Treatment

The possible treatments will be discussed with you by a doctor. This is known as a multidisciplinary team and includes a surgeon (urologist) and doctors who are specialists in radiotherapy, hormonal therapy and chemotherapy treatments (clinical oncologists). The team may also include specialist nurses, social workers, and physiotherapists. It is common to see a surgeon, an oncologist and a specialist nurse to help you to make the right decision for you, that will benefit you the most.

If the cancer is likely to develop very slowly you may be offered active surveillance. Men who have a moderate to high-grade cancer are more likely to be offered surgical removal of the prostate gland (radical prostatectomy) or radiotherapy to the prostate. These treatments aim to get rid of all of the cancer cells and cure the cancer.

In men with early prostate cancer, surgical removal of the prostate (prostatectomy) or radiotherapy to the prostate seem to be equally effective at treating the cancer. The radiotherapy can be given from an external machine or directly into the prostate gland as brachytherapy.

Hormone therapy may be used for some men as well as prostatectomy or radiotherapy. Cryotherapy (also known as cryosurgery) or high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment may be offered to some men.

High Intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is sometimes used as a treatment for early prostate cancer. This treatment may be as effective as surgery or radiotherapy for early prostate cancer.

HIFU treatment is given under a general or spinal anaesthetic. A probe is inserted into the back passage (rectum). The probe produces a high-energy beam of ultrasound. This heats the affected area of the prostate gland, destroying the cancer. The probe is surrounded by a cooling balloon to protect the normal prostate tissue from damage.

All different types of treatments carry different risks and side effects but none as great as losing your life if you refuse treatment. Side effects include nausea, vomiting, weight gain or loss, mouth sores and in rare cases infertility.