The American Cancer Society estimates about one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. There are two main approaches to the treatment of the disease: removal of the prostate through a surgical procedure called a “radical prostatectomy” and targeted external treatment through different forms of radiation therapy. Research has shown that radiation and surgery are equally effective at treating the disease, however, in recent years, radiation treatment has become the preferred treatment option as it causes fewer side effects. Read more.