Treatment for prostate cancer
Your prostate cancer might come back after having treatment to try to cure it. If this happens, it is called recurrent or relapsed prostate cancer.
Your prostate cancer can come back:
within the prostate gland if you haven’t had surgery to remove your prostate
in the area where the prostate was, if you have had surgery to remove your prostate
in the area just outside the prostate
Or it can spread to other parts of the body. This is metastatic or advanced prostate cancer.
Knowing what to expect and the treatment you might have can help you cope if your cancer comes back.
It can be very difficult to cope with the news that your cancer has come back. At first, you are likely to feel very upset, frightened and confused. Or you may feel that things are out of your control.
It is very important to get the right information about your cancer. And about what your treatment options are. Feeling informed about your illness and treatment can help you make decisions and cope. Your doctor or nurse specialist can give you information.
It can help to talk to family and friends about how you feel. Or a counsellor or your doctor or nurse.
Find out about coping with prostate cancer
Clinical trials research aims to improve treatment, by making existing treatment better and developing new treatments. Your doctor might ask if you are willing to take part in a trial.
Last reviewed: 09 Jul 2025
Next review due: 09 Jul 2028
Metastatic prostate cancer means that a cancer that began in the prostate has spread to another part of the body. It is sometimes called advanced prostate cancer.
You may have a choice of treatments such as surgery or radiotherapy. Or your doctor might suggest that they monitor your cancer instead of treatment straight away.
You might have a type of internal radiotherapy called brachytherapy for prostate cancer. This means that you have a radioactive source inside the prostate.
Get practical and emotional support to help you cope with a diagnosis of prostate cancer, and life during and after treatment.
Coping with metastatic prostate cancer can be difficult. You might have emotional, practical and physical issues. There is support available.
Prostate cancer is cancer that starts in the prostate gland. The prostate gland is found at the base of the bladder and is about the size of a walnut.
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What to ask your doctor about clinical trials.
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