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Treating Prostate Cancer
If you’ve been diagnosed with prostate cancer, your cancer care team will discuss your treatment options with you. It's important to think about the benefits of each treatment option compared to the possible risks and side effects.
Who treats prostate cancer?
The main types of doctors who treat prostate cancer include:
- Urologist: A surgeon who treats diseases of the urinary system and male reproductive system, including the prostate
- Radiation oncologist: A doctor who treats cancer with radiation therapy
- Medical oncologist: A doctor who treats cancer with medicines, such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy
Many other specialists may be part of your cancer care team as well, including nurse practitioners (NPs), physician assistants (PAs), nurses, nutritionists, pharmacists, social workers, rehabilitation specialists, and other health professionals.
How is prostate cancer treated?
Depending on each person's situation, treatment options for prostate cancer might include:
Common treatment approaches
Prostate cancer treatments can be used alone or in combination. Combining treatments is common, especially when treating more advanced or widespread disease.
Making treatment decisions
It’s important to discuss all your treatment options with your cancer care team so you can make the decision that best fits your needs. This includes talking about the goals and possible side effects of each treatment. You may feel like you need to decide quickly, but it’s important to give yourself time to absorb the information you learn.
Ask questions about anything you don't understand.
Questions to ask before prostate cancer treatment
Deciding on a treatment plan
- How likely is my cancer to cause problems if I’m not treated right away?
- Should I consider observation (watchful waiting) or active surveillance? Why or why not?
- If I decide to be treated, are both surgery and radiation therapy options for me? What are the pros and cons of each?
- What types of radiation therapy might work best for me?
- What other treatments might be right for me? Why?
- How quickly do I need to decide on treatment?
- Should I get a second opinion? How do I do that?
- Am I eligible for any clinical trials?
What to expect during treatment
- What should I do to be ready for treatment?
- How long will treatment last? What will it be like? Where will I need to go for treatment?
- Do I need to change what I eat during treatment?
- How might treatment affect my daily activities? Can I still work full-time?
- Can I exercise during treatment? If so, what kind should I do, and how often?
- Are there any limits on what I can do?
- How will we know if the treatment is working?
- What will we do if the treatment doesn’t work or if the cancer recurs?
Side effects and long-term effects
- What risks or side effects should I expect from my treatment options?
- Is there anything I can do to help manage side effects?
- What symptoms or side effects should I tell you about right away?
- How can I reach you on nights, holidays, or weekends?
- What are the chances that I will have problems with incontinence or impotence?
- What are the chances that I will have other urinary or rectal problems?
- If these side effects happen, are they treatable?
Support and resources
- What if I have transportation problems getting to and from treatment?
- Can you suggest a mental health professional I can see if I start to feel overwhelmed, depressed, or distressed?
- Do you know of any local or online support groups where I can talk to others who have been through this?
- What if I need social support during treatment because my family lives far away?
Other things to consider
Seeking a second opinion: If time allows, consider getting a second opinion. This can give you more information and help you feel more confident about the treatment plan you choose.
Clinical trials: Clinical trials study new treatments and may offer access to promising options not widely available. They are also how doctors learn better ways to treat cancer. Ask your doctor about clinical trials you may qualify for.
Integrative (holistic) and alternative methods: You may hear about herbs, diets, acupuncture, massage, or other ways to relieve your symptoms or treat your cancer. Integrative therapies are used with standard care, while alternative ones replace it. Some of these may help with symptoms, but many aren’t proven to work and could even be harmful. Talk with your care team first to make sure they’re safe and won’t interfere with treatment.
Help getting through cancer treatment
Your cancer care team will be your first source of information and support, but there are other resources for help when you need it. Hospital or clinic-based support services can also be an important part of cancer care. This might include nursing or social work services, financial aid, nutritional advice, rehab, or spiritual help.
The American Cancer Society also has programs and services to help you get through treatment, including rides to treatment, lodging, and more. Contact the ACS cancer helpline for more information.
Choosing to stop treatment or choosing no treatment at all
When treatments have been tried and are no longer controlling your cancer, it could be time to weigh the benefits and risks of continuing to try new treatments. Whether or not you continue treatment, there are still things you can do to help maintain or improve your quality of life.
Choosing not to treat your cancer
Some people might not want to be treated at all, especially if the cancer is advanced. There are many reasons you might decide not to get treatment, but it’s important to talk to your cancer care team as you make that decision. Remember that even if you choose not to treat your cancer, you can still get supportive care to help with pain or other symptoms.
Hospice care
People with advanced cancer who are expected to live less than 6 months may want to consider hospice care. Hospice care is designed to provide the best possible quality of life for people near the end of life.
You and your family are encouraged to talk with your cancer care team about hospice care options, which include hospice care at home, a special hospice center, or other health care locations.
Nursing care and special equipment can make staying at home a workable option for many families.
The treatment information given here is not official policy of the American Cancer Society and is not intended as medical advice to replace the expertise and judgment of your cancer care team. It is intended to help you and your family make informed decisions, together with your doctor. Your doctor may have reasons for suggesting a treatment plan different from these general treatment options. Don't hesitate to ask your cancer care team any questions you may have about your treatment options.
- Written by
Developed by the American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team with medical review and contribution by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Last Revised: September 11, 2026
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.
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