Over the long run, surgery provides a slightly better chance for cure, and should be favored in younger healthier patients. Patients age 70 to 79 or patients with other serious, life threatening diseases, should be treated with one of the forms of radiation therapy , cryotherapy , or in some cases, observation . Sometimes, combined therapy , short term hormonal treatment, used in combination with radiation treatments is appropriate. While not curing prostate cancer, hormonal therapy frequently slows its course and prolongs life and comfort. This is a major change in therapy.
Treatment is controversial.
Historically, aggressive treatment was not offered, however recent studies suggest that early aggressive treatment with combinations of surgery or radiation along with long term early hormonal therapy may increase survival or disease free periods in these cases. There is no one way to treat any one patient , and a discussion with the urologist, is necessary to arrive at an appropriate treatment plan.