Treatment of Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, growing in the prostate gland. Most cases are slow-growing, but aggressive forms can spread rapidly; PSA screening and biopsy are key diagnostic tools.
Managing Prostate Cancer effectively requires a combination of medical treatment, lifestyle modification, and regular monitoring. With a structured management plan, most people with Prostate Cancer can maintain a good quality of life and prevent serious complications.
First-Line Treatment Principles
- ✓Multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach: oncology, surgery, radiotherapy, pathology, palliative care
- ✓Stage-appropriate intent: curative vs. palliative — informs treatment intensity and goals
- ✓Systemic therapy: chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy (checkpoint inhibitors), hormone therapy
- ✓Surgical resection: primary curative approach for solid tumours when localised
- ✓Radiotherapy: definitive, adjuvant, or palliative depending on tumour type and stage
What to Do Now
- Learn your personal risk factors for Prostate Cancer (family history, age, lifestyle)
- Attend regular health check-ups and screening tests appropriate for your age and risk
- Track new or changing symptoms, especially those associated with Prostate Cancer
- Use our AI symptom checker to assess whether your symptoms fit an early Prostate Cancer pattern
- Discuss preventive strategies and early monitoring with your GP
- Build a personalised management plan with your GP or specialist
- Adhere consistently to prescribed medications — do not stop without medical advice
- Adopt a Prostate Cancer-appropriate diet (anti-inflammatory, low-glycaemic, or disease-specific)
Medications Used in Prostate Cancer
Tamoxifen is a hormonal anticancer agent used to treat hormone-sensitive cancers by blocking or reducing hormone production or action.
Anastrozole is a hormonal anticancer agent used to treat hormone-sensitive cancers by blocking or reducing hormone production or action.
Letrozole is a hormonal anticancer agent used to treat hormone-sensitive cancers by blocking or reducing hormone production or action.
Exemestane is a hormonal anticancer agent used to treat hormone-sensitive cancers by blocking or reducing hormone production or action.
Goserelin is a hormonal anticancer agent used to treat hormone-sensitive cancers by blocking or reducing hormone production or action.
Leuprorelin is a hormonal anticancer agent used to treat hormone-sensitive cancers by blocking or reducing hormone production or action.
Bicalutamide is a hormonal anticancer agent used to treat hormone-sensitive cancers by blocking or reducing hormone production or action.
Flutamide is a hormonal anticancer agent used to treat hormone-sensitive cancers by blocking or reducing hormone production or action.
Non-Pharmacological Management
- •Nutritional support: maintain weight and muscle mass; dietitian involvement
- •Physiotherapy and exercise oncology: reduced fatigue, improved outcomes
- •Psychological support: validated cancer-specific interventions (CBT, supportive psychotherapy)
- •Smoking cessation and alcohol reduction: reduces treatment toxicity and second primary cancers
- •Palliative care integration from diagnosis: symptom management, advance care planning
- •Fertility preservation: discuss before gonadotoxic therapy in reproductive age patients
- •Sun protection post-treatment: radiation-sensitised skin; immunosuppressed skin cancer risk
Treatment Goals
Monitoring Parameters
- ◆Tumour markers: PSA (prostate), CA-125 (ovarian), CEA (colorectal), AFP (liver) — at defined intervals
- ◆Imaging: CT/MRI/PET per tumour-specific response criteria (RECIST)
- ◆FBC: myelosuppression monitoring during chemotherapy — weekly during active treatment
- ◆Cardiotoxicity: LVEF monitoring with anthracyclines and trastuzumab (echo before, during, after)
- ◆Renal and hepatic function: before each chemotherapy cycle; drug dose adjustments
- ◆Peripheral neuropathy grading: platinum and taxane-based regimens
Red Flags — When to Escalate
- ⚠Any of the characteristic symptoms of Prostate Cancer — even mild — in a high-risk individual
- ⚠Progressive worsening of early warning signs over weeks
- ⚠Laboratory abnormalities (e.g., blood sugar, inflammatory markers) without full symptoms
- ⚠Unexplained weight loss, night sweats, or fatigue persisting >2 weeks
- ⚠Strong family history of Prostate Cancer combined with new relevant symptoms
- ⚠Sudden worsening of Prostate Cancer symptoms despite established treatment
Escalation Criteria
- →Febrile neutropenia: broad-spectrum IV antibiotics within 1 hour of presentation; emergency
- →Progressive disease on first-line treatment → second-line regimen; clinical trial consideration
- →Oncological emergencies: spinal cord compression, SVC syndrome, tumour lysis syndrome → urgent oncology review
- →Deteriorating performance status → reassess treatment goals; palliative focus
Special Populations
Clinical Insights
Compare With Similar Conditions
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