Shared decision making

Prostate cancer treatment is a very individual experience and not everyone will be treated the same.¹

Which treatment or treatments someone receives should ideally be decided through a shared decision-making process.^1–3

Shared decision-making means that the patient and doctor will look at all the appropriate options together. The pros and cons of each option will be discussed and how they fit the person’s circumstances. An informed and joint decision on the best option for that particular patient can then be made.^1–­3

Things that may be considered during this process are: ^1–­3

• What type of prostate cancer does the person have? Different treatments suit different types of cancer.
• Is the person fit enough to receive the treatment? What is their general health like? Do they have any other illnesses or conditions that make them unfit for certain treatments?
• What is the aim of the treatment? Will it cure the cancer (curative) or is it more to ease the symptoms and hopefully prolong life for as long as possible (palliative)?
• What side effects might occur? How long do these last? How will these impact day-to-day life and how may they be treated?
• Can the treatment wait? For some there may be no need for immediate treatment.
• Can treatment be refused? What is the alternative if a decision is made not to accept the treatment offered?

Continued care

Whatever treatment approach is decided upon, people with prostate cancer should be offered review appointments.²

The timings of these appointments will depend on individual circumstances and available services, as well as whether the treatment approach was curative or not.

It is important to keep these appointments as they offer the opportunity for the patient to check PSA levels and to discuss the treatment, as well as any side effects. It also offers the chance to discuss any further treatment options or any related problems.

References

1. Irish Cancer Society. How is Prostate Cancer Treated? https://www.cancer.ie/cancer-information-and-support/cancer-types/prostate-cancer/how-is-prostate-cancer-treated  (Accessed: July 2025).
2. ESMO. Prostate cancer guide for patients. Available at: https://www.esmo.org/for-patients/patient-guides/prostate-cancer (Accessed: July 2025).
3. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Prostate cancer: diagnosis and management. Information for the public. London: NICE, 2021. Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng131/informationforpublic (Accessed: July 2025).