Referral to a prostate cancer specialist

Your GP should refer you to a specialist or for tests if you have symptoms that could be due to prostate cancer. 

This might be an urgent suspected cancer referral. It depends on your symptoms and other factors. You will see a specialist or have tests as soon as possible. Ask your GP when this is likely to be.

Seeing your GP

It can be hard for GPs to decide who may have cancer and who might have a more minor condition. For some symptoms, your doctor may ask you to wait to see if the symptoms get better or respond to treatment, such as antibiotics.

Your GP can do some tests to help them decide whether you need a referral. This includes:

• a prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test
• an examination of your prostate gland to check for abnormal signs, such as lumpy or hard areas (digital rectal examination)

Depending on the results of these tests your GP might refer you to a specialist. 

UK referral guidelines

There are guidelines for GPs to help them decide who needs a referral. Your GP will use these guidelines as well as their own experience and judgement. The following is a summary.

Your doctor should arrange for you to see a specialist within 2 weeks if your:

• PSA level is higher than would be expected for someone of your age

• prostate feels abnormal to your doctor after an examination

You usually see a urologist. This is a doctor who specialises in treating problems of the urinary tract, including the bladder, kidney and prostate.

Remember, these symptoms can be caused by other conditions, and do not necessarily mean that you have prostate cancer. But it is important to get them checked out by your specialist.

If you are at higher risk of prostate cancer

Speak to your GP if you think you are at higher risk of prostate cancer. For example, if you:

• have a close relative, such as a brother or father, who has had prostate cancer

• have a close relative who was younger than 60 when they were diagnosed with prostate cancer

• think you have inherited certain genes which can increase the risk of prostate cancer

• are a black male

Your GP can request a PSA test. Or they can refer you to a genetics clinic.

If you're still worried

Sometimes you might feel that your GP is not concerned enough about your symptoms. If you think they should be more concerned, print this page and the symptoms page. Ask your GP to talk it through with you. Then you might be able to decide together whether you should see a specialist.

Contact your GP again if your symptoms don't get better or you notice any new or unusual symptoms. 

What should you do if you don’t get an appointment?

If your GP has referred you to a specialist, ask them when you should get your appointment. Contact them again if you don’t get one. Or some hospitals have a referral service you could try contacting if you know which hospital you are going to. Explain that you are waiting for an urgent suspected cancer referral.

Waiting times

Your hospital is working towards waiting time targets. For example, a target to find out whether you have cancer or not. And there are targets to start treatment if you are diagnosed with cancer. These are slightly different depending on where you live in the UK.