The best way to treat prostate cancer

The treatment of prostate cancer varies from person to person and needs to be selected according to the stage of the disease, the patient's age and health status. For patients with early prostate cancer, especially those who are elderly and have multiple underlying diseases, not actively treating them may be a more appropriate choice, because the risks of surgery or other treatments may be higher than the disease itself.

1. Observation strategy for early prostate cancer: For older patients with multiple underlying diseases, if prostate cancer is in the early stages, doctors may recommend an observation and regular follow-up strategy. This approach is called "active surveillance," mainly because many elderly patients may not have serious health problems due to prostate cancer. Regular PSA testing and biopsies can help doctors monitor the development of cancer.

2. Surgical treatment options: For older men who are in good health, early prostate cancer can usually be treated with radical surgery. This surgery aims to completely remove the cancerous prostate tissue and reduce the risk of cancer recurrence. Surgery may bring some complications, such as urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction, but for many patients, this approach can significantly improve survival rates.

3. Application of local radiotherapy: If the cancer has spread to the local area but has not yet metastasized to distant sites, local radiotherapy may be an effective treatment option. This treatment method directly kills cancer cells through high-energy rays and is usually combined with short-term endocrine therapy to improve the efficacy.

4. The role of endocrine therapy: In the case of advanced cancer with distant metastasis, endocrine therapy (also known as hormone therapy) is the main treatment method. By reducing the level of androgen in the body, endocrine therapy can slow or inhibit the growth of cancer cells. This method is often used to control symptoms and prolong survival time.

5. Combination of new drugs and chemotherapy: If endocrine therapy is ineffective, doctors may consider using new endocrine drugs in combination with the chemotherapy drug docetaxel. This combination therapy can improve the patient's prognosis in some cases.

When choosing a treatment for prostate cancer, patients and their doctors need to consider a variety of factors, including the specific stage of the cancer, the patient's overall health, and quality of life expectations. Each treatment has its own advantages and disadvantages and scope of application, so it is particularly important to personalize the treatment plan for each patient. Regular communication with the medical team to learn about the latest treatment advances and options can help patients make more informed decisions.