Frequently Asked Questions

This content has been reviewed and approved by

Daniel P. Petrylak, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Director, Genitourinary Oncology Program
Columbia University Medical Center

Our oncologists have been asked many questions specific to prostate cancer. In this section, they provide answers to the questions that patients ask most often.

Here is a recent question and answer. To see more FAQs, choose one of the links below.

Question: I have an enlarged prostate as well as localized prostate cancer. Someone in my prostate cancer support group mentioned that hormonal therapy would be helpful to take before my radical prostatectomy. Is it useful to take hormonal therapy before surgery?

Answer: Thus far, there has been evidence that the tumor may be down-staged if hormonal therapy is given before surgery. However, time to PSA progression has not been changed with hormonal therapy before radical prostatectomy versus prostatectomy alone. Therefore, most urologists do not recommend taking hormonal therapy before this surgery.

More FAQs in Prostate Cancer

Diagnosis 

Watchful Waiting 

Chemotherapy 

Hormonal Therapy 

Radiation 

Surgery 

Salvage Therapy 

Metastatic Disease 

Nutrition 

Prevention