Prostate cancer

If you’re affected by prostate cancer, you may have many questions about how it is diagnosed, treatment options, side effects and how to stay well. You can find trustworthy information about all aspects of your experience below.

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What is prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer begins when abnormal cells in the prostate gland start growing in an uncontrolled way.

Symptoms

Learn about the common symptoms of prostate cancer and when to see your doctor.

Getting diagnosed

Find out about the tests for prostate cancer, how it is diagnosed and staged, and who will provide your care.

Management and treatment

Management and treatment options include active surveillance, watchful waiting, surgery, radiation therapy, androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and chemotherapy.

Managing side effects

Find out about ways to manage some common side effects of prostate cancer treatment, such as erection problems, urinary problems, infertility and fatigue.

Life after treatment

Learn about follow-up care, what happens if the cancer returns, and how to look after your physical and mental health.

Questions for your doctorAsking your doctor questions will help you make informed decisions. Here’s a list of questions you may want to ask.

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Diagnosis

What type of prostate cancer do I have?
Has the cancer spread? If so, where has it spread? What is the grade?
Are the latest tests and treatments for this cancer available in this hospital?
Will a multidisciplinary team be involved in my care?
Are there clinical guidelines for this type of cancer?

Treatment

What treatment do you recommend? What is the aim of the treatment?
Have you treated a lot of people with my type of cancer?
Are there other treatment choices for me? If not, why not?
If I don’t have the treatment, what should I expect?
How long do I have to make a decision?
I’m thinking of getting a second opinion. Can you recommend anyone?
How long will treatment take? Will I have to stay in hospital?
Are there any out-of-pocket expenses not covered by Medicare or my private health cover? Can the cost be reduced if I can’t afford it? Can I be treated in the public system?
How will we know if the treatment is working?
Are there any clinical trials or research studies I could join?

Side effects and follow-up

What are the risks and possible side effects of each treatment? How can these be managed?
If I have problems with continence, what can I do to manage this?
Will the treatment affect my sex life and erections? What can be done about this? Which health professionals should I see?
Will I still be able to have children? Should I see a fertility specialist?
Are there any complementary therapies that might help me?
How often will I need check-ups after treatment?
If the cancer returns, how will I know? What treatments could I have?

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