Prostate cancer: Learn about your options and treatments

This is a blood test that measures PSA. PSA is a protein produced in your prostate gland. Levels higher than normal may be a sign of prostate cancer, though other things can raise PSA levels as well.

Doctors sometimes use this test to get more information if your PSA level is high. It helps distinguish between PSA that’s attached to blood proteins and PSA that’s moving freely in your blood. When compared to men who don’t have prostate cancer, the percentage of unattached, or free PSA, is lower in men who do have the disease.

If other tests are suspicious, you might need a biopsy. A biopsy involves removing cells from your prostate gland and looking at them under a microscope to see if cancer is present. Most often, we remove the cells with a needle.

If other tests are suspicious, we have advanced imaging modalities including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to help find possible prostate cancer

This type of novel MRI is useful in detecting suspicious lesions in the prostate. The MRI image is then fused with an ultrasound image to help pinpoint questionable areas of the prostate for needle biopsy. This tool allows physicians to look at the prostate in real-time, via a 3D image. The 3D image clearly displays areas of suspicion that require biopsy. This clarity and precision helps eliminate the need to take multiple random biopsies. It also allows the physician to pinpoint exactly where they need to biopsy. Additionally, it can also help detect aggressive tumors that otherwise might have been missed.

A positron emission tomography (PET) scan is an imaging test that allows your doctor to check for diseases in your body. The scan uses a special dye containing radioactive tracers.

Prostate cancer often grows slowly and may not require any treatment. In some cases, we can watch it carefully and treat it only if it worsens. Frequent visits to your provider and medical tests are part of this process. 

Surgery to remove a cancerous prostate gland is common. It’s delicate surgery because nerves that help you maintain an erection are located near your prostate. Our surgeons have additional advanced training in these procedures. 

Our surgeons use robotic procedures to perform prostate surgery whenever possible. These procedures allow us to operate with great precision through very small openings in your abdomen. Compared to traditional open prostate surgery, robotic operations result in: 

• Faster recovery and a quicker return to normal activities

• Less blood loss and fewer blood transfusions 

• Less pain 

• Less scarring 

• Reduced risk of infection 

• A shorter hospital stay 

Brachytherapy is a type of radiation therapy. It involves implanting radioactive "seeds" directly into your prostate glands. These seeds help destroy the cancer. 

These treatments involve delivering radiation from outside the body. Radiation can kill cancer cells. We may use it as your main treatment or in conjunction with surgery. We may also use it if the cancer returns. Types of external beam radiation include:

• Hypofractionated radiation therapy: This form of radiation is delivered in stronger doses but fewer treatments than were used in the past. UW Health is a leader in studying this approach. Evidence suggests it can improve cancer control and reduce side effects. 

• Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT): IMRT attacks cancer from different angles. We’re able to match the radiation to the size and shape of your tumor and avoid other areas. This is important because your prostate gland is located near your bladder, rectum and urethra — the tube that carries urine and semen out of your body. IMRT minimizes radiation exposure to healthy tissues. We often use imaging tests such as MRI or CT scans to guide this treatment. 

Immunotherapy uses your own immune system to attack cancer cells.

Genetically-targeted therapy is a treatment that uses drugs to target specific genes and proteins that are involved in the growth and survival of cancer cells.

Prostate cancer is fueled by male hormones (testosterone) to grow. By decreasing these hormone levels, we may be able to slow cancer growth, at least temporarily. There are several medicines we can use. Surgery to remove your testicles, where most male hormones are made, can also be an option.

Chemotherapy uses medications to attack cancer cells. It’s not a standard treatment for early prostate cancer, but we might recommend it in certain cases if the cancer has spread outside the prostate. Chemotherapy drugs travel throughout your bloodstream. As a result, they can reach cancer cells in most parts of your body.

Cancer Connect puts you in touch with professionals at the UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center. They can give you information about our services and answer your questions weekdays between 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

For more information, call (608) 262-5223 or 1-800-622-8922.

Men might worry about their ability to father children following prostate cancer and its treatments. Our Generations Fertility Clinic can help. Staff members will offer information and can discuss options to help you preserve fertility. It is best to do this before you start treatment for prostate cancer.

For more information, call (608) 824-6160 or 1-888-474-3933.

If you have a family history of prostate cancer or breast cancer, you might be at an increased risk of prostate cancer. Our genetic counselors can help you assess your personal risk. They also provide helpful information to people making decisions about cancer treatment and follow-up care.

For more information, call (608) 263-7284.

Our survivorship program is designed to aid your recovery. It offers health care, information and resources to help you deal with life after cancer. Both long-term follow-up and one-time consultations are available. To schedule an appointment, call (608) 287-2900.

Health psychologists can help you and those close to you learn to cope with your cancer diagnosis. They offer individual and family counseling. Call (608) 265-1700.

Our registered dietitians are devoted to providing individualized, state-of-the-art nutrition care to enhance overall health of patients and their families. To schedule an appointment, call (608) 263-4757.

Cancer can bring physical, emotional and spiritual challenges. Palliative care helps you and your family deal with these challenges. It’s available to everyone with cancer or other serious illnesses, regardless of prognosis.

Our Learning Center provides cancer-related information to you and your family. It’s a helpful resource as you work to understand your cancer, its treatments and its impact on your life.

We offer counseling and medication to help you quit smoking. Giving up tobacco is one of the best things you can do to protect your health. For more information, call (608) 263-0573.

Trained social workers can help you and your family deal with many cancer-related concerns, including: 

• Adjustment to your illness and treatment 

• Emotional challenges 

• Family impact

• Financial impact

• Job-related issues

It’s not unusual to have questions about your faith and the meaning of life when you’re dealing with cancer. Our chaplains work with people who have cancer and their families.