You may find it beneficial to talk about the condition with your family, friends, a GP and other people with prostate cancer.įinancial support is also available if prostate cancer reduces your ability to work.Show only the encoding formats you actually use.Create custom Formats with completely customizable encoder options for multiple formats. As well as the possible side effects of treatment, a diagnosis of prostate cancer can understandably make you feel anxious or depressed. Living with prostate cancerĪs prostate cancer usually progresses very slowly, you can live for decades without symptoms or needing treatment. Some hospitals may offer them as an alternative to surgery, radiotherapy or hormone therapy.īut the long-term effectiveness of these treatments is not known yet. Newer treatments, such as high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and cryotherapy, aim to reduce these side effects. If the cancer spreads to other parts of the body and cannot be cured, treatment is focused on prolonging life and relieving symptoms.Īll treatment options carry the risk of significant side effects, including erectile dysfunction and urinary symptoms, such as needing to use the toilet more urgently or more often.įor this reason, you may choose to delay treatment until there's a risk the cancer might spread. Some cases are only diagnosed at a later stage, when the cancer has spread. radiotherapy – either on its own or alongside hormone therapy.Some cases of prostate cancer can be cured if treated in the early stages. Both options involve carefully monitoring your condition. The best option depends on your age and overall health. If the cancer is at an early stage and not causing symptoms, your doctor may suggest either "watchful waiting" or "active surveillance". If you do have prostate cancer, you may not need treatment. If you have a raised PSA level, you may be offered an MRI scan of the prostate to help doctors decide if you need further tests and treatment.įind out more about PSA screening and testing in the UK Treating prostate cancer Raised PSA levels also cannot tell a doctor whether you have life-threatening prostate cancer or not. Your PSA level can also be raised by other, non-cancerous conditions. PSA tests are not routinely used to screen for prostate cancer, as results can be unreliable. If you are over 50, you can ask a GP for a PSA test. The blood test, called a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, measures the level of PSA and may help detect early prostate cancer.
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