Metastatic prostate cancer
Metastatic prostate cancer means the cancer has spread from the prostate to other parts of the body. It is sometimes called advanced prostate cancer.
Unfortunately, when prostate cancer is advanced, it can no longer be cured. But treatment can control it for some time and help to relieve symptoms.
Finding out that your cancer can’t be cured is distressing and can be a shock. It’s common to feel uncertain and anxious. It's normal not to be able to think about anything else.
There is support available to help you and your family cope with the emotional, practical and physical issues.
Find out about treatment for metastatic prostate cancer
Finding out that you can’t be cured is distressing and can be a shock. It’s common to feel uncertain and anxious. It's normal to not be able to think about anything else.
Lots of information and support is available to you, your family and friends. Some people find it helpful to find out more about their cancer and the treatments they might have. Many people find that knowing more about their situation can make it easier to cope.
Talk to your doctor or specialist nurse to understand:
what your diagnosis means
what is likely to happen
what treatment is available
how treatment can help you
what the side effects of the treatment are
Your friends and relatives might be able to support you and talk to you about your cancer. Sharing can help to increase trust and support between you and make it easier to plan ahead. But some families are scared of the emotions this could bring up. So they may not want to discuss it. They might worry that you won't be able to cope with your situation.
It can strain relationships if your family or friends don't want to talk. You can help your family and friends by letting them know you would like to discuss what’s happening and how you feel.
You might find it easier to talk to someone outside your own friends and family.
Counselling might help you find ways of coping with your feelings and emotions.
You can chat with other people affected by cancer in our online forum.
Specialist nurses
Specialist nurses can help you if you’re finding it difficult to cope or if you have any problems. They can refer you to other healthcare professionals to get the help you need. They can also give you information.
Metastatic prostate cancer is likely to cause physical changes in your body. These might include:
changes to the way your bowel and bladder work
feeling very tired and lacking in energy a lot of the time
changes can affect your relationships and sex life
pain
It is important that you feel as well as you possibly can. Tell your doctor or specialist nurse about any symptoms you have so they can help to control them.
Read about the possible symptoms of metastatic prostate cancer
Thinking about your priorities and planning what you want to do can help you to feel more in control. You might want to talk about how you want to spend your time and what is and isn’t important to you.
Some of your future plans might no longer be realistic. But you might get round to doing something you always wanted to do but weren’t able to make time for.
You can talk to your doctor about managing your treatment around your plans. Or if you can have your treatment at the same time. Your specialist nurse will be able to support you and help you arrange this.
Practical things you and your family might need to cope with include:
money matters
financial support, such as benefits, sick pay and grants
work issues
childcare
Blue Badge applications
help with travel costs
changes to your house
Talk to your doctor or specialist nurse to find out who can help.
Getting help early with these things can mean that they don’t become a big issue later. It may be helpful to see a social worker. Many hospital cancer departments have a social worker available for patients.
The social worker can let you know which benefits or grants you can claim and help with the claiming process. You might be able to get some benefits for yourself and the person caring for you. You might also be able to get grants for heating costs, holidays and other household expenses related to your illness
Find out about money matters and cancer
You can get emotional and practical support through your hospital, local hospice and GP surgery. You can also get help from charities and support groups.
You might need some care and support at home due to metastatic prostate cancer or its treatment.
Your GP manages your healthcare when you are at home. Your specialist doctor will update your GP about your cancer care. Your GP can help with any medical problems that come up. They can also make referrals to a community service for you. The availability of the different community services may vary depending on where you live.
These nurses work in different places in your local area and may visit you in your home. They can:
give medicines or injections
check temperature, blood pressure and breathing
clean and dress wounds
monitor or set up drips
give emotional support
teach basic caring skills to family members where needed
get special equipment such as hospital beds, special mattresses, commodes or bed pans
Community services vary from area to area. Your hospital specialist nurse can tell you what is locally available to you.
Community specialist palliative care nurses include Macmillan nurses and hospice nurses. They specialise in symptom management such as pain control, sickness, and other cancer symptoms. They also give emotional support to you and your carers.
Marie Curie nurses give nursing care to people with advanced cancer in their own homes. They can visit during the day or spend the night in your home to give your carers a break.
Read more about Marie Curie nurses
Social workers can help to support you with your situation at home. They can arrange:
home helps to help with shopping or housework
home care assistants for washing and dressing
meals on wheels
respite care
Your social worker can also help with money matters by checking you get all the benefits you are entitled to. Or they can advise you about charity grants for things like extra heating costs or special diets.
Contact a social worker yourself by getting in touch with your local social services office. Or ask your hospital nurse or your GP to refer you.
There is usually other help available but services can vary from place to place.
Sometimes local voluntary groups offer sitting services. Someone comes to stay with you while your relative goes out.
Good neighbour schemes offer befriending or practical help with shopping or transport.
Local cancer support groups often offer practical help. And they are a good source of information about services in your area. Ask your doctor or nurse about local groups.
It’s natural to want to find out what is likely to happen in the last few weeks or days of life.
You might need to choose where you want to be looked after and who you want to care for you.
Read our information about dying with cancer
Last reviewed: 29 Jul 2025
Next review due: 29 Jul 2028
Metastatic prostate cancer has spread to other parts of your body. Treatment options include chemotherapy and hormone therapy.
Prostate cancer can spread to other parts of the body. When this happens, it is called metastatic or advanced prostate cancer.
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.
You might need some care and support at home due to cancer or its treatment. Find out about practical and emotional support that is available to you.
There are organisations, support groups, videos and other resources to help you cope with prostate cancer and its treatment.
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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