Prostate cancer
Treatments for prostate cancer
Prostate cancer treatment depends on the stage, grade and your own preferences. Learn about each approach, possible side effects, and how to make informed decisions with your specialist treatment team.
Last updated: 11 March 2026
Sources and references 
Making treatment decisions
Sometimes it is difficult to decide on which management or treatment options to choose. You may feel that everything is happening too fast, or you might be anxious to get started.
Check with your specialist how soon treatment should begin, as it may not affect the success of the treatment to wait a while. Ask them to explain the options, and take as much time as you can before making a decision.
Prostate cancer is typically slow growing, even in its most aggressive form, giving you time to make decisions about your management or treatment options.
Know your options
Understanding the disease, the available treatments, possible side effects and any extra costs can help you weigh up the options and make a well-informed decision. Check if the specialist is part of a multidisciplinary team and if the treatment centre is the most appropriate one for you – you may be able to have treatment closer to home, or it might be worth travelling to a centre that specialises in a particular treatment.
Record the details
When your doctor first says you have cancer, you may not remember everything you are told. Taking notes can help. If you would like to record the discussion, ask your doctor first. It is a good idea to have a family member or friend go with you to appointments to join in the discussion, to write notes or to simply listen.
Ask questions
If you are confused or want to check anything, it is important to ask your specialist questions. Try to prepare a list of questions before appointments. If you have a lot of questions, you could talk to a cancer care coordinator or nurse.
Consider a second opinion
You may want to get a second opinion from another specialist to confirm or clarify your specialist’s recommendations or reassure you that you have explored all of your options. Specialists are used to people doing this. Your GP or specialist can refer you to another specialist and send your initial results to that person. You can get a second opinion even if you have started treatment or still want to be treated by your first doctor. You might decide you would prefer to be treated by the second specialist.
It’s your decision
For localised or locally advanced prostate cancer, you can choose from several treatment options, including active surveillance, watchful waiting, surgery and radiation therapy. It is advised that you see both a urologist and a radiation oncologist to discuss your options before deciding on treatment. For advanced prostate cancer that has spread to bones or other organs, it is advised that you also see a medical oncologist. Your urologist or GP can give you a referral to a radiation oncologist or medical oncologist.
Adults have the right to accept or refuse any treatment that they are offered. For example, some people with advanced cancer choose treatment that has significant side effects even if it gives only a small benefit for a short period of time. Others decide to focus their treatment on quality of life. You may want to discuss your decision with the treatment team, GP, family and friends.
Should I join a clinical trial?
Your doctor or nurse may suggest you take part in a clinical trial. Doctors run clinical trials to test new or modified treatments and ways of diagnosing disease to see if they are better than current methods. For example, if you join a randomised trial for a new treatment, you will be chosen at random to receive either the best existing treatment or the modified new treatment. Over the years, trials have improved treatments and led to better outcomes for people diagnosed with cancer.
You may find it helpful to talk to your specialist, clinical trials nurse or GP, or to get a second opinion. If you decide to take part in a clinical trial, you can withdraw at any time. For more information, visit australiancancertrials.gov.au.
Management and treatment
There are different options for managing and treating prostate cancer, and more than one treatment may be suitable for you. Your specialists will usually let you know your options. You may want to ask your treating doctor what other options are available to you. For example, if surgery is suggested you could ask if radiation therapy is also a suitable option. The treatment recommended by your doctors will depend on the stage and grade of the prostate cancer as well as your general health, age and preferences.
Active surveillance
This is close monitoring of low-risk prostate cancer that isn’t causing symptoms. The aim is to avoid treatment that’s not yet needed, while watching for any changes that mean treatment should start.
Active surveillance is usually suggested for prostate cancers with a PSA level under 10 ng/mL, stage T1–2, and Gleason 6 or less (Grade Group 1). It may also be suggested for certain cancers with a PSA level between 10 and 20, and some Grade Group 2 cancers.
About 80% of Australians with low-risk prostate cancer choose active surveillance. It involves PSA tests every 3–6 months, as well as a digital rectal examination and mpMRI scans and biopsies as advised by your urologist. If results show the cancer is growing faster or more aggressively, your specialist may suggest starting active treatment.
Watchful waiting
Watchful waiting may be suggested if you are older and the cancer is unlikely to cause a problem in your lifetime. It may be an alternative to active treatment if the cancer is advanced at diagnosis, or if other health problems would make it hard to handle surgery or radiation therapy.
The aim of watchful waiting is to maintain quality of life rather than to treat the cancer. If the cancer spreads or causes symptoms, you will have treatment to relieve symptoms or slow the growth of the cancer, rather than to cure it.
Watchful waiting usually involves fewer tests than active surveillance. You will have regular PSA tests but probably won’t have a biopsy. Your doctor may suggest an MRI if your PSA is rising and of concern.
Treatment
Treatment options for breast cancer include:
Key points about treating prostate cancer
Options for localised/early prostate cancer
- Sometimes immediate treatment is not necessary or may not be appropriate.
- Active surveillance is a way of monitoring low-risk prostate cancer that isn’t causing any symptoms. Treatment can be started if test results change.
- Watchful waiting is another option for older people with prostate cancer that is not causing symptoms.
- Surgery and/or radiation therapy may be used.
Options for locally advanced prostate cancer
- Radical prostatectomy involves removing the prostate, part of the urethra and the glands that store semen (seminal vesicles).
- Radiation therapy may be given externally (external beam radiation therapy or EBRT) or internally (brachytherapy).
- Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) helps to reduce how much of the hormone testosterone your body makes. Testosterone can help prostate cancer grow.
Options for advanced prostate cancer
- Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is used to slow the growth of prostate cancer. It can be done with injections, tablets or surgery.
- Treatments may include chemotherapy, newer drug therapies, radiation therapy and surgery.
- Bone therapies may help to manage symptoms.
- Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is a surgical procedure to help remove blockages in the urinary tract.
- Palliative treatment can help improve quality of life for people with advanced prostate cancer.
More information
Talk to your GP and specialists about your options or call Cancer Council 13 11 20 for more information.
Sources and references
This content has been developed by Cancer Council NSW on behalf of all other state and territory Cancer Councils as part of a National Cancer Information Subcommittee initiative. We thank the reviewers: Prof Declan Murphy, Consultant Urologist, Director – Genitourinary Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and The University of Melbourne, VIC; Alan Barlee, Consumer; Dr Patrick Bowden, Radiation Oncologist, Epworth Hospital, Richmond, VIC; Bob Carnaby, Consumer; Dr Megan Crumbaker, Medical Oncologist, St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, NSW; Henry McGregor, Health Physiotherapist, Adelaide Men’s Health Physio, SA; Jessica Medd, Senior Clinical Psychologist, Department of Urology, Concord Repatriation General Hospital and Headway Health, NSW; Dr Gary Morrison, Shine a Light (LGBTQIA+ Cancer Support Group); Caitriona Nienaber, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Graham Rees, Consumer; Kerry Santoro, Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurse Consultant, Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, SA; Prof Phillip Stricker, Chairman, Department of Urology, St Vincent’s Private Hospital, NSW; Dr Sylvia van Dyk, Brachytherapy Lead, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC. We also thank the health professionals, consumers and editorial teams who have worked on previous editions of this title
Prostate cancer
Cancer Council 13 11 20
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