Treatment for prostate cancer
Your treatment depends on a number of factors including how big the cancer is, whether it has spread anywhere else in your body and your general health. A team of doctors and other professionals discuss the best treatment and care for you.
This section is about treatment for prostate cancer that hasn't spread to another part of your body.
We have separate information about treatment for cancer that began in the prostate and has spread to another part of the body. This is metastatic or advanced prostate cancer.
Preparing for treatment and life afterwards (prehabilitation)
There are things you can do to help you feel more in control of your physical and mental health when preparing for treatment. In the hospital, preparing for treatment is also called prehabilitation or prehab.
Treatment options for prostate cancer
Find out about how your doctor recommends which treatment you need and the types of treatment you might have.
Active surveillance and watchful waiting for prostate cancer
You might have active surveillance if you’ve been diagnosed with prostate cancer that doesn't need treatment straight away. Watchful waiting is another way of monitoring your cancer.
Surgery for prostate cancer
Surgery is one of the main treatments for prostate cancer. You usually have a radical prostatectomy. This means removing the whole of the prostate gland.
Hormone therapy for prostate cancer
Prostate cancer usually depends on testosterone to grow. Hormone therapy blocks or lowers the amount of testosterone in the body.
Radiotherapy for prostate cancer
Radiotherapy uses high energy waves similar to x-rays to kill prostate cancer cells. You might have it on its own or with hormone therapy.
Treatment if your prostate cancer comes back
Your cancer might come back after treatment to try to cure it (radical or curative). Find out what your treatment options are if this happens.
Cryotherapy for prostate cancer
Cryotherapy uses extreme cold to destroy cancer cells. It isn't a common treatment for prostate cancer and is only available in the UK in specific centres or as part of a clinical trial.
High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for prostate cancer
HIFU uses high frequency sound waves to destroy prostate cancer cells. It isn't a common treatment for prostate cancer and is only available in the UK in specific centres or as part of a clinical trial.
Follow up after prostate cancer treatment
After treatment for prostate cancer, you have regular check ups. This includes tests to check your PSA level.
