Only select men are able to undergo implant radiation therapy. It should be noted that there have been fewer studies confirming the efficacy and long-term benefits of implant radiation therapy, as compared to external beam radiation therapy. Adjunctive Hormonal Therapy Adjunctive hormonal therapy is usually considered when the prostate cancer has spread outside of the prostate. The goal of hormonal treatment is to suppress the release of male hormones from the testicles. Many prostate cancers thrive on these hormones, and stopping the release of these hormones can cause the cancer to stop growing and even shrink.
Many men however prefer to receive medication to achieve the same effect.
This usually takes the form of either injection every month or every three months, as well as daily oral medication. Very select cases of prostate cancers may not need to be immediately treated. If the patient is elderly and has other serious medical conditions, and the cancer appears not to be so aggressive, it may be possible that the individual may succumb to the other medical conditions before the cancer ever becomes a major problem or causes symptoms. In this situation, the patient may be spared the side effects, inconvenience and expense of treatment. The choice between the two treatments depends on the patient's individual preference as well as consideration of the possible side effects and complications of each treatment.