This technique allows oncologists to deliver much higher radiation doses without damaging surrounding tissues. After implantation, patients are often treated with external beam radiation. One of the possible drawbacks of radiation therapy occurs when cancer returns. Nor can surgery be performed because the radiation fuses prostate tissue to the rectum and bladder. Hormonal therapy is typically selected by older men with shorter life expectancies or patients with health concerns that preclude other interventions.
Hormonal therapy cuts off the tumor's supply of testosterone that it needs to grow.
Without testosterone, the tumor shrinks and often the cancer goes into remission. Orchidectomy, or surgical removal of the testicles, is also an option. A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that men whose prostate cancer had spread to the lymph nodes benefited from surgical and chemical castration. But the side effects from this treatment can be severe, including weight gain, impotence, and decreased mental abilities. Watchful waiting Watchful waiting is the most conservative approach.