The treatment for prostate cancer is dependent on the stage of the cancer and the individual. There is usually more than one ‘good’ option, so choice often comes down to patient preference. It is important that you consider the full range of options, including the no treatment option.

Talk with your urologist and your radiation oncologist to help you weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of different treatment options and possible side effects like incontinence and erectile dysfunction, availability and cost to help you make an informed decision about the best treatment for you.

Some of the treatment options include:

• Monitoring – either by active surveillance or by watchful waiting, these options are usually available to men who either have very slow growing prostate cancer, who don’t present with any symptoms, or for older men, where the cancer is unlikely to impact significantly on their quality of life, or lifespan¹
  • PSA Blood Test – both active surveillance and watchful waiting will require regular PSA blood tests (usually every 3-6 months). A PSA test is a blood test which measures a prostate specific antigen in the blood¹
  • Digital Rectal Exam – active surveillance will also require a rectal exam every 6 months to monitor any changes in the prostate¹
  • MRI scans – take a picture of the body using magnetic fields and radio waves, these scans are usually required every year under active surveillance

• Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) – is a type of therapy used to reduce the amount of testosterone in the body¹
  • This type of therapy can be used before, during and after other treatments such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy¹
  • ADT can be given as a tablet or as an injection³
• Chemotherapy – uses drugs that destroy cancer cells (and healthy cells too). This type of treatment is usually offered to men where their prostate cancer has spread to other areas of their body. Because chemotherapy destroys some healthy cells as well, there can be side effects such as; hair loss, nausea and vomiting, mouth sores and fatigue ²
• Surgery – this treatment procedure usually involves the removal of the whole prostate (radical prostatectomy), in an attempt to cure the patient of prostate cancer.

Bowen Icon Cancer Centre offer a range of prostate cancer treatments to ensure a personalised treatment plan for every patient. Visit our treatments page to find out more information about the range of treatment methods and technology available at Icon.