Prostate Cancer
discussion guide
We have collated questions for you to ask your doctor or nurse, based on your answers. We understand that appointments can be short so we would recommend choosing or prioritising the questions that are most important to you and your situation.
You would like to understand what active surveillance is and why you have been recommended it
- What is the aim of active surveillance? What does it involve?
- Why is it the best option for me?
- What are the chances that I will never need active treatment?
- Could my prostate cancer become harder to treat whilst on active surveillance?
- How long am I likely to be on active surveillance for?
You would like to understand the advantages and disadvantages of active surveillance
- What are the advantages of active surveillance?
- What are the disadvantages of active surveillance?
You are unsure that active surveillance is the right option for you
- What other treatment options are available to me?
- Are there any suitable clinical trials I could be enrolled in?
- Can I get a second opinion from a different healthcare professional?
You would like to know more about what active surveillance involves
- What tests will I need to have whilst on active surveillance and what do they involve?
- Where and when will I have to have these tests?
- Will they cause me any pain or discomfort?
- How will I receive the results?
- How will we know if my cancer is growing or progressing?
- What should I be looking out for in terms of new symptom development?
- Who do I contact if I have new symptoms?
- How do we determine if or when I need to start active treatment?
You would like to know more about what you can be doing to support your general health and wellbeing during active surveillance
- How can diet and nutrition impact the progression of my prostate cancer and the effectiveness of any future treatment?
- How can physical activity and exercise impact the progression of my prostate cancer and the effectiveness of any future treatment?
- What can I do to reduce the anxiety or worry about what the future might hold?
- How do I explain this course of treatment, or lack of active treatment, to my partner, family or friends?
- What can I be doing to improve my mental health?
- Where can I find more information?
- What do support groups offer and how can they help me? How would I find a support group local to me? Is one-to-one support available?
- Is there any financial support available to help with the costs associated with active surveillance, for example, any prescriptions, travel or parking?
You would like to understand what brachytherapy is and why you have been recommended it
- What is the aim of brachytherapy? How does it work? What would it specifically treat?
- Why is it the best option for me?
- What different types of brachytherapy are there? Which would be the best suited option for me?
- How effective is it likely to be?
- What are the chances of my cancer returning after brachytherapy?
- Does having brachytherapy impact further treatment options available to me?
- How quickly do I need to decide whether I want to go ahead with this treatment?
- Where can I find more information?
You would like to understand the advantages and disadvantages of brachytherapy
- What are the advantages or benefits of brachytherapy?
- What are the disadvantages or side effects of brachytherapy?
-
What are the chances that I will experience side effects
in the following areas?
- Urinary
- Sexual
- Bowel
- How do these side effects for compare to other treatments?
- Are there medications or further medical options for these side effects?
- How long might these side effects last?
- Who do I contact if I have concerns about the side effects?
- Can I continue to have sex as normal whilst having treatment?
You are unsure whether you want to go ahead with brachytherapy
- What other treatment options are available to me?
- Are there any suitable clinical trials I could be enrolled in?
- Can I get a second opinion from a different healthcare professional?
You would like to know more about the brachytherapy procedure
- What does this type of brachytherapy involve?
- Could a different type of brachytherapy be better for me?
- Who will provide the brachytherapy and where?
- How long will the brachytherapy sessions take?
- What will I need to do in preparation for this type of brachytherapy?
- What will happen at the pre-operative assessment?
- What will happen and what will I need to do on the day of my brachytherapy?
- Will I feel any pain during the brachytherapy session?
- How will I feel after the brachytherapy session?
- How long will I be in hospital?
- How long will it take me to recover?
- Will I be radioactive following the procedure? What does this mean and what precautions do I need to take?
You would like to know more about how you will be monitored following brachytherapy
- How will we know if the brachytherapy is working?
- How often will I have check-ups and what will they involve?
- How can I access my results?
- Who will I speak to about my results?
- Who do I contact if I have new symptoms?
- What happens if my PSA level goes up again following treatment?
You would like to know more about what you can be doing to support your general health and wellbeing in preparation for treatment and life afterwards
- How can diet and nutrition impact my prostate cancer and my treatment? Is there anything I should avoid eating or drinking?
- How does this treatment affect my time with family, especially if they’re pregnant or have young children?
- Is there anything my family should know to help support me during this time?
- How can physical activity and exercise impact my prostate cancer and my treatment?
- How might my prostate cancer and my treatment impact my mental health and emotional wellbeing?
- Is there anything else I should be doing to help prepare for my treatment? For example, is there a prehabilitation programme available to me at this hospital?
- What do support groups offer and how can they help me? How would I find a support group local to me? Is one-to-one support available?
- Is there any financial support available to help with the costs associated with treatment, for example, prescriptions, travel or parking?
You would like to understand what watchful waiting is and why you have been recommended it
- What is the aim of watchful waiting?
- Why is it the best option for me?
- What treatments will be available to me if my cancer grows or progresses?
- If I wait before beginning treatment, will it reduce the amount of treatments available to me?
You would like to understand the advantages and disadvantages of watchful waiting
- What are the advantages or benefits of watchful waiting?
- What are the disadvantages of watchful waiting?
You are unsure whether watchful waiting is the right option for you
- What other treatment options are available to me?
- Are there any suitable clinical trials I could be enrolled in?
- Can I get a second opinion from a different healthcare professional?
You would like to know more about what watchful waiting involves
- What tests will I need to have whilst on watchful waiting?
- How often will I have these tests?
- Where will these tests take place?
- Who will conduct the tests?
- Will they cause me any pain or discomfort?
- How will I receive the results?
- How will we know if my cancer is growing or progressing?
- Are there any new symptoms I should be looking out for?
- Who do I contact if I have new symptoms?
- What happens if I have new symptoms?
- How do we determine if or when I need to start treatment?
You would like to know more about what you can be doing to support your general health and wellbeing during watchful waiting
- How can diet and nutrition impact the progression of my prostate cancer and the effectiveness of any future treatment?
- How can physical activity and exercise impact the progression of my prostate cancer and the effectiveness of any future treatment?
- What can I do to reduce the anxiety or worry about what the future might hold?
- How do I explain this course of treatment, or lack of active treatment, to my partner, family or friends?
- Is there anything else I can be doing to slow down the progression of my prostate cancer?
- What do support groups offer and how can they help me? How would I find a support group local to me? Is one-to-one support available?
- Is there any financial support available to help with the costs associated with treatment, for example, prescriptions, travel or parking?
You would like to understand how a prostatectomy works and why you have been recommended it
- What is the aim of a prostatectomy? How does it work?
- Why is it the best option for me?
- How effective is it likely to be?
- What are the chances of my cancer returning after a prostatectomy?
- Does having a prostatectomy impact further treatment options available to me?
- How quickly do I need to decide whether I want to go ahead with this treatment?
You would like to understand the advantages and disadvantages of a prostatectomy
- What are the advantages or benefits of a prostatectomy?
- What are the disadvantages or side effects of a prostatectomy?
-
What are the chances that I will experience side effects
in the following areas?
- Urinary
- Sexual
- Bowel
- How do these side effects compare to other treatments available to me?
- How long might these side effects last?
- Are there medications or further medical options for these side effects?
- Who do I contact if I have concerns about the side effects?
- Can I continue to have sex as normal after a prostatectomy?
You are unsure whether you want to go ahead with a prostatectomy
- What other treatment options are available to me?
- Are there any suitable clinical trials I could be enrolled in?
- Can I get a second opinion from a different healthcare professional?
You would like to know more about the prostatectomy procedure
- What type of prostatectomy will I be having and why?
- Where will the surgery be conducted and by whom?
- Are you able to carry out nerve sparing prostatectomy?
- What do I need to do to prepare for a prostatectomy?
- What will happen on the day of prostatectomy?
- Will I feel any pain during or after the prostatectomy?
- What will happen after the prostatectomy?
- How long will I be in hospital for?
- How long will it take to fully recover (for example, to get back to routine physical activities or sports)?
- Will I need a catheter? If so, how do I manage that? What are the side effects of having a catheter?
- Is there anything else I should be doing, such as physical exercise, to help prepare for my treatment?
- What can I do to aid my recovery?
- What can I expect to happen after the prostatectomy in terms of recovery, side effects, and overall outcomes?
You would like to know what happens after a prostatectomy
- How will we know whether the prostatectomy has removed all the cancer?
- What happens if it hasn’t all been removed? Can I have further treatment?
- How often will I have check-ups and what will happen at these appointments?
- Who do I contact if I have new symptoms?
- What happens if my cancer returns? Can I have further treatment?
You would like to know more about what you can be doing to support your general health and wellbeing in preparation for treatment and life afterwards
- How can diet and nutrition impact my prostate cancer and my treatment?
- How can physical activity and exercise impact my prostate cancer and my treatment?
- How might my prostate cancer and my treatment impact my mental health and emotional wellbeing?
- Is there anything else I should be doing to help prepare for my treatment? For example, is there a prehabilitation programme available to me at this hospital?
- What do support groups offer and how can they help me? How would I find a support group local to me? Is one-to-one support available?
- Is there any financial support available to help with the costs associated with treatment, for example, prescriptions, travel or parking?
You would like to understand how focal therapy works and why you have been recommended it
- What is the aim of focal therapy? How does it work?
- Which focal therapy is the best option for me? Why?
- Why is this therapy the best option for me?
- How effective is it likely to be?
- What are the chances of my cancer returning after focal therapy?
- How does this compare to radiotherapy or prostatectomy?
- Does having focal therapy impact other treatment options available to me?
- How quickly do I need to decide whether I want to go ahead with this treatment?
You would like to understand the advantages and disadvantages of focal therapy
- What are the advantages or benefits of focal therapy?
- What are the disadvantages or side effects of focal therapy?
-
What are the chances that I will experience side effects
in the following areas?
- Urinary
- Sexual
- Bowel
- How do these side effects compare to side effects from other treatments?
- Are there medications or further medical options for these side effects?
- How long might these side effects last?
- Who do I contact if I have concerns about the side effects?
- Can I continue to have sex as normal whilst having treatment?
You are unsure whether you want to go ahead with focal therapy
- What other treatment options are available to me?
- Are there any suitable clinical trials I could be enrolled in?
- Can I get a second opinion from a different healthcare professional?
You would like to know more about the focal therapy procedure
- Could a different type of focal therapy be better for me?
- Who will provide the focal therapy and where will this happen?
- How many focal therapy sessions will I need? How long will the sessions take?
- What will I need to do in preparation for focal therapy?
- What will happen and what will I need to do on the day of the procedure?
- Will I feel any pain during the procedure?
- How will I feel after focal therapy?
- How long will I be in hospital for?
- Will I need a catheter? If so, how do I manage that?
- What can I do to aid my recovery?
- Where can I get advice about this treatment if my local hospital does not offer it?
You would like to know more about how you will be monitored following focal therapy
- How will we know if the focal therapy is working?
- How often will I have check-ups and what will happen at these appointments?
- How can I access my results?
- Who will I speak to about my results?
- Who do I contact if I have new symptoms?
- What do I do if I want to stop focal therapy?
- What happens if focal therapy doesn’t work? Can I have further treatment?
You would like to know more about what you can be doing to support your general health and wellbeing in preparation for treatment and life afterwards
- How can diet and nutrition impact my prostate cancer and my treatment?
- How can physical activity and exercise impact my prostate cancer and my treatment?
- How might my prostate cancer and my treatment impact my mental health and emotional wellbeing?
- Is there anything else I should be doing to help prepare for my treatment? For example, is there a prehabilitation programme available to me at this hospital?
- Where can I find more information?
- What do support groups offer and how can they help me? How would I find a support group local to me? Is one-to-one support available?
- Is there any financial support available to help with the costs associated with treatment, for example, prescriptions, travel or parking?
You would like to understand how external beam radiotherapy works and why you have been recommended it
- What is the aim of external beam radiotherapy? How does it work? What would it specifically treat?
- Why is it the best option for me?
- How effective is it likely to be?
- What are the chances of my cancer returning after external beam radiotherapy?
- Does having external beam radiotherapy impact further treatment options available to me?
- How quickly do I need to decide whether I want to go ahead with this treatment?
You would like to understand the advantages and disadvantages of external beam radiotherapy
- What are the advantages or benefits of external beam radiotherapy?
- What are the disadvantages or side effects of external beam radiotherapy?
-
What are the chances that I will experience side effects
in the following areas?
- Urinary
- Sexual
- Bowel
- How do these side effects compare to side effects from other treatments?
- How long might these side effects last?
- Are there medications or further medical options for these side effects?
- Who do I contact if I have concerns about the side effects?
- Can I continue to have sex as normal whilst having treatment?
You are unsure whether you want to go ahead with external beam radiotherapy
- What other treatment options are available to me?
- Are there any suitable clinical trials I could be enrolled in?
- Can I get a second opinion from a different healthcare professional?
You would like to know more about the external beam radiotherapy procedure
- What type of external beam radiotherapy will I be having and why?
- Could a different type of external beam radiotherapy be better for me?
- Who will provide the external beam radiotherapy and where?
- How many external beam radiotherapy sessions will I need? How does this compare to other treatments?
- How does this compare to other types of radiotherapy?
- How long will each external beam radiotherapy session take?
- What will I need to do in preparation for external beam radiotherapy?
- What will happen/what will I need to do on the day of my external beam radiotherapy procedure?
- Will I feel any pain during the external beam radiotherapy procedure?
- How will I feel after the external beam radiotherapy procedure?
- How long will I be in hospital?
- Will I be radioactive following the procedure? What does this mean and what precautions do I need to take?
You would like to know more about how you will be monitored following external beam radiotherapy
- How will we know if the external beam radiotherapy is working?
- How often will I have check-ups and what will happen at these appointments?
- How can I access my results?
- Who will I speak to about my results?
- Who do I contact if I have new symptoms?
- What do I do if I want to stop external beam radiotherapy?
- What happens if the external beam radiotherapy doesn’t work? Can I have further treatment?
You would like to know more about what you can be doing to support your general health and wellbeing in preparation for treatment and life afterwards
- How can diet and nutrition impact my prostate cancer and my treatment?
- How can physical activity and exercise impact my prostate cancer and my treatment?
- How might my prostate cancer and my treatment impact my mental health and emotional wellbeing?
- Is there anything else I should be doing to help prepare for my treatment? For example, is there a prehabilitation programme available to me at this hospital?
- What do support groups offer and how can they help me? How would I find a support group local to me? Is one-to-one support available?
- Is there any financial support available to help with the costs associated with treatment, for example, prescriptions, travel or parking?
You would like to understand how hormone therapy works and why you have been recommended it
- What is the aim of hormone therapy? How does it work?
- Why is it the best option for me?
- How effective is it likely to be? Is it necessary for me?
- Does having hormone therapy impact further treatment options available to me?
- How quickly do I need to decide whether I want to go ahead with this treatment?
You would like to understand the advantages and disadvantages of hormone therapy
- Are all hormone therapies the same?
- What are the advantages or benefits of hormone therapy?
- What are the disadvantages or side effects of hormone therapy?
- What are the chances that I will experience side effects, and how does this compare to other treatments available to me?
- How long might these side effects last?
- Will the side effects impact my sex life?
- Are there medications or further medical options for these side effects?
- Who do I contact if I have concerns about the side effects?
- If I find that hormone therapy isn’t right for me, can I choose to stop early, and what might happen if I do?
You are unsure whether you want to go ahead with hormone therapy
- What other treatment options are available to me?
- Are there any suitable clinical trials I could be enrolled in?
- Can I get a second opinion from a different healthcare professional?
You would like to know more about hormone therapy
- What are the different types of hormone therapy?
- Which hormone therapy am I being recommended and why?
- Could a different hormone therapy be better for me?
If recommended hormone injections:
- Who will provide the hormone injections and where will this take place?
- How often and for how long will I have the hormone injections?
- What do I need to do in preparation for hormone injections?
- How will I feel after receiving the hormone injections?
- How long will it take me to recover?
If recommended hormone tablets:
- Who will prescribe the hormone tablets and where do I collect them from?
- How often will I need to take them and at what point in the day?
- How long will I need to take the hormone tablets for?
- How will I feel after taking the hormone tablets?
You would like to know more about how you will be monitored whilst having hormone therapy
- How will we know if hormone therapy is working?
- How often will I have check-ups and what will happen at these appointments?
- How can I access my results?
- Who will I speak to about my results?
- What will happen if I miss a dose?
- Who do I contact if I have concerns about side effects?
- Who do I contact if I have new symptoms?
- What do I do if I want to stop hormone therapy?
- What happens if the hormone therapy stops working? Can I have further treatment?
You would like to know more about what you can be doing to support your general health and wellbeing in preparation for treatment and life afterwards
- How can diet and nutrition impact my prostate cancer and my treatment?
- How can physical activity and exercise impact my prostate cancer and my treatment?
- How might my prostate cancer and my treatment impact my mental health and emotional wellbeing?
- Is there anything else I should be doing to help prepare for my treatment? For example, is there a prehabilitation programme available to me at this hospital?
- What do support groups offer and how can they help me? How would I find a support group local to me? Is one-to-one support available?
- Is there any financial support available to help with the costs associated with treatment, for example, prescriptions, travel or parking?
You would like to understand how chemotherapy works and why you have been recommended it
- What is the aim of chemotherapy? How does it work?
- Why is it the best option for me?
- How effective is it likely to be?
- How many courses of chemotherapy would I have?
- Does having chemotherapy impact other treatment options available to me?
- How quickly do I need to decide whether I want to go ahead with this treatment?
- Where can I go to talk to someone who has also had chemotherapy?
You would like to understand the advantages and disadvantages of chemotherapy
- What are the advantages or benefits of chemotherapy?
- What are the disadvantages or side effects of chemotherapy?
- What are the chances that I will experience side effects, and how does this compare to other treatments available to me?
- How long might these side effects last?
- Will the side effects impact my sex life?
- Are there medications or further medical options for these side effects?
- Who do I contact if I have concerns about the side effects?
You are unsure whether you want to have chemotherapy
- What other treatment options are available to me?
- Are there any suitable clinical trials I could be enrolled in?
- Can I get a second opinion from a different healthcare professional?
You would like to know more about what chemotherapy involves
- Which chemotherapy medicine will I have and why?
- Who will provide the chemotherapy and where?
- How long will I need to have chemotherapy for, and how often?
- What do I need to do in preparation for chemotherapy?
- How will I feel during the chemotherapy? Will it hurt?
- How will I feel after chemotherapy?
- How long will I be in hospital?
- Will I need to take any other medicines alongside chemotherapy?
You would like to know more about how you will be monitored whilst on chemotherapy
- How will we know if chemotherapy is working?
- How often will I have check-ups and what will happen at these appointments?
- How can I access my results?
- Who will I speak to about my results?
- Who do I contact if I have new symptoms?
- What do I do if I want to stop chemotherapy?
- What happens if chemotherapy doesn’t work for me or stops working? Can I have further treatment?
You would like to know more about what you can be doing to support your general health and wellbeing in preparation for treatment
- How can diet and nutrition impact my prostate cancer and my treatment?
- How can physical activity and exercise impact my prostate cancer and my treatment?
- How might my prostate cancer or my treatment impact my mental health and emotional wellbeing?
- Is there anything else I should be doing to help prepare for my treatment? For example, is there a prehabilitation programme available to me at this hospital?
- Where can I find more information?
- What do support groups offer and how can they help me? How would I find a support group local to me? Is one-to-one support available?
- Is there any financial support available to help with the costs associated with treatment, for example, prescriptions, travel or parking?
You would like to understand how radium-223 works and why you have been recommended it
- What is the aim of radium-223? How does it work?
- Why is it the best option for me?
- How effective is it likely to be?
- Does having radium-223 impact further treatment options available to me?
- How quickly do I need to decide whether I want to go ahead with this treatment?
You would like to understand the advantages and disadvantages of radium-223
- What are the advantages or benefits of radium-223?
- What are the disadvantages or side effects of radium-223?
- At what stage is this treatment offered to patients?
- What are the chances that I will experience side effects, and how does this compare to other treatments available to me?
- How long might these side effects last?
- Will the side effects impact my sex life?
- Are there medications or further medical options for these side effects?
- Who do I contact if I have concerns about the side effects?
You are unsure whether you want to go ahead with radium-223
- What other treatment options are available to me?
- Are there any suitable clinical trials I could be enrolled in?
- Can I get a second opinion from a different healthcare professional?
You would like to know more about what radium-223 involves
- Who will provide the radium-223 and where will this happen?
- How many radium-223 sessions will I need?
- How long will the radium-223 sessions take?
- How often will I need to have radium-223?
- How long will I need to have radium-223 for?
- What will I need to do in preparation for radium-223?
- What will happen and what will I need to do on the day?
- How will I feel during the procedure?
- How will I feel after having radium-223?
- How long will I be in hospital?
- How long will it take me to recover?
- Will I need to take any other medicines alongside radium-223?
- Are there any other special instructions that I need to know about?
- Will I be radioactive following the procedure? What does this mean and what precautions do I need to take?
You would like to know more about how you will be monitored following radium-223
- How will we know if the radium-223 is working?
- How often will I have check-ups and what will they involve?
- How can I access my results?
- Who will I speak to about my results?
- Who do I contact if I have new symptoms?
- What do I do if I want to stop radium-223?
- What happens if the radium-223 doesn’t work? Can I have further treatment?
You would like to know more about what you can be doing to support your general health and wellbeing in preparation for treatment and life afterwards
- How can diet and nutrition impact my prostate cancer and my treatment?
- How can physical activity and exercise impact my prostate cancer and my treatment?
- How might my prostate cancer and my treatment impact my mental health and emotional wellbeing?
- Is there anything else I should be doing to help prepare for my treatment? For example, is there a prehabilitation programme available to me at this hospital?
- What do support groups offer and how can they help me? How would I find a support group local to me? Is one-to-one support available?
- Is there any financial support available to help with the costs associated with treatment, for example, prescriptions, travel or parking?
You would like to understand how olaparib works and why you have been recommended it
- What is the aim of olaparib? How does it work?
- Why is it the best option for me?
- How effective is it likely to be?
- Does having olaparib impact further treatment options available to me?
- How quickly do I need to decide whether I want to go ahead with this treatment?
You would like to understand the advantages and disadvantages of olaparib
- What are the advantages or benefits of olaparib?
- What are the disadvantages or side effects of olaparib?
- What are the chances that I will experience side effects, and how does this compare to other treatments available to me?
- How long might these side effects last?
- Will the side effects impact my sex life?
- Are there medications or further medical options for these side effects?
- Who do I contact if I have concerns about the side effects?
You are unsure whether you want to take olaparib
- What other treatment options are available to me?
- Are there any suitable clinical trials I could be enrolled in?
- Can I get a second opinion from a different healthcare professional?
You would like to know more about taking olaparib
- Who will prescribe olaparib and where do I collect it from?
- How often will I need to take olaparib and at what point in the day?
- Will I need to take any other medicines alongside olaparib?
- Is there anything I need to avoid whilst taking olaparib?
- How will I feel after taking olaparib?
- How long will I take olaparib for?
You would like to know more about how you will be monitored whilst on olaparib
- How will we know if olaparib is working?
- How often will I have check-ups and what will happen at these appointments?
- How can I access my results?
- Who will I speak to about my results?
- What will happen if I miss a dose?
- Who do I contact if I have new symptoms?
- What do I do if I want to stop taking olaparib?
- What happens if olaparib doesn’t work for me or stops working? Can I have further treatment?
You would like to know more about what you can be doing to support your general health and wellbeing in preparation for treatment and life afterwards
- How can diet and nutrition impact my prostate cancer and my treatment?
- How can physical activity and exercise impact my prostate cancer and my treatment?
- How might my prostate cancer and my treatment impact my mental health and emotional wellbeing?
- Is there anything else I should be doing to help prepare for my treatment? For example, is there a prehabilitation programme available to me at this hospital?
- Where can I find more information?
- What do support groups offer and how can they help me? How would I find a support group local to me? Is one-to-one support available?
- Is there any financial support available to help with the costs associated with treatment, for example, prescriptions, travel or parking?
You would like to understand more about how your prostatectomy went or what your latest test results show
- Did the prostatectomy successfully remove all the cancer? How can this be confirmed?
- What are my latest test results and what do they mean?
You would like to discuss side effects, such as:
- Sexual side effects (for example, getting or keeping an erection, dry ejaculation, reduced penis size, loss of sexual interest, problems with orgasm, pain during sex)
- Urinary side effects (for example, needing to pee in a hurry, peeing more or less than usual, accidental or stress-induced leaking pee, difficulty peeing, a burning feeling, blood in your pee)
- How common are these side effects?
- What is causing these side effects?
- How long might these side effects last?
- What can I do to manage these side effects?
- What happens if the side effects don’t improve or get worse?
- Are there medications or further medical options for these side effects?
- Who do I contact if I have concerns about the side effects?
- Where can I find more information?
- Can surgery help with my incontinence?
You would like to support your general health and wellbeing whilst receiving treatment
- How can diet and nutrition impact the effectiveness of my treatment, my side effects and my recovery?
- How can physical activity and exercise impact the effectiveness of my treatment, my side effects and my recovery?
- What can I be doing to improve my mental health?
- Is there anything else I should be doing that could help my treatment and improve my overall health?
- Where can I find more information?
- What do support groups offer and how can they help me? How would I find a support group local to me? Is one-to-one support available?
You would like to discuss practical factors related to your cancer and treatment
We recommend having this discussion with your specialist nursing team.
- Am I able to rearrange my treatment sessions/follow up appointments to a more convenient time, day or location?
- Can I get any help with transport to and from my appointments?
- Is there any financial support available to help with the costs associated with treatment, for example, prescriptions, travel or parking?
- Is there any wider financial support available, for example, disability allowance or universal credit?
You would like to talk about social or emotional factors related to your cancer and treatment
We recommend having this discussion with your specialist nursing team.
- How do I talk to my partner, family or friends about how my cancer, treatment or side effects are impacting me or them?
- Can I get access to mental health support for myself, my partner or my family?
You would like to understand how you are responding to brachytherapy
- What are my latest results and what do they mean?
- Why has my prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level not dropped to zero?
- What happens if my PSA level goes up again?
- What different types of brachytherapy are there?
You would like to discuss side effects, such as:
- Urinary side effects (for example, needing to pee in a hurry, peeing more or less than usual, accidental or stress-induced leaking pee, difficulty peeing, a burning feeling, blood in your pee)
- Bowel side effects (for example, passing more wind than usual, wet wind, loose or watery poo, needing to poo suddenly or more regularly, leaking poo)
- Sexual side effects (for example, getting or keeping an erection, dry ejaculation, reduced penis size, loss of sexual interest, problems with orgasm, pain during sex)
- How common are these side effects?
- What is causing these side effects?
- I’ve been experiencing bowel issues, and occasionally, I notice a clear, sticky, jelly-like substance. Could you please explain what this might be?
- Why do I still produce a small amount of semen?
- Are there medications or further medical options for these side effects?
- What else can I be doing to manage these side effects?
- How long might these side effects last?
- What happens if the side effects don’t improve or get worse?
- Who do I contact if I have concerns about the side effects?
- Where can I find more information?
You would like to support your general health and wellbeing whilst receiving treatment
- How can diet and nutrition impact the effectiveness of my treatment, my side effects and my recovery?
- How can physical activity and exercise impact the effectiveness of my treatment, my side effects and my recovery?
- What can I be doing to improve my mental health?
- Is there anything else I should be doing that could help my treatment and improve my overall health?
- What do support groups offer and how can they help me? How would I find a support group local to me? Is one-to-one support available?
You would like to talk about practical factors related to your cancer and treatment
We recommend having this discussion with your specialist nursing team.
- Am I able to rearrange my treatment sessions or follow up appointments to a more convenient time, day or location?
- Can I get any help with transport to and from my appointments?
- Is there any financial support available to help with the costs associated with treatment, for example, prescriptions, travel or parking?
- Is there any wider financial support available, for example, disability allowance or universal credit?
You would like to talk about social or emotional factors related to your cancer and treatment
We recommend having this discussion with your specialist nursing team.
- How does this treatment affect my time with family, especially if they’re pregnant or have young children?
- Is there anything my family should know to help support me during this time?
- How do I talk to my partner, family or friends about how my cancer, treatment or side effects are impacting me or them?
- Can I get access to mental health support for myself, my partner or my family?
You would like to understand how you are responding to focal therapy
- Can you remind me how focal therapy works?
- What types of focal therapy are available? What factors might influence the decision to offer this treatment?
- What are my latest results and what do they mean?
You would like to discuss side effects
Such as:
- Urinary side effects (for example, urgency, frequency, leakage, difficulty, burning, or blood in urine)
- Bowel side effects (for example, more wind, wet wind, loose stools, urgency, leaking poo)
- Sexual side effects (for example, erection issues, dry ejaculation, reduced penis size, loss of sexual interest, problems with orgasm, pain during sex)
- How common are these side effects?
- What is causing these side effects?
- Are there medications or further medical options to help with these side effects?
- What else can I be doing to manage these side effects?
- How long might these side effects last?
- What happens if the side effects don’t improve or get worse?
- Who do I contact if I have concerns about the side effects?
- How do I talk to my partner, family or friends about my side effects?
- Where can I find more information?
You would like to support your general health and wellbeing whilst receiving treatment
- How can diet and nutrition impact the effectiveness of my treatment, my side effects and my recovery?
- How can physical activity and exercise impact the effectiveness of my treatment, my side effects and my recovery?
- What can I be doing to improve my mental health?
- Is there anything else I should be doing that could help my treatment and improve my overall health?
- What do support groups offer and how can they help me? How would I find a support group local to me? Is one-to-one support available?
You would like to talk about practical factors related to your cancer and treatment
We recommend having this discussion with your specialist nursing team.
- Am I able to rearrange my treatment sessions or follow up appointments to a more convenient time, day or location?
- Can I get any help with transport to and from my appointments?
- Is there any financial support available to help with the costs associated with treatment, for example, prescriptions, travel or parking?
- Is there any wider financial support available, for example, disability allowance or universal credit?
You would like to talk about social or emotional factors related to your cancer and treatment
We recommend having this discussion with your specialist nursing team.
- How do I talk to my partner, family or friends about how my cancer, treatment or side effects are impacting me or them?
- Can I get access to mental health support for myself, my partner or family?
You would like to understand how you are responding to external beam radiotherapy
- Can you remind me how external beam radiotherapy works?
- What are my latest results and what do they mean?
- Why was radiotherapy started now, rather than immediately after my diagnosis?
You would like to discuss side effects, such as:
- Urinary side effects (for example, needing to pee in a hurry, peeing more or less than usual, accidental or stress-induced leaking pee, difficulty peeing, a burning feeling, blood in your pee)
- Bowel side effects (for example, passing more wind than usual, wet wind, loose or watery poo, needing to poo suddenly or more regularly, leaking poo)
- Other radiotherapy side effects (for example, tiredness (fatigue), skin irritation, hair loss, bone pain)
- Sexual side effects (for example, getting or keeping an erection, dry ejaculation, reduced penis size, loss of sexual interest, problems with orgasm, pain during sex)
- How common are these side effects?
- What is causing these side effects?
- How long might these side effects last?
- What can I do to manage these side effects?
- Are there medications or further medical options for these side effects?
- What happens if the side effects don’t improve or get worse?
- What can be done to lower the chances of getting side effects?
- Who do I contact if I have concerns about the side effects?
- Where can I find more information?
You would like to support your general health and wellbeing whilst receiving treatment
- How can diet and nutrition impact the effectiveness of my treatment, my side effects and my recovery?
- How can physical activity and exercise impact the effectiveness of my treatment, my side effects and my recovery?
- What can I be doing to improve my mental health?
- Is there anything else I should be doing that could help my treatment and improve my overall health?
- Where can I find more information?
- What do support groups offer and how can they help me? How would I find a support group local to me? Is one-to-one support available?
You would like to talk about practical factors related to your cancer and treatment
We recommend having this discussion with your specialist nursing team.
- Am I able to rearrange my treatment sessions or follow up appointments to a more convenient time, day or location?
- Can I get any help with transport to and from my appointments?
- Is there any financial support available to help with the costs associated with treatment, for example, prescriptions, travel or parking?
- Is there any wider financial support available, for example, disability allowance or universal credit?
You would like to talk about social or emotional factors related to your cancer and treatment
We recommend having this discussion with your specialist nursing team.
- How do I talk to my partner, family or friends about how my cancer, treatment or side effects are impacting me or them?
- Can I get access to mental health support for myself, my partner or my family?
You would like to understand how you are responding to hormone therapy
- Can you remind me how hormone therapy works?
- What are my latest results and what do they mean?
You would like to discuss side effects, such as:
- Urinary side effects (for example, needing to pee in a hurry, peeing more or less than usual, accidental or stress-induced leaking pee, difficulty peeing, a burning feeling, blood in your pee)
- Sexual side effects (for example, decreased sex drive or problems getting an erection)
- Other hormone therapy side effects (for example, hot sweats, excessive sweating, tiredness (fatigue), weight gain, mood changes, depression, changes to chest)
- How common are these side effects?
- What is causing these side effects?
- How long might these side effects last?
- What can I do to manage these side effects?
- Are there medications or further medical options for these side effects?
- What happens if the side effects don’t improve or get worse?
- Who do I contact if I have concerns about the side effects?
- Where can I find more information?
- Are there other hormone treatments available that are less likely to cause these side effects?
You would like to support your general health and wellbeing whilst receiving treatment
- How can diet and nutrition impact the effectiveness of my treatment, my side effects and my recovery?
- How can physical activity and exercise impact the effectiveness of my treatment, my side effects and my recovery?
- What can I be doing to improve my mental health?
- Is there anything else I should be doing that could help my treatment and improve my overall health?
- What do support groups offer and how can they help me? How would I find a support group local to me? Is one-to-one support available?
You would like to talk about practical factors related to your cancer and treatment
We recommend having this discussion with your specialist nursing team.
- Am I able to rearrange my treatment sessions or follow up appointments to a more convenient time, day or location?
- Can I get any help with transport to and from my appointments?
- Is there any financial support available to help with the costs associated with treatment, for example, prescriptions, travel or parking?
- Is there any wider financial support available, for example, disability allowance or universal credit?
You would like to talk about social or emotional factors related to your cancer and treatment
We recommend having this discussion with your specialist nursing team.
- How do I talk to my partner, family or friends about how my cancer, treatment or side effects are impacting me or them?
- Can I get access to mental health support for myself, my partner or my family?
You would like to understand how you are responding to radium-223
- Can you remind me how radium-223 works?
- What are my latest results and what do they mean?
You would like to discuss side effects of radium-223
(for example, tiredness (fatigue), weakness, shortness of breath, diarrhoea)
- How common are these side effects?
- What is causing these side effects?
- How long might these side effects last?
- What can I do to manage these side effects?
- What happens if the side effects don’t improve or get worse?
- Are there medications or further medical options for these side effects?
- Who do I contact if I have concerns about the side effects?
- Where can I find more information?
You would like to support your general health and wellbeing whilst receiving treatment
- How can diet and nutrition impact the effectiveness of my treatment, my side effects and my recovery?
- How can physical activity and exercise impact the effectiveness of my treatment, my side effects and my recovery?
- What can I be doing to improve my mental health?
- Is there anything I should think about when it comes to my sex life?
- Is there anything else I should be doing that could help my treatment and improve my overall health?
- What do support groups offer and how can they help me? How would I find a support group local to me? Is one-to-one support available?
You would like to talk about practical factors related to your cancer and treatment
We recommend having this discussion with your specialist nursing team.
- Am I able to rearrange my treatment sessions or follow up appointments to a more convenient time, day or location?
- Can I get any help with transport to and from my appointments?
- Is there any financial support available to help with the costs associated with treatment, for example, prescriptions, travel or parking?
- Is there any wider financial support available, for example, disability allowance or universal credit?
You would like to talk about social or emotional factors related to your cancer and treatment
We recommend having this discussion with your specialist nursing team.
- How do I talk to my partner, family or friends about how my cancer, treatment or side effects are impacting me or them?
- Can I get access to mental health support for myself, my partner or my family?
You would like to understand how you are responding to your treatment
- Can you remind me how olaparib works?
- What are my latest results and what do they mean?
You would like to discuss side effects of olaparib
(for example, tiredness (fatigue), weakness, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite)
- How common are these side effects?
- What is causing these side effects?
- How long might these side effects last?
- Are there medications or further medical options for these side effects?
- What else can I do to manage these side effects?
- What happens if the side effects don’t improve or get worse?
- Who do I contact if I have concerns about the side effects?
- Where can I find more information?
You would like to support your general health and wellbeing whilst receiving treatment
- How can diet and nutrition impact the effectiveness of my treatment, my side effects and my recovery?
- How can physical activity and exercise impact the effectiveness of my treatment, my side effects and my recovery?
- What can I be doing to improve my mental health?
- Is there anything I should think about when it comes to my sex life?
- Is there anything else I should be doing that could help my treatment and improve my overall health?
- Where can I find more information?
- What do support groups offer and how can they help me? How would I find a support group local to me? Is one-to-one support available?
You would like to talk about practical factors related to your cancer and treatment
We recommend having this discussion with your specialist nursing team.
- Am I able to rearrange my treatment sessions or follow up appointments to a more convenient time, day or location?
- Can I get any help with transport to and from my appointments?
- Is there any financial support available to help with the costs associated with treatment, for example, prescriptions, travel or parking?
- Is there any wider financial support available, for example, disability allowance or universal credit?
You would like to talk about social or emotional factors related to your cancer and treatment
We recommend having this discussion with your specialist nursing team.
- How do I talk to my partner, family or friends about how my cancer, treatment or side effects are impacting me or them?
- Can I get access to mental health support for myself, my partner or my family?
You would like to understand how you are responding to your treatment
- Can you remind me how chemotherapy works?
- How many courses of chemotherapy will I be having?
- What are my latest results and what do they mean?
You would like to discuss side effects of chemotherapy
(for example, tiredness (fatigue), nausea, nerve damage, hair loss, changes to the colour or texture of your nails)
- How common are these side effects?
- What is causing these side effects?
- How long might these side effects last?
- Are there medications or further medical options for these side effects?
- What happens if the side effects don’t improve or get worse?
- Who do I contact if I have concerns about the side effects?
- Where can I go for more information?
You would like to support your general health and wellbeing whilst receiving treatment
- How can diet and nutrition impact the effectiveness of my treatment, my side effects and my recovery?
- How can physical activity and exercise impact the effectiveness of my treatment, my side effects and my recovery?
- What can I be doing to improve my mental health?
- Is there anything I should think about when it comes to my sex life?
- Is there anything else I should be doing that could help my treatment and improve my overall health?
- What do support groups offer and how can they help me? How would I find a support group local to me? Is one-to-one support available?
You would like to talk about practical factors related to your cancer and treatment
We recommend having this discussion with your specialist nursing team.
- Am I able to rearrange my treatment sessions or follow up appointments to a more convenient time, day or location?
- Can I get any help with transport to and from my appointments?
- Is there any financial support available to help with the costs associated with treatment, for example, prescriptions, travel or parking?
- Is there any wider financial support available, for example, disability allowance or universal credit?
You would like to talk about social or emotional factors related to your cancer and treatment
We recommend having this discussion with your specialist nursing team.
- How do I talk to my partner, family or friends about how my cancer, treatment or side effects are impacting me or them?
- Can I get access to mental health support for myself, my partner or my family?
Reporting side-effects
If you get side effects with any medication you are taking, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
This includes any possible side effects not listed in the information leaflet that comes in your treatment pack.
You can report side effects via the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of your medication.