For prostate cancer confined to the prostate, what is the typical treatment?

When prostate cancer is confined to the prostate, the typical treatments include surgery or radiation therapy. Surgery, often in the form of a prostatectomy, involves the removal of the prostate gland and some surrounding tissue, which can lead to a high chance of curing the cancer if detected early. Radiation therapy can also be an effective treatment option, using high-energy waves to target and kill cancer cells while preserving surrounding healthy tissue.

These treatment options are chosen based on the stage of cancer, patient's overall health, and personal preferences. Both surgical and radiation therapies aim to eradicate cancer cells, particularly when there's a higher likelihood of successful treatment due to the cancer being localized.

Other treatment options such as chemotherapy are generally reserved for advanced prostate cancer or when there is a risk of metastatic spread, making them less suited for localized disease. Monitoring without intervention, often referred to as active surveillance, may be adopted in certain cases, particularly for low-risk patients, but it does not typically constitute the primary treatment approach. Palliative care is focused on providing relief from symptoms and improving quality of life, rather than addressing the cancer itself, which is why it's not applicable when cancer is still confined to the prostate and treatment to eradicate it is feasible.