| Pros: |
Cons: |
| Rapid return to normal activities |
Many patients underestimate the severity and longevity of the urinary side effects that occur after treatment (frequency, urgency, and burning sensation) |
| Many studies indicate equivalent chance of cure compared to surgery for at least 10 years |
If cancer recurs after radiation (seed implant), future treatment is more complicated, and surgical removal is usually not possible |
| Can be performed as an outpatient |
PSA sometimes fluctuates, which is often harmless, but may produce anxiety |
| Radiation is focused in the target organ - the prostate - with minimal exposure to most surrounding structures |
|
| Both continence and potency are likely to be preserved |
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