Doctors can treat prostate cancer in several ways, depending on the cancer stage and other factors. Treatment can cure some cases. In other cases, people may live with cancer for years without it spreading or causing serious problems.

Anyone who has a prostate is at risk of developing prostate cancer, although this cancer becomes more common as people get older. The prostate is a small gland that produces seminal fluid and is part of the male reproductive system. It is located between the bladder and the front of the rectum.

Doctors diagnose most new cases of prostate cancer in males aged 65–74 years. A doctor will assign a stage of prostate cancer from 1 to 4. Stage 4 is the most advanced form.

People who receive a prostate cancer diagnosis should work with their doctor to determine the best course of action for their particular case.

This article discusses how curable prostate cancer is and outlines some available treatments.

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Doctors can often cure early stage prostate cancer. Some doctors may define cancer as “cured” if a person has shown no signs of cancer for at least 5 years.

The 5-year relative survival rate for local or regional prostate cancer is nearly 100%. This means that almost all people who have prostate cancer that has not spread outside the prostate or reached nearby structures or lymph nodes will be alive 5 years after diagnosis.

If the cancer spreads to more distant parts of the body, such as the lungs, liver, or bones, the 5-year relative survival rate drops drastically.

Therefore, early diagnosis increases the chances of successful treatment.

For some people, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing may be beneficial in diagnosis. However, there is much controversy around the use of PSA testing to screen for prostate cancer.

Experts recommend that people aged 55–69 years — including those with increased risk for the condition — discuss testing with their doctor and make a personal decision on whether they would like to undergo periodic testing.

PSA screening is typically not recommended for males aged 70 years or older.

Learn more about PSA tests.

If a person’s cancer has spread, doctors may still be able to cure it with aggressive treatment. However, the outlook is typically less promising than in earlier stages. Around 3 in 10 people with prostate cancer can expect to be alive 5 years after a diagnosis of distant prostate cancer.

Stage 4 cancer

Doctors cannot cure most stage 4B cancers that have spread to distant organs, but they can treat them. Treatment aims to:

  • keep the cancer under control
  • manage the symptoms
  • allow the person to have a good quality of life for as long as possible

In many cases, people can live with prostate cancer for years.

Learn more about staging for prostate cancer.

The exact treatment a doctor will recommend for prostate cancer depends on many factors, including the cancer stage and each individual’s situation.

In some cases of early stage prostate cancer, doctors may recommend active surveillance. This means they will monitor the cancer closely, performing a PSA blood test every 6 months and digital rectal exams annually. Treatments that aim to cure the cancer may be beneficial if the test results change.

Repeated testing can provide much more information than a single PSA test and can help measure how quickly PSA levels are rising, if at all. For example, a PSA level that doubles in a year — even if it is within a range that doctors consider “normal” — can be more significant than an elevated level that is stable over time.

For some people, doctors may even suggest watchful waiting, a follow-up process that involves fewer tests. If a person develops new or different symptoms, they may then receive treatment. The aim is to manage symptoms rather than to cure the prostate cancer.

Potential treatment options include:

  • surgery such as radical prostatectomy, which is the removal of the prostate
  • radiation therapy, which involves using high energy beams or placing radioactive seeds in the prostate to target cancer cells
  • hormone therapy to reduce levels of the hormone testosterone, which can fuel cancer growth
  • chemotherapy, which involves using medications to kill rapidly dividing cells such as cancer cells
  • targeted therapy, which involves using medications to attack cancer cells specifically
  • immunotherapy, which can help boost the body’s natural defenses to target cancer

Learn more about treating metastatic or advanced prostate cancer.

Many people with prostate cancer can expect to have a typical life expectancy. However, this depends on the stage of cancer and factors such as the person’s:

  • age
  • overall health status
  • treatment response

People with localized, low grade prostate cancer are unlikely to die of this cancer within 15 years of diagnosis. Around 1 in 5 older men with low grade disease will still be alive 15 years after diagnosis. They often die as a result of unrelated causes, such as aging.

Doctors can often cure early stage prostate cancer. The 5-year relative survival rate for local or regional prostate cancer is nearly 100%. If the cancer spreads to other parts of the body, such as the lungs, liver, or bones, the 5-year relative survival rate can drop to 31%.

If the cancer has spread, doctors may be able to cure it with aggressive treatment, but the outlook is typically less favorable than it would have been in earlier stages.

People can live for many years with prostate cancer, as treatments can help them manage the cancer and its symptoms and maintain a good quality of life.