Prostate Cancer Treatments

In this treatment option, medications are given to reduce the production of testosterone, which is the primary driver of prostate cancer growth.

Many of these medications are given as injections and include Lupron, Eligard, Firmagon, and Camcevi. There is also a once a day oral option called Orgovyx.

Androgen deprivation therapy is also known as hormone therapy for prostate cancer.

For patients who need longer term androgen deprivation therapy and who do not want to be on medications, we can do a bilateral orchiectomy which is surgical removal of the testicles.

For patients with recurrent or metastatic prostate cancer, we offer multiple treatment options that help patients live longer and prevent the cancer from progressing in the form of a daily pill.

One group of medications are referred to as novel hormonal therapies (NHT) and they work by either further reducing the production of testosterone or blocking the effect of testosterone.

Abiraterone inhibits the production of testosterone so levels go from low with androgen deprivation therapy to very low with abiraterone, and this medication is normally given with a low dose of prednisone.

Another type of NHT are second generation testosterone blockers and these include Xtandi (enzalutamide), Erleada (apalutamide) and Nubeqa (darolutamide).

Another type of oral oncolytic therapy called PARP inhibitors work particularly well for patients who have a genetic mutation in genes that are involved in DNA repair so typically genetic testing is necessary to determine eligibility for PARP inhibitors.

Provenge (Sipeleucel T) is an immunotherapy for prostate cancer that utilizes the body's immune system to combat the prostate cancer once the cancer has spread outside the prostate.

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) is another type of immunotherapy given as a monthly IV infusion that helps the bodies immune system recognize and destroy prostate cancer cells.

Keytruda requires genetic testing to determine if it will be effective for patients.

When prostate cancer has spread to multiple areas of the bone, this can have a significant impact on quality of life and prognosis.

Xofigo (Radium-223) is utilized for patients with multiple bone metastasis to alleviate symptoms and improve survival.

If there are only a small number of bone metastases, we work with our radiation oncologist to develop a treatment plan using medications and radiation to target the metastatic lesions in an effort to keep patients off of medications long term.

For patients with significant pain from bone lesions from prostate cancer, radiation can also be used to alleviate pain.

Cryoablation can be an excellent option to salvage a cure of the cancer and avoid systemic therapy. In certain situations, cryoablation may be used for primary treatment of prostate cancer instead of daVinci Prostatectomy or Radiation Therapy.

Learn more here.

In this treatment option, surgical removal of the prostate, or radiation treatment to the prostate, will destroy the primary tumor. Pelvic radiation can also treat the surrounding lymph nodes.

Genetic testing is offered with positive prostate biopsy specimens. These tests, which include Oncotype, Prolaris, and Decipher, help to provide further prognostic information to help counsel each patient about proper treatment for their cancer.

Learn more here.