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Prostate Cancer: Should I Have Radiation or Surgery for Localized Prostate Cancer?

You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them.

Prostate Cancer: Should I Have Radiation or Surgery for Localized Prostate Cancer?

Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision.

Get the facts

Your options

  • Have radiation treatment to the prostate.
  • Have surgery to remove your prostate.

This topic is for people who have cancer that hasn't spread outside of the prostate (localized cancer) and who have already decided that they want to treat their cancer with either radiation or surgery. (People with low-risk localized cancer—and some people with medium-risk cancer—may choose active surveillance or watchful waiting, Opens dialog instead of treating their cancer right away.)

This topic is not for prostate cancer that has grown or spread outside of the prostate or for cancer that has spread throughout the body. Treatment choices are different for that stage of cancer.

Key points to remember

  • Radiation therapy or surgery may be used to treat your prostate cancer. Both treatments work well. With either treatment, the chance of your cancer spreading is low.
  • Both treatments have side effects, such as bladder, bowel, and erection problems. Radiation therapy is more likely to cause bowel problems. Surgery is more likely to cause leaking urine or erection problems.
  • If your goal is to treat the cancer by having your prostate removed, then you may want to choose surgery. For some people, the idea of "getting the cancer out" brings a sense of relief. For others, avoiding radiation may be what is important to them.
  • If your goal is to treat the cancer and avoid the risks of major surgery, then you may want to choose radiation therapy. For some people, preserving their sexual function for as long as possible is what they value most. Having radiation rather than surgery may help avoid erection problems.
  • One treatment may be better for you than the other because of how long you might live (your life expectancy), your other health problems, and how you feel about each treatment. You and your doctor can talk about your situation.

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Current as of: October 25, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

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