There is no single treatment pathway that is right for everyone with prostate cancer. What happens after diagnosis depends on factors such as the stage and risk group of the cancer, your general health, previous treatment and your own preferences.
Your specialist multidisciplinary team (MDT) will consider the available options and should help you understand the possible benefits, risks and side effects so that you can take part in decisions about your care.
From diagnosis to treatment
After prostate cancer is diagnosed, further assessment may be used to understand how significant the cancer is and whether it has spread. Your clinical team then discusses appropriate options with you.
Depending on your circumstances, these might include Active Surveillance, Watchful Waiting, Surgery, Radiotherapy, Hormone Therapy, Chemotherapy or other treatments.
Shared decision making
Treatment decisions can involve important trade-offs between controlling the cancer and possible effects on urinary, bowel, sexual and general health. NICE recommends that people with prostate cancer receive information tailored to their needs and have sufficient information and support to take part in decisions about their care.
It can be helpful to take someone with you to appointments, write down questions beforehand, and ask for more time or explanation if you need it.
Authoritative treatment pathways
Prostate Cancer UK Best Practice Pathway provides diagnosis, treatment and support pathway information developed with clinical experts. Prostate Cancer UK currently states that this pathway is under review and will be updated to reflect recent changes in diagnosis, treatment and support.
NICE guideline NG131: Prostate cancer – diagnosis and management contains the current national recommendations for diagnosis and management in secondary care. NICE is developing an update to parts of this guideline.
Understanding your own pathway
Online pathways are useful for understanding the broad process, but they cannot tell you which treatment is right for you. Ask your specialist team:
- What stage and risk group is my cancer?
- What treatment or monitoring options are suitable for me?
- What are the potential benefits and side effects of each option?
- Do I need treatment now, or is monitoring appropriate?
- What happens next and who should I contact if I have questions?
For an overview of the options, see our Treatment page.
This page provides general information about prostate cancer care pathways. Your individual pathway should be discussed with your specialist healthcare team.