Your GP will usually arrange the first tests to assess your symptoms. If these tests do not rule out cancer, you will usually be referred to a specialist, who may arrange further tests. If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, the cancer specialist leading your care may be a urologist or radiation oncologist. In some cases, the main specialist may be a medical oncologist.
Your specialists may discuss treatment options with other health professionals at what is known as a multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting. During and after treatment, you will see a range of health professionals who specialise in different aspects of your care.
Health professionals you may see
The health professionals involved in your treatment may include:
| GP | assists you with treatment decisions and works in partnership with your specialists in providing ongoing care; may monitor PSA levels and administer treatment |
| urologist | treats diseases of the male and female urinary systems and the male reproductive system; performs biopsies and surgery; requests scans |
| radiation oncologist | treats cancer by prescribing and overseeing a course of radiation therapy |
| radiation therapist | plans and delivers radiation therapy |
| medical oncologist | treats cancer with drug therapies such as chemotherapy and hormone therapy (systemic treatment) |
| endocrinologist | diagnoses, treats and manages hormonal disorders, including osteoporosis |
| cancer care coordinator/prostate cancer specialist nurse | coordinates your care, liaises with other members of the MDT and supports you and your family throughout treatment; care may also be coordinated by a clinical nurse consultant (CNC) or clinical nurse specialist (CNS) |
| nurse | administers drugs and provides care, information and support throughout management or treatment |
| urology care coordinator/ continence nurse | supports people with bladder and bowel management before and after cancer treatment |
| radiologist | analyses x-rays and scans; an interventional radiologist may also perform a biopsy guided by ultrasound or CT, and deliver some treatments |
| nuclear physician | analyses bone scans and PET scans and delivers radionuclide therapies |
| pathologist | examines cells and tissue samples to determine the type and extent of the cancer |
| continence physiotherapist | provides exercises to help strengthen pelvic floor muscles and improve bladder and bowel control |
| exercise physiologist/ physiotherapist | prescribes exercise to help people with medical conditions improve their overall health, fitness, strength and energy levels |
| occupational therapist | assists in adapting your living and working environment to help you resume your usual activities after treatment |
| sexual health physician/sex therapist | helps you and your partner with sexuality issues before and after treatment; an erectile dysfunction specialist can give specific advice for erection problems |
| psychologist, counsellor, psychiatrist | help you manage your emotional response to diagnosis and treatment; may also help with emotional issues affecting sexuality |
| social worker | links you to support services and helps you with emotional, practical and financial issues |
Dr Amy Hayden, Radiation Oncologist, Westmead and Blacktown Hospitals, and Chair, Faculty of Radiation Genito-Urinary Group (FROGG), The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists, NSW; Prof Shomik Sengupta, Professor of Surgery and Deputy Head, Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, and Visiting Urologist and Uro-Oncology Lead, Urology Department, Eastern Health, VIC; A/Prof Arun Azad, Medical Oncologist, Urological and Prostate Cancers, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Ken Bezant, Consumer; Dr Marcus Dreosti, Radiation Oncologist, GenesisCare, and Clinical Strategy Lead, Oncology Australia, SA; A/Prof Nat Lenzo, Nuclear Physician, Specialist in Internal Medicine, Group Clinical Director, GenesisCare Theranostics and The University of Western Australia, WA; Jessica Medd, Senior Clinical Psychologist, Department of Urology, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, and HeadwayHealth Clinical and Consulting Psychology Services, NSW; Caitriona Nienaber, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council Western Australia; Graham Rees, Consumer; Kerry Santoro, Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurse, Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, SA; A/Prof David Smith, Senior Research Fellow, Cancer Research Division, Cancer Council NSW; Matthew Starr, Consumer. We also thank the health professionals, consumers and editorial teams who have worked on previous editions of this title. This booklet is funded through the generosity of the people of Australia.
View the Cancer Council NSW editorial policy.
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Additional resources
Need to talk?
Support services
Coping with cancer?
Ask a health professional or someone who’s been there, or find a support group or forum
Need legal and financial assistance?
Practical advice and support during and after treatment
Cancer Information
Patient rights and responsibilities
What you can reasonably expect from your health care providers
Making cancer treatment decisions
Decision-making steps, consent and second opinions