The diagnosis of prostate cancer will mean a man will have many decisions to make, and one of the most important decisions is whether to treat it with surgery or radiation.  A decision of this magnitude must not be taken lightly and a man will need to do his research.  A thorough discussion with his urologist and/or oncologist on the pros and cons of each can guide a man on deciding what direction is best for him and his overall health.  At the time of diagnosis, prostate cancer will be staged according to how much cancer a patient has, if the cancer has spread beyond the prostate to surrounding tissues, and what their prostate specific antigen (PSA) level is.  Turn away! Why pornography can harm your sex life  If the prostate cancer has not spread into surrounding tissue besides the prostate and is considered localized just within the prostate, several studies have shown that prostate cancer patients who have localized prostate cancer do better with surgery versus radiation treatment.  The reason is that patients treated with radiation are twice as likely to die from prostate cancer, and one-and-a-half times more likely to die sooner than men who had prostate cancer treated with surgery.  In addition, a man who has radiation over surgery may be exposing himself to developing a secondary cancer, such as bladder cancer or rectal cancer, due to the possible side effects from radiation to that area of the body.  If a man chooses radiation over surgery and the cancer comes back, it is extremely difficult to perform surgery after radiation.  Study gives hope that immune therapy works for prostate cancer  Another factor men need to consider is if the cancer is found only in the prostate, men who have their prostate removed with surgery have an almost 100% survival rate.  However, if a man chooses radiation over surgery first and then finds out the cancer has spread outside of the prostate gland, the chances or a man living longer than five years is less than 30%.  Finding a qualified and experienced surgeon is another very important factor when considering surgery to remove the prostate.  A man should always ask a surgeon about his experience and number of successful surgeries for prostate cancer he has performed, in regards to rate of cancer return, urinary continence and sexual function after the removal of the prostate.  5 foods that can help prevent prostate cancer  Bottom line, all men diagnosed with prostate cancer should find a qualified, experienced urologist/oncologist who will guide them through this journey, providing individualized care and helping them make the best decision for him and his family.  Dr. Samadi is a board-certified urologic oncologist trained in open and traditional and laparoscopic surgery and is an expert in robotic prostate surgery. He is chairman of urology, chief of robotic surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital and professor of urology at Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine. He is a medical correspondent for the Fox News Channel's Medical A-Team Learn more at roboticoncology.com. Visit Dr. Samadi's blog at SamadiMD.com. Follow Dr. Samadi on Twitter, Instagram, Pintrest and Facebook.  [The content provided through this article and www.nydailynews.com should be used for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. Always seek the advice of a relevant professional with any questions about any health decision you are seeking to make.]  For more DAILY VIEWS, The News' contributor network, click here.
Having prostate cancer means a man has many decisions to make —  the most important being how to treat the diagnosis.