What should you know about surviving prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer behaves differently from person to person. Your follow-up plan depends on the original tumour features, treatment received, current prostate-specific antigen results, general health, and whether cancer remains, returns, or is controlled. Monitoring may include blood tests, examinations, scans, and conversations about symptoms. A rising or changing result needs interpretation in context rather than a conclusion from one test.

Treatment can affect urine flow, erections, ejaculation, bowel habits, energy, mood, and bone health. Difficulty passing urine can have several causes, so report it rather than assuming what it means. Support for sexual health, continence, emotional wellbeing, and relationships is part of cancer care.

Keep appointments and ask when your next test is due. Bring a list of medicines and note changes in urination, pain, bowel function, erections, energy, mood, or weight. Do not delay care because you feel well; follow-up is designed to detect changes and address late effects. Ask about activity, nutrition, bone protection, and help with anxiety or intimacy.

Depending on your situation, the team may discuss [Prostate Removal Surgery](/treatments/surgical-oncology/prostatectomy/), [Robotic Cancer Surgery](/treatments/surgical-oncology/robotic-cancer-surgery/), [Radiotherapy](/treatments/radiation-oncology/radiotherapy/), or [Brachytherapy](/treatments/radiation-oncology/brachytherapy/). Advanced disease may prompt discussion of [Targeted Radioisotope Therapy](/treatments/radiation-oncology/targeted-radioisotope-therapy/) or [Bone-Strengthening Therapy](/treatments/supportive-and-palliative-care/bone-strengthening-therapy/). Read about [Prostate Cancer](/conditions/prostate-cancer/).

Seek urgent help if you cannot pass urine, develop new leg weakness or numbness, lose control of your bladder or bowel, or have severe back or hip pain with difficulty walking. Contact your cancer team promptly for blood in urine, persistent bone pain, unexplained tiredness, or a new urinary change. These symptoms do not prove that cancer has returned, but they need assessment.

Ask what your monitoring schedule is, which result changes matter, how to manage urinary or sexual effects, and whether bone health needs review. Ask who to contact between visits and whether a continence, sexual-health, physiotherapy, or emotional-support referral would help.