About this page. This is a plain English summary of the main treatments for prostate cancer. It does not replace medical advice from your own doctor or specialist.
For full information and references, please read the detailed page.
How treatment is chosen
There is no single "right" treatment for prostate cancer. The best choice depends on:
- The grade and stage of the cancer (how aggressive it looks, and whether it has spread).
- Your age and your general health.
- What matters most to you (for example, urinary control, sexual function, time off work, travel for treatment).
Dr Kooner usually goes through the options with you and your family over more than one appointment. Most people find that once the choices are explained clearly, the right path becomes easier to see.
The main options
Active surveillance
Active surveillance means watching a slow-growing cancer closely with regular tests (PSA, MRI, sometimes biopsies), instead of treating it straight away. This is not "do nothing". The plan is to step in with treatment if the tests show the cancer is changing.
Surgery
Surgery to remove the prostate is called a prostatectomy. There are three ways it can be done:
- Open surgery through one larger cut.
- Keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery through several small cuts.
- Robot-assisted surgery, where the surgeon controls fine instruments through small cuts using the da Vinci robot.
Dr Kooner can offer all three. Read about robotic prostatectomy in plain English.
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy uses carefully aimed radiation to treat the cancer. It can be given:
- From outside the body (external beam), over many short sessions.
- From inside the prostate by placing tiny radioactive seeds (low-dose-rate brachytherapy) or using temporary high-dose wires (high-dose-rate brachytherapy).
Hormone treatment
Most prostate cancers grow with the help of male hormones. Hormone treatment lowers those hormones to slow the cancer down. It is sometimes used by itself, and sometimes alongside radiotherapy or surgery.
Focal treatments
If the cancer is in one part of the prostate, a focal treatment may treat only that part and leave the rest of the gland alone. NanoKnife is one example available at Urology NSW.
Other and newer options
There are also experimental treatments such as HIFU (high-intensity focused ultrasound) and cryotherapy. These are still being studied. Whether they are right for you depends on your individual case.
Combining treatments
Some people will have more than one treatment, sometimes one after the other. For example, surgery may be followed later by radiotherapy if the cancer is found to be more advanced than expected.
Important things to know
- Every treatment has possible side effects. Common ones to discuss include effects on urinary control, bowel function, and sexual function.
- No treatment guarantees a cure. Outcomes vary between people.
- Some treatments are not suitable for every cancer type or stage. Your specialist can explain which options apply to you.
What you can do next
- Read the full detailed page for more information and references.
- Short version overview of prostate cancer.
- Short version summary of how prostate cancer is diagnosed.
- Request a second opinion on a treatment plan you have already been given.
- Call 02 8382 6980 to make an appointment.