What should you know about prostate cancer treatment options?

When cancer is limited to the prostate, a team may discuss monitoring, prostate removal surgery, or radiotherapy. Brachytherapy places radiation sources inside or near the prostate, while other radiotherapy delivers treatment from outside the body.

When cancer has spread or returned, treatment may include medicines that travel through the bloodstream, targeted radioisotope therapy, or bone-strengthening therapy. Options can be combined, and the plan may change as symptoms, scans, and blood tests change.

Ask for the expected benefit, main side effects, schedule, and alternatives for each option. Consider urinary, bowel, sexual, fertility, work, travel, and caregiving needs. Difficulty passing urine deserves assessment before some treatments.

Bring a medication list and a trusted person if helpful. A written summary can make a second opinion easier. The safest choice depends on the tumour's location and behaviour as well as your priorities.

Contact your care team for fever, worsening urinary difficulty, persistent bleeding, severe pain, vomiting, or new symptoms after treatment.

Use emergency services for inability to pass urine with severe discomfort, sudden weakness or numbness, loss of bladder or bowel control, collapse, chest pain, or serious breathing difficulty.

What is the aim of each option? How could treatment affect urine, bowel function, erections, and daily activities? What can be done if side effects occur? Which option best matches my priorities?