Complete Prostate Cancer Treatment in Northern California

Prostate cancer is often diagnosed in its early, and most treatable, stages with screening exams. Doctors at Dignity Health North State create personalized treatment plans for prostate cancer based on the stage of the cancer and the likelihood of it spreading.

If you would like to learn more about your treatment options for prostate cancer in Northern California, use our Find a Doctor tool to make an appointment. Our experts can answer all of your questions and provide care with humankindness.

Prostate Cancer Treatment at Dignity Health North State

Dignity Health offers a range of advanced treatment options for prostate cancer in Northern California. This may include one or more of the following:

Watchful Waiting

Watchful waiting (also known as active surveillance) is an option typically reserved for small, slow-growing tumors. During this period of monitoring, your doctor will test your prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, perform biopsies, and track your symptoms.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is often used to treat prostate cancer that is confined to the prostate gland.

It can also be used in combination with hormone therapy to kill remaining cancer cells after surgery or to treat tumors that have spread.

Surgery

Surgery for prostate cancer removes the entire prostate gland as well as some surrounding tissue. Surgery, like radiation, is a common option for prostate cancer that has not spread beyond the prostate gland.

Hormone Therapy

Hormone therapy reduces the level of male hormones (androgens) in the body. This often makes the tumor shrink or grow more slowly. Doctors use hormone therapy before other treatments to shrink tumors and decrease their chances of returning, and when radiation and surgery are not options.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy drugs are used by doctors to kill cancer cells or slow their growth. Chemotherapy is generally used for prostate cancer when hormone therapy isn’t working or the cancer has spread.

Cryotherapy

For cancer that returns after radiation therapy, cryotherapy can be used to freeze cancer cells and kill them.

Cancer Vaccine for Prostate Cancer

Cancer vaccines boost the body’s immune system to better fight cancer cells. Cancer vaccines are used to treat more advanced stages of prostate cancer when other therapies no longer work.

Considering Your Treatment Options for Prostate Cancer

There are many options for treating prostate cancer. Talk to your doctor at Dignity Health North State about the risks, benefits, and goals of each option before beginning treatment.