What Kind of Doctor Treats Prostate Cancer?
As mentioned before, an oncologist is best suited to determine the most effective treatment approach for you. There are different types of oncologists, and the specific one you will see for treatment will depend on your specific case.
For a prostate cancer diagnosis, it’s common to meet with both a medical oncologist and a radiation oncologist. This is because radiation is often used as a primary treatment or in combination with surgery before considering other options. At Compass Oncology, you will typically see a medical oncologist first, so they can assess your condition and then refer you to a radiation oncologist as appropriate for treatment based on the stage of the cancer.
Our prostate cancer doctors will provide you with all the necessary information to make an informed decision about treatment. If other specialists, such as a urologic surgeon or radiation oncologist, are required, they will be involved early in the treatment process to discuss your specific needs. Together, we will determine the appropriate timing for each type of treatment.
Understanding Prostate Cancer
How Will We Determine Which Treatments Are Best for Me?
Most likely, you've already had some tests done, including a biopsy, blood tests, scans, and other tests that can help the oncologist understand your prostate cancer stage or how advanced it is and its growth rate.
The oncologist will recommend a treatment plan based on this information and your overall health. Sometimes, a combination of treatments is suggested to make sure all cancer cells have been removed. It's important to ask questions and understand each treatment option's purpose and potential side effects.
If your treatment will begin with active surveillance, discuss how often you need to come back for checkups. Then, be sure you go to the appointment!
Which Prostate Cancer Treatments Will I Receive?
There are several common treatments for prostate cancer available today, including:
- Active surveillance, also known as watchful waiting
- Radiation therapy, which can be external beam or internal brachytherapy
- Hormone therapy
- Surgery to remove the prostate
- Chemotherapy, mainly for advanced-stage prostate cancer
- Targeted therapy, if biomarker testing indicates its effectiveness
It's important to note that surgery to remove the prostate is not always necessary. And you don’t necessarily need every treatment type listed above. For men with early-stage prostate cancer, an active surveillance approach may be recommended before considering other treatments.
Preparing for Your First Appointment
During your first meeting with the prostate cancer specialist, they will evaluate what has already been done and may request a few more tests before recommending a treatment plan. Usually, additional testing is needed to see if the prostate cancer has spread or grown outside of the prostate.
You’ll receive a lot of information in a short period of time. Make sure to bring a notebook to take notes and bring a friend or loved one along to provide support, ask questions, and help take notes.
Questions to Ask Your Prostate Cancer Doctor
You'll probably have to wait at least a few days between your diagnosis and your oncology appointment. You and your loved ones will likely spend a lot of time discussing your prostate cancer diagnosis and researching the internet for what you might hear in the appointment.
As you go through your research process, write down any questions that come up so you remember to ask. Examples of questions may include:
- Does my prostate cancer require immediate treatment?
- If it does, what are my treatment options?
- Are there treatment side effects?
- Will there be long-lasting effects on the bladder or rectum as a result of treatment?
- How long does treatment last?
- Will I need to have prostate cancer surgery?
- Are there activities I should avoid or add to my routine?
- What should my diet consist of?
- Can I continue taking my supplements? Should I add any additional supplements?
- Will I still visit my primary care doctor?
- Are there prostate cancer clinical trials I should consider?
- How likely is my cancer to come back after treatment?
- Should my family get genetic testing?