First, you should be focusing on detection. You probably know about the PSA test and biopsies, but there is also a more sophisticated 4kscore blood test. MRIs and TRUS ultrasounds are also diagnostic tools.
If it’s detected then they will biopsy it and grade the cells to see how aggressive it is. If it’s not aggressive they will just monitor it without treatment.
If it comes to treatment, and you’ve caught it at stage 2 (hasn’t spread), then it’s either cut out your prostate or zap it somehow (e.g. localized radiation).
For “younger” patients they usually recommend surgery. First, with early detection it is less likely to be debilitating. They can spare the nerves that control erectile function, although they can still get messed up and there is still a big chance of some decline in function. But it’s a better outcome than older age brackets or larger tumors — keep that in mind when looking at overall stats.
The reason they recommend surgery is the long term side effects are similar to radiation and if they don’t get it all with surgery, they can go back in and mop up with radiation. Whereas the reverse doesn’t work as well because of tissue damage.
(Note: some people are drawn to alternative ways of zapping it like proton therapy in the hopes it will have less side effects but so far, nothing conclusive.)
If it’s detected then they will biopsy it and grade the cells to see how aggressive it is. If it’s not aggressive they will just monitor it without treatment.
If it comes to treatment, and you’ve caught it at stage 2 (hasn’t spread), then it’s either cut out your prostate or zap it somehow (e.g. localized radiation).
For “younger” patients they usually recommend surgery. First, with early detection it is less likely to be debilitating. They can spare the nerves that control erectile function, although they can still get messed up and there is still a big chance of some decline in function. But it’s a better outcome than older age brackets or larger tumors — keep that in mind when looking at overall stats.
The reason they recommend surgery is the long term side effects are similar to radiation and if they don’t get it all with surgery, they can go back in and mop up with radiation. Whereas the reverse doesn’t work as well because of tissue damage.
(Note: some people are drawn to alternative ways of zapping it like proton therapy in the hopes it will have less side effects but so far, nothing conclusive.)