Treatment for metastatic prostate cancer
Chemotherapy is a common treatment for metastatic prostate cancer. Chemotherapy uses anti cancer drugs to destroy prostate cancer cells. The drugs circulate throughout the body in the bloodstream. The most common type of chemotherapy for prostate cancer is docetaxel.
Metastatic prostate cancer is a cancer that began in the prostate and has spread to other parts of the body such as the bones. It is also called advanced prostate cancer.
Find out about treatment options for metastatic prostate cancer
Chemotherapy isn't a common treatment for prostate cancer that hasn't spread. But if you have a high risk of your cancer spreading, your doctor might suggest chemotherapy alongside other treatments.
Chemotherapy for metastatic prostate cancer can help relieve symptoms. It can also help to control the cancer and improve your quality of life. But it can’t cure metastatic prostate cancer.
You need to be quite fit to have chemotherapy. This is because the side effects can be worse if you have other health problems.
Chemotherapy as part of your first treatment
You might have chemotherapy alongside hormone therapy for newly diagnosed metastatic prostate cancer.
Chemotherapy if your cancer starts to grow again
You might have chemotherapy later on for metastatic cancer. For example if your cancer no longer responds to hormone therapy.
Chemotherapy for cancer that hasn't spread
You don't usually have chemotherapy for localised and locally advanced prostate cancer. These cancers haven't spread to other parts of your body.
But your doctor might suggest chemotherapy if there's a high chance your cancer could spread. You have it along with other treatments.
Chemotherapy for rare types of prostate cancer
There are some rare types of prostate cancer, such as small cell prostate cancer. This is different to the most common type of prostate cancer. It can grow quickly and you often have chemotherapy as part of your treatment. You usually have chemotherapy drugs that doctors use for other small cell cancers.
Read more about small cell prostate cancer
The most common types of chemotherapy treatment for prostate cancer are:
docetaxel (Taxotere)
cabazitaxel (Jevtana)
You usually have docetaxel first. You may have this with hormone therapy and steroids.
And then you might have cabazitaxel if your cancer continues to grow after you've had treatment with docetaxel.
You need to have blood tests to make sure it’s safe to start treatment. You usually have these a few days before or on the day you start treatment. You have blood tests before each round or cycle of treatment.
Your blood cells need to recover from your last treatment before you have more chemotherapy. Sometimes your blood counts are not high enough to have chemotherapy. If this happens, your doctor usually delays your next treatment. They will tell you when to repeat the blood test.
Between 2 and 8 out of 100 people (2 to 8%) have low levels of an enzyme called dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) in their bodies. A lack of DPD can mean you’re more likely to have severe side effects from capecitabine or fluorouracil. It might take you a bit longer to recover from the chemotherapy. These side effects can rarely be life threatening.
Before starting treatment with capecitabine or fluorouracil you have a blood test to check levels of DPD. So you may start treatment with a lower amount (dose) of the drug or have a different treatment. Your doctor or nurse will talk to you about this.
You have docetaxel and cabazitaxel directly into your bloodstream through a drip (intravenously).
You have the treatment through a drip into your arm or hand. A nurse puts a small tube (a cannula) into one of your veins and connects the drip to it.
You might need a central line. This is a long plastic tube that gives the drugs into a large vein, either in your chest or through a vein in your arm. It stays in while you’re having treatment, which may be for a few months.
You usually have chemotherapy as cycles of treatment. Each cycle is usually a 3 week period. This means that you have a docetaxel or cabazitaxel drip once every 3 weeks.
You might also take a tablet called prednisolone.
You usually have treatment into your bloodstream at the cancer day clinic. You might sit in a chair for a few hours so it’s a good idea to take things in to do. For example, newspapers, books or electronic devices can all help to pass the time. You can usually bring a friend or family member with you.
You have some types of chemotherapy over several days. You might be able to have some drugs through a small portable pump that you take home.
For some types of chemotherapy you have to stay in a hospital ward. This could be overnight or for a couple of days.
Some hospitals may give certain chemotherapy treatments to you at home. Your doctor or nurse can tell you more about this.
Watch the video below about what happens when you have chemotherapy. It is almost 3 minutes long.
Common chemotherapy side effects include:
feeling sick
loss of appetite
losing weight
feeling very tired
increased risk of getting an infection
bleeding and bruising easily
diarrhoea or constipation
hair loss
Side effects depend on:
which drugs you have
how much of each drug you have
how you react
Tell your treatment team about any side effects that you have.
Let your doctors know if you:
take any supplements
have been prescribed anything by alternative or complementary therapy practitioners
It’s unclear how some nutritional or herbal supplements might interact with chemotherapy. Some could be harmful.
Read about the safety of complementary and alternative therapies
Last reviewed: 28 Jul 2025
Next review due: 28 Jul 2028
Prostate cancer can spread to other parts of the body. When this happens, it is called metastatic or advanced prostate cancer.
Metastatic prostate cancer has spread to other parts of your body. Treatment options include chemotherapy and hormone therapy.
Docetaxel is a type of chemotherapy. It is a treatment for a number of different types of cancer.
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.
Get practical and emotional support to help you cope with a diagnosis of prostate cancer, and life during and after 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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