There are a number of treatment choices for men who are newly diagnosed with prostate cancer.  Radiation therapy has long been one of the mainstays of prostate cancer treatment and there have been many advances within the field of radiation oncology over the last several years.

One notable advance has been the development of high-dose rate brachytherapy for treatment of localized prostate cancer.

You can read all about high-dose rate brachytherapy - its advantages and disadvantages here.

A new study recently published in the medical journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention has shown that many types of cancer are more common in men who are infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

The study also found that prostate cancer was actually less commonly diagnosed in men with HIV.

The authors attributed the increased rates of some types of cancers (such as lung cancer) to lifestyle choices and the weakened immune system of many HIV patients.  It is unclear as to why prostate cancer is less common in men with HIV.

"Watchful waiting" is today accepted as a legitimate alternative for men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer who may not need to be immediately treated for their disease.   It is sometimes known as "active surveillance" and involves carefully monitoring for the development of worsening or spreading prostate cancer - rather than actively treating the cancer.

This is obviously a controversial option in some doctors' and patients' eyes, but it does have a role in the correct circumstances.

You can read all about "watchful waiting" here.

When prostate cancer is diagnosed, your doctors will likely put you through a serious of tests to determine the "stage" of your prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer's stage simply refers to how far the cancer has extended or spread at the time of diagnosis.  Staging prostate cancer is essential for determining the correct treatment.

There is much more to learn about prostate cancer staging.