Stage III
Tumors: T3, N0, M0, Any G (Stage C) Treatment Options. External-beam irradiation using a linear accelerator is a commonly used treatment for most of these patients. Hormonal treatment (orchiectomy or androgen-suppressing drugs) following radiation may improve survival rates from prostate cancer. Hormonal treatments alone. Clinical trials using other therapies. Careful observation in selected patients. Radical prostatectomy usually with pelvic lymphadenectomy is considered in highly selected patients but, in general, surgery has inferior results compared to radiation.
Treatments for Urinary Tract Symptoms. External beam radiation therapy. Hormonal manipulation. Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Investigative radiation therapy using protons or neutron radiation. Investigative cryosurgery.
 | Click the icon to see an illustrated series detailing transurethral resection of the prostate. |
Stage IV
Tumors: T4, N0, M0, Any G; or Any T, N1 Through 3, M0, Any G; (stage D1 or D2) Treatment Options. Hormonal therapy, which may be one of the following: orchiectomy alone or with an antiandrogen; LHRH agonists, such as leuprolide; leuprolide plus an antiandrogen; estrogens. External-beam radiation possibly used with on-going androgen suppression treatment for attempted cure in highly selected M0 patients. Radical prostatectomy with immediate orchiectomy under investigation. Systemic chemotherapy under investigation. Clinical trials using other therapies. Cure is rare in these patients but striking subjective or objective responses to treatment occur in many patients. In May 2004, the FDA approved docetaxel (Taxotere) injection in combination with prednisone for treatment of patients with advanced metastatic prostate cancer. Other docetaxel-based chemotherapy regimens are also being investigated.
- Treatments for Urinary Tract Symptoms. External beam radiation therapy. Hormonal manipulation. Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Investigative radiation therapy using protons or neutron radiation. Investigative cryosurgery.
- Pain Relief. Low dose prednisone (a corticosteroid) alone or with mitoxantrone (a chemotherapy drug) reduces inflammation and may help relieve pain.
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