Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men, affecting more than 200,000 each year. About 10 percent of men will have the condition before they are 85.

Piedmont offers comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer, delivered by a team of urologists, radiologists and medical oncologists. Together they design a course of care for each patient's needs, delivered using various treatment options, including:

Traditional surgery - During a radical prostatectomy, a surgeon removes the entire prostate gland. Used for more than 30 years to treat prostate cancer, this procedure has superior long-term survival rates.

External beam radiation (EBR) - This treatment uses a precise beam of radiation to destroy cancerous cells in a specific location. A typical EBR treatment plan could include daily sessions for about six to eight weeks.

Chemotherapy or hormonal therapy - Given by injection or intravenously, this treatment of strong anti-cancer medications is most effective in patients with advanced stages of prostate cancer.

Radioactive seed implants (prostate seed implantation) - In this relatively new procedure, a surgeon places tiny radioactive seeds (about the size of rice grains) into the cancerous growth, where they emit a targeted dose of radiation. If more aggressive treatment is required, physicians may combine radioactive seed implants with EBR. In the short-term, this treatment is as effective as surgery; however, no long-term data is available yet because the procedure is so new.

Watchful waiting - Because prostate cancer usually grows slowly, physicians may recommend no treatment until there are signs that the cancer is progressing.