimulate the growth of cancer cells, and hormone therapy aims to limit their impact to tumors stop growing or begin to shrink. This therapy is useful when radiation or surgery are not options, such as when cancer has already spread. It can also be useful for recurrences of cancer that has been treated using other methods. 

If you’ve been diagnosed with prostate cancer in Anchorage, the medical oncologists at Alaska Oncology and Hematology, LLC are ready to answer your questions. They can provide hormone therapy to help control the growth of tumors, as well as chemotherapy when necessary. They’ll also take the time to explain your diagnosis and applicable treatments to ensure you understand all the risk and benefits. Visit them online for more information on prostate cancer, or call (907) 279-3155 to schedule an appointment.