Treatment for metastatic prostate cancer

Treatment for metastatic prostate cancer can help to reduce symptoms, make you feel better and help you to live longer. Treatment includes hormone therapy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

You might have hormone therapy for prostate cancer that has spread to another part of your body. You can have it as an injection or tablets.

Chemotherapy is a common treatment for metastatic prostate cancer. The most common type is docetaxel. You usually have it together with hormone therapy.

You might have external radiotherapy for metastatic prostate cancer. This means using a machine outside the body to direct radiation beams at the cancer.

Radium 223 is a type of radioactive medicine. You might have it for cancer that began in the prostate and has spread to the bones.

Symptoms of metastatic prostate cancer include bone pain, problems passing urine and tiredness. Doctors and nurses can support you and give treatments to help relieve symptoms.

Prostate cancer can sometimes press on the tube that carries urine from the bladder. You can have an operation to remove part of the cancer and help you pass urine more easily.

Before new treatments can be introduced they need to be tested thoroughly. Find out about the latest research into the treatment of prostate cancer.