since radiation may not kill all the cancer cells and injured ones may recover and grow back. Not all experts agree.
If life expectancy is the sole issue, surgery and radiation therapy produce about the same results for the first 5 to 10 years. After that time, surgery is somewhat better.
Observation Recent studies have shown that watchful waiting (without any treatment) produces a 10-year survival rate, which is almost equivalent to that experienced by patients treated more aggressively with surgery or radiation therapy. Much of the decision to observe or treat aggressively depends upon personal factors such as a man's peace of mind and his anticipated quality of life if one or the other approach is taken. In general, the best candidates for aggressive therapy are men with slow-growing cancers who are in good health and younger than 70. Men 80 or older are best treated by watchful waiting. Men between 70 and 80 must be evaluated for quality of life factors, personal choice, aggressiveness of tumor and general state of health. There are no clear universal guidelines that establish the best approach for a given individual.
Hormonal Therapy When the prostate cancer can no longer be cured with surgery or radiation or when the patient is not a candidate for these methods perhaps because of other illness, hormonal therapy is used to slow the growth of the tumor and reduce symptoms. It is not a cure, but results can be very good. The idea behind
