What is commonly referred to as early-stage prostate cancer refers to prostate cancer in which the area of tumor invasion is still confined to the prostate gland at the time of diagnosis (within stage T2) and there is no surrounding organ invasion, lymph node or distant metastasis, also known as limited prostate cancer.
Early prostate cancer is almost curable
Limited prostate cancer accounts for 81% of cases in the United States, and the 5-year survival rate for these patients is almost 100%. In Japan, limited prostate cancer accounts for about 50% of cases, whereas in China, limited prostate cancer accounts for only 1/3 of patients initially diagnosed. therefore, the overall late stage of the patient’s tumor and the inability to do radical treatment is the main reason for the difference in overall survival rates for prostate cancer between China and Europe and the United States.
There is no need for patients to travel abroad for treatment of prostate cancer, as many experts in large tertiary hospitals in China have reached international standards. The company’s main goal is to provide the best possible service to its customers.
Curative treatment of prostate cancer refers to radical prostatectomy and radical radiation therapy (including external radiation or brachytherapy), or a combination of these treatments.
Does any diagnosis need to be treated right away if it is early?
Some low-stage, well-differentiated prostate cancers can be monitored actively, followed closely, and treated when the tumor progresses to an acceptable level that you have predetermined.
But for patients with low-risk limited prostate cancer with a life expectancy greater than 10 years, radical prostatectomy should be the first choice, followed by radical radiotherapy, and active surveillance is generally not recommended unless strongly requested by the patient.
Radical prostatectomy
Radical prostatectomy, or radical prostatectomy, is the most effective treatment for early-stage prostate cancer. It is the most effective way to treat early-stage prostate cancer. Radical prostatectomy removes as many tumor cells as possible from the body, resulting in a near-cure. It is now widely performed laparoscopically and robotically assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, and traditional open surgery is rarely used.
Radical prostate cancer surgery can be considered for patients with early-stage prostate cancer who have a life expectancy of >10 years, are in good health, do not have severe heart, lung, or brain disease, and can tolerate surgery.
Many authors now believe that radical surgery and adjuvant therapy in patients with partial regional lymph node metastases or even oligometastases can improve quality of life and benefit overall survival. The available data show that patients with early-stage prostate cancer have a 5-year survival rate of almost 100% after radical surgery and a 10-year survival rate of about 90%.
Radical radiotherapy
Of course, not all patients with early-stage prostate cancer can undergo radical surgery, and for those who cannot undergo surgery for various reasons, there is another curative treatment option: radical radiotherapy.
Whether it is external radiation therapy, as it is commonly called, or brachytherapy, in which radioactive particles are implanted into the prostate to kill tumor cells, modern radiotherapy techniques can achieve results similar to those of radical surgery. The most important thing is that it is not only the most important part of the process, but also the most important part of the process.
Other treatments
In addition, cryoablation is emerging, and although there are insufficient data to assess long-term outcomes, the available data suggest that cryoablation is also effective for early-stage prostate cancer and may be considered for patients who cannot tolerate surgery.
Follow-up after treatment should also be important
While most patients with prostate cancer are satisfied with radical surgery or radical radiotherapy, it does not mean that you can rest easy after surgery.
A significant proportion of prostate cancer patients may still develop local recurrence and distant metastases after undergoing surgery. If early detection of postoperative recurrence is achieved and countermeasures are taken before the disease progresses further, the long-term survival rate can be greatly improved.
Thus, follow-up for review after radical prostate cancer surgery or radical radiotherapy is important and is generally recommended every month for 6 months after surgery, every 3 months for 2 years, every 6 months after 2 years, and annually after 5 years.
Follow-up visits include PSA exams and rectal or transrectal ultrasound and, in some patients, bone scan (ECT). You should work with your doctor to shorten the interval between follow-up visits if necessary.
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