Does my choice of initial prostate cancer treatment preclude other treatments later on?

Answer From Erik P. Castle, M.D.

For most initial prostate cancer treatments, the answer is no. For instance, if your initial treatment is surgery to remove the prostate (prostatectomy), other treatments, such as radiation therapy and hormone therapy, may be options for you later, if necessary.

However, if you choose radiation therapy or cold therapy (cryosurgery) as an initial treatment, surgery may not be an option later because of the risk of complications.

Radiation therapy and cryosurgery cause changes to the prostate and surrounding tissues that make later surgery to remove the prostate (salvage prostatectomy) very difficult. Salvage prostatectomy carries a significantly increased risk of urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction, as well as a risk of injury to nearby structures, such as your rectum.

Salvage prostatectomy can be performed with careful planning at specialized medical centers, but it isn't an option for everyone. Your doctor may recommend other treatments, such as hormone therapy, before considering salvage prostatectomy.

Nov. 02, 2018 See more Expert Answers

See also

  1. Infographic: Ablation for Cancer Treatment
  2. Ablation therapy
  3. Active surveillance for prostate cancer
  4. Biopsy procedures
  5. Blood in semen
  6. Blood in urine (hematuria)
  7. Bone scan
  8. Brachytherapy
  9. Chemo Targets
  10. Chemotherapy
  11. Chemotherapy and hair loss: What to expect during treatment
  12. Chemotherapy and sex: Is sexual activity OK during treatment?
  13. Chemotherapy nausea and vomiting: Prevention is best defense
  14. Cryoablation for cancer
  15. CT scan
  16. CT scans: Are they safe?
  17. Digital rectal exam
  18. External beam radiation for prostate cancer
  19. Flaxseed: Does it affect risk of prostate cancer?
  20. Frequent sex: Does it protect against prostate cancer?
  21. Get ready for possible side effects of chemotherapy
  22. Ginger for nausea: Does it work?
  23. Leg swelling
  24. Magic mouthwash
  25. MRI
  26. PALS (Pets Are Loving Support)
  27. Pelvic pain
  28. Pomegranate juice: A cure for prostate cancer?
  29. Prostate artery embolization
  30. Prostate cancer
  31. Prostate cancer brachytherapy: Can I pass radiation to others?
  32. Infographic: Prostate Cancer: Choline c-11
  33. Prostate cancer: Does PSA level affect prognosis?
  34. Prostate cancer metastasis: Where does prostate cancer spread?
  35. Prostate cancer prevention
  36. Prostate cancer screening
  37. Prostatectomy
  38. Proton Beam Therapy
  39. Proton therapy
  40. PSA test
  41. PSA: To Test or Not To Test
  42. Radiation therapy
  43. Seeing Inside the Heart with MRI
  44. Symptom Checker
  45. Ultrasound
  46. Vasectomy: Does it increase my risk of prostate cancer?
  47. MRI
  48. Orchestrating Care (and robotic surgery) for Prostate Cancer - Mayo Clinic