Treatment comparison
Explore treatment types or use the "compare" buttons to view methods side by side.
What is it?
How frequently is it given?
What are the main benefits of the treatment?
Very common side effects (more than 1 in 10 people may have one or more of these)
Will I have pain during or after the treatment?
Will I need to take time off work during or after my treatment?
Are there any special instructions I need to be aware of?
More information including the risks, impact and real stories
Watchful Waiting
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Watchful Waiting
Read more about Watchful Waiting
Monitoring of prostate cancer with PSA testing and scans until it has spread outside of the prostate gland, causing bothersome symptoms or kidney problems.
Active Surveillance
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Active Surveillance
Read more about Active Surveillance
Monitoring of prostate cancer with a plan for regular PSA testing, MRI scans, and sometimes repeat biopsies.
Radical Prostatectomy (Surgery)
Read more about Radical Prostatectomy (Surgery)
This is the removal of all the prostate.
Radiotherapy
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Radiotherapy
Read more about Radiotherapy
In radiotherapy (also known as external beam radiotherapy), high-energy X-ray beams are targeted at your prostate from outside of the body.
High Dose Rate Brachytherapy
Read more about High Dose Rate Brachytherapy
A type of internal radiotherapy that involves placing thin tubes into the prostate gland.
Low Dose Rate Brachytherapy
Read more about Low Dose Rate Brachytherapy
A type of internal radiotherapy that involves implanting tiny seeds into the prostate.
Focal Therapy
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Focal Therapy
Read more about Focal Therapy
Focal therapy only targets the area of the prostate that contains the most significant cancer. There are different types of focal therapy including HIFU, cryotherapy and nanoknife.
Hormone Therapy (injections)
Read more about Hormone Therapy (injections)
Injections that block or lower the amount of testosterone in the body. Also known as androgen deprivation therapy. For example leuprorelin (Prostap), goserelin (Zoladex), buserelin (Suprefact), triptorelin (Decapeptyl) or degarelix (Firmagon).
Hormone Therapy (tablets)
Read more about Hormone Therapy (tablets)
Tablets that stop the body from making testosterone or prevent testosterone from reaching the prostate cancer cells. For example, enzalutamide (Xtandi), apalutamide (Erleada), darolutamide (Nubeqa), abiraterone acetate (Zytiga) and bicalutamide (Casodex).
Chemotherapy
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Chemotherapy
Read more about Chemotherapy
Anti-cancer drugs, often, but not always, given by a drip into your arm.
Radium-223
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Radium-223
Read more about Radium-223
A radioactive material injected into your arm to treat prostate cancer that has spread to the bones.
Olaparib (Lynparza)
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Olaparib (Lynparza)
Read more about Olaparib (Lynparza)
Olaparib is a medicine to treat certain types of prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. This is called advanced prostate cancer.