Making treatment decisions

Sometimes it is difficult to decide on the type of treatment to have. You may feel that everything is happening too fast, or you might be anxious to get started. Check with your specialist how soon treatment should begin – in some cases, it won’t affect the success of the treatment to wait a while. Ask them to explain the options, and take as much time as you can before making a decision.

Prostate cancer is typically slow growing, giving you time to make decisions about your management or treatment options.

Learn more about:

• Knowing your options
• Recording the details
• Asking questions
• Considering a second opinion
• Deciding on treatment
• What if I am in a same-sex relationship?
• Joining a clinical trial

Know your options

Understanding the disease, the available treatments, possible side effects and any extra costs can help you weigh up the options and make a well-informed decision. Check if the specialist is part of a multidisciplinary team and if the treatment centre is the most appropriate one for you – you may be able to have treatment closer to home, or it might be worth travelling to a centre that specialises in a particular treatment.

Record the details

When your doctor first tells you that you have cancer, you may not remember everything you are told. Taking notes or recording the discussion can help. It is a good idea to have a family member or friend go with you to appointments to join in the discussion, take notes or simply listen.

Ask questions

If you are confused or want to check anything, it is important to ask your specialist questions. Try to prepare a list of questions before appointments. If you have a lot of questions, you could talk to a cancer care coordinator or nurse.

Consider a second opinion 

You may want to get a second opinion from another specialist to confirm or clarify your specialist’s recommendations or reassure you that you have explored all of your options.

Specialists are used to people doing this. Your GP or specialist can refer you to another specialist and send your initial results to that person. You can get a second opinion even if you have started treatment or still want to be treated by your first doctor. You might decide you would prefer to be treated by the second specialist.

It’s your decision

For localised or locally advanced prostate cancer, there are several treatment options available, including surgery (radical prostatectomy) and radiation therapy (external beam radiation therapy and/or brachytherapy). It is advised that you see both a urologist and a radiation oncologist to discuss your options before deciding on treatment. For advanced prostate cancer that has spread to bones or other organs, it is advised that you also see a medical oncologist.

You can ask for a referral to a radiation oncologist or medical oncologist from your urologist or GP.

Adults have the right to accept or refuse any treatment that they are offered. For example, some people with advanced cancer choose treatment that has significant side effects even if it gives only a small benefit for a short period of time. Others decide to focus their treatment on quality of life. You may want to discuss your decision with the treatment team, GP, family and friends.

For more on this see Cancer care and your rights.

Listen to our podcasts on New Cancer Treatments – Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy and Making Treatment Decisions