The Urologic Cancer Patient Care Team at the Ireland Cancer Center provides a personalized treatment approach. Many factors are considered when a doctor makes a treatment recommendation:
- Age
- Stage (or extent) of cancer
- Grade (or aggressiveness) of cancer
- Overall health
- Personal considerations of the patient
Several treatment options may be offered:
Making a treatment decision may seem overwhelming to you. These hints may help you during the decision making process:
- Take time to meet with different specialists or doctors about your treatment options. These specialists may include a urologist, radiation oncologist, and medical oncologist.
- Ask your doctors what are the risks and benefits of each type of treatment. Talk with the doctors about how the treatment will affect your quality of life.
- Read about prostate cancer. Write down your questions and take them with you when you see the doctor.
- Talk with your spouse, friends, or family members.
Consider joining a support group. Support groups offer the opportunity to talk with other men who have prostate cancer and also provide educational sessions about prostate cancer, resources, and coping strategies.