While about one man in five will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, most malignancies never become life threatening because the cancer grows slowly and most men develop it later in life. In fact, men over age 75 are more likely to die of other causes before their prostate cancer becomes dangerous. Younger men, however, are faced with more difficult choices. Treatment options include radical prostatectomy (prostate removal), external beam radiation, or radioactive pellet implants. According to a recent Harvard study, prostate removal is probably the best choice for young men with tumors at an intermediate- or high-risk stage. While standard radiation therapy appeared to be equally effective, it carries the possibility that a small number of cancerous cells may survive.