Prostate cancer

Key Staff

Surgeons

Mr.Babbin John
Mr Athanasios Argyropoulos
Mr.Rami Issa
Secretaries: jacquie.bailey@nhs.net and lisa.bonocore@nhs.net

Cancer Nursing teams

Sofika Pina
Annete Mugiraweza
Emma O'Sullivan
Lynne Perry & Joshila Bhudoye (Macmillan Support Officers)

Working hours: Monday to Friday 9am-5pm

Tel: 020 8401 3000 Ext 4330 Email : ch-tr.urologynursing@nhs.net

About Prostate cancer

The prostate is a small gland about the size of a walnut, found only in main and located just below the bladder. When men pass urine, it flows through a tube (urethra) and out through the penis. The urethra has to pass through the prostate before reaching the penis. This is why some men have problems urinating when they have an enlarged prostate. Fluid produced by the prostate forms part of the semen and help to nourish sperm.

Symptoms of prostate cancer do not usually appear until the prostate is large enough to affect the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the penis (urethra). When this happens, you may notice things like:

an increased need to pee
straining while you pee
a feeling that your bladder has not fully emptied

These symptoms should not be ignored, but they do not mean you have prostate cancer. It's more likely they're caused by something else, such as prostate enlargement .

What are the tests to confirm the diagnosis?

If a GP refers you to a specialist because they think you could have cancer, you'll have tests to check for cancer

There's no single test for prostate cancer. All the tests used to help diagnose the condition have benefits and risks that your doctor should discuss with you. The most commonly used tests for prostate cancer are:

blood tests
a physical examination of your prostate (known as a digital rectal examination, or DRE )
an MRI scan
a biopsy

The results of these tests can show the stage/extend of your cancer, and if the cancer has been caused by certain changes in your genes.

This will also help your specialist team decide what treatment you need.

More a bout Prostate cancer - Diagnosis - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Macmillan information: A-Z Diagnostic tests

What treatment are available?

The treatment you will have for cancer depends on:

the type of cancer you have
the size of the cancer
if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body
your age and general health

You may be offered a combination of treatments including surgery, chemotherapy , radiotherapy , brachytherapy , and targeted medicines.

Treatments are offered in collaboration with St George’s Hospital University NHS Trust and the Royal Marsden Hospital.

Your specialist treatment team will:

explain the treatments, the benefits and side effects
work with you to make a treatment plan that's best for you
help you to manage the side effects of treatment

If you have any questions or worries, you can talk to your specialist team.

More about Prostate cancer - Treatment - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Macmillan information: Making treatment decisions

Macmillan information: A-Z treatments- drugs

Macmillan information: After Treatment

Personalised Cancer Care

Personalised cancer care allows you to take an active role in the way your care is planned and delivered by identifying your concerns and support needs. It puts you in control of your care, with our help.

There are lots of things you can do to look after your own health during and after cancer treatment. Some of this can be done with the involvement of your clinical team, such as physical activity and dietary modifications

Here are the key elements of personalised care for our cancer patients:

Personalised Assessment and Care Planning
Access to health and wellbeing information and support
End of treatment summaries to support you with understanding and managing impacts of cancer– also shared with your GP so they can support you.
Stratified Follow up when you have finished treatment or are living with cancer.

Read the Personalised Cancer Care Guide for newly diagnosed patients at Croydon Health Services.

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