Treating Prostate Cancer

The most common cancer in men in the United States is prostate cancer. It impacts one in eight men, and your risk increases as you age.

In 2026, the American Cancer Society estimates nearly 333,830 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in the U.S. If you're one of them, the diagnosis and treatment options can be confusing.

Fortunately, prostate cancer survival rates are high — especially when doctors catch the cancer early. Routine prostate cancer screening can detect disease when it's most treatable. In fact, when doctors identify prostate cancer before it spreads, the survival rate is nearly 100 percent after five years.

Franciscan Health physicians explain the importance of screening and the wide variety of prostate cancer treatment options available.

Key Takeaways: Prostate Cancer Screening And Treatment

• Men should begin prostate cancer screening at age 50.
• Prostate cancer screening can detect early-stage disease when it's most treatable.
• Patients can choose from multiple treatment options based on their prostate cancer screening results.

What Is Prostate Cancer Screening?

“A prostate cancer screening is a screening evaluation for men, typically age 50 to 70 to screen for prostate cancer,” said Robert Korsch, DO, a urological surgeon at Franciscan Health Michigan City.

According to the American Cancer Society, men with average risk should begin cancer screening at age 50. Men with a higher risk of prostate cancer should begin screening at age 40. These groups include Black men and men with a close family history of disease.

In many cases, early-stage prostate cancer produces few symptoms. So, screening is important to identify the disease when it's most treatable. A prostate screening exam includes a physical test and a blood test.

The second part of screening is a blood test to check your prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level. PSA is a protein produced by the prostate gland. A PSA level above 4 can point to an increased risk of prostate cancer.

“This is something that's only made by the prostate. So when we detect it in a blood test, we know it's only coming from the prostate. It's not coming from any other part of the body.”

A prostate MRI scan can be an effective monitoring tool for men who have a family history of prostate cancer or a rising PSA level after a negative biopsy. Doctors can use prostate MRI to keep track of a patient's cancer and make treatment decisions.

What Happens After A Prostate Cancer Diagnosis?

If you receive a prostate cancer diagnosis, cancer staging is the next step. Cancer stages range from Stage I (small cancer that is still in the prostate) to Stage IV (cancer has spread to other parts of the body).

It's important to know how advanced your cancer is. Staging it helps your doctor choose the best treatment for you.

What Treatments Are Available For Prostate Cancer?

Treatment for prostate cancer is unique to you. This personalized approach to care means doctors choose the best treatment option based on your specific health needs.

A watchful waiting strategy — also called active surveillance — is a common choice for men who have low-to-medium risk of developing prostate cancer.

"We can follow the majority of men with low-risk prostate cancer with active surveillance. About half of these patients don't need treatment at all," said Sandeep Bhave, MD, an independent radiation oncologist who practices at Franciscan Health Indianapolis.

With this approach, doctors closely monitor your prostate or PSA level for any signs of growing disease. A 10-year study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found active surveillance is a safe, effective option. It helps you avoid urinary and sexual side effects linked with surgery and radiation.

Based on the stage of your cancer, your doctor may recommend other treatments, including:

• Chemotherapy: Medication that stops the growth of tumors and cancer cells.
• Hormone therapy: Medication that reduces or blocks testosterone or other hormones that can trigger cancer cell growth.
• Immunotherapy: A treatment that strengthens the ability of the body's natural immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells.
• Radiation: A therapy that uses high-energy rays to precisely target and destroy cancer cells in and around the prostate.
• Surgery: Removal of the prostate. We recommend this procedure for healthy men who have cancer that hasn't spread outside the prostate.
• Targeted therapy: Medication that only targets and attacks cancer cells. It does not harm healthy cells.

“The majority of men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer probably undergo either surgery or radiation therapy for treatment,” Dr. Korsch said. “Both of these offer prostate cancer care to equal degrees.”

How Can Prostate Cancer Treatment Impact Your Quality Of Life?

Prostate cancer treatment may cause side effects that impact your daily activities and quality of life. Talk with your doctor about the possible changes. Understanding how they may affect you can help you choose the therapy that supports your wishes and goals.

The two most common prostate cancer side effects are urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction. You may also experience:

• Fatigue
• Hair loss
• Increased risk of infection
• Nausea and vomiting
• Pain

Cancer and treatment for prostate cancer don't just affect your body. They also impact your emotional and mental well-being. As a result, you may struggle with these psychological side effects during treatment:

• Anxiety
• Changes to body image and self-esteem
• Depression
• Fear of cancer coming back

Can Prostate Cancer Be Cured?

“Really, in order to cure prostate cancer, it has to be clinically localized,” Dr. Korsch said. “If there's no evidence of cancer spread outside the prostate and it's just localized at the prostate, there's a great chance for prostate cancer to be cured. Once prostate cancer leaves the prostate, the prostate cancer is not considered curable at this point. We can kind of control it, we can tame it, we can slow it down, but not considered curable at that point.

“I think the key is early detection. So early screening, making sure that you're seeing your primary care doctor, and they know with the routine blood work to start the screening process at that age range, 50 to 70 typically. And then if there's any abnormality, seeing your neighborhood urologist to undergo more of a risk stratification process, usually with a genetic marker, and then making sure that we're proceeding with caution and making sure that we're detecting any signs of clinically significant prostate cancer at the same time, being aggressive for those men that need treatment, but then also making sure that we're not overaggressive for those men that are at low risk for prostate cancer or are diagnosed with low risk prostate cancer. So a lot of this is just having an open discussion with your physician, your primary care doctor and your urologist. It's important to be aware of all the options and kind of what we're doing, what we recommend.”

What Lifestyle Changes Are Needed After A Prostate Cancer Diagnosis?

“I usually recommend patients to just live a normal healthy lifestyle, prevent cardiovascular risks because still even in men that are diagnosed with prostate cancer, a very minority of men will actually die and pass away from prostate cancer," Dr. Korsch said. "So it's important to look at other lifestyle aspects that may be more so the cause of death rather than prostate cancer.”

Should TRT Be Considered After A Prostate Cancer Diagnosis?

"We know that prostate cancer is hormone-fueled essentially. Testosterone fuels prostate cancer," Dr. Korsch said. "And so there's a lot of concern and controversy over giving a man testosterone with an active prostate cancer diagnosis."

What Role Do Support Networks Play In Your Treatment?

Prostate cancer treatment can be complex and time-consuming. No one should go through the journey alone, Dr. Siegert said.

"It's important to stay close to your support networks, including your family, friends and healthcare professionals," he said. "With their help, you can better navigate the challenges that come with treatment."

Lean on trusted individuals for the physical and emotional support you need. Loved ones can help you cope with the day-to-day realities of living with cancer and make informed decisions about your treatment options. During your treatment, your healthcare provider will monitor your progress, offer expert guidance and make necessary changes to your care plan. They can also connect you with additional resources if you need them.

Overall, this holistic approach to care is your safety net on your prostate cancer journey.