the treatment options for prostate cancer depend in part on your age your overall health and whether the tumor has spread for tumors that are still inside the prostate radiation therapy using x rays that kill the cancer cells and a surgery called radical prostatectomy are common treatment options watchful waiting is also a treatment option in this approach no treatment is given until the tumor gets bigger watchful waiting may be the best choice for an older man who has a higher risk of dying from something other than his prostate cancer usually tumors that have grown beyond the edge of the prostate can't be cured with either radiation or surgery they can be treated with hormones that slow the cancer's growth