Living with prostate cancer
Coping with prostate cancer can be difficult. There are things you can do and specialists who can help you to cope with a diagnosis of prostate cancer.
You might have a number of different feelings when you're told you have cancer.
You may feel a range of powerful emotions at first such as feeling shocked, upset and find it difficult to take in anything else that is being said to you. Other emotions include feeling:
numb
frightened and uncertain
confused
angry and resentful
guilty
sad
You may have some or all of these feelings. Or you might feel totally different. You may feel them a few at a time or altogether, leaving you feeling exhausted.
Everyone reacts in their own way. Sometimes it's hard to take in the fact that you have cancer at all. You need to do what’s right for you to help you cope.
You may be more able to cope and make decisions if you have information about your type of cancer and its treatment. Information helps you to know what to expect.
Taking in information can be difficult, especially when you have just been diagnosed or given news about your outlook. Make a list of questions before you see your doctor. Take someone with you to remind you what you want to ask. They can also help you to remember the information that was given. Getting a lot of new information can feel overwhelming.
Ask your doctors and specialist nurses to explain things again if you need them to.
You might feel that you don’t want to know much information straight away. Tell your doctor or nurse. You will always be able to ask for more information when you feel ready.
Remember that you don’t have to sort everything out at once. It might take some time to deal with each issue. Ask for help if you need it.
You can also do practical things such as:
making lists to help you
having a calendar with all appointments
having goals
planning enjoyable things around weeks that might be emotionally difficult for you
Talking to your friends and relatives about your cancer can help and support you. But some people are scared of the emotions this could bring up and won’t want to talk. They might worry that you won't be able to cope with your situation or be afraid they will say the wrong thing.
It can strain relationships if your family or friends don't want to talk. But talking can help increase trust and support between you and them.
Help your family and friends by letting them know if you would like to talk about what’s happening and how you feel.
Find out ways to help manage your emotions
You might find it easier to talk to someone other than your own friends and family.
Or you may want to see a counsellor.
Read more about talking about cancer, including talking to children
You can chat with other people affected by cancer in our online forum.
Specialist nurses can help if you’re finding it difficult to cope or if you have any problems. They can get you the help you need. They can also give you information and signpost you to support in your local area.
Specialist nurses are usually your first point of call if you have any questions or concerns. Make sure you know who your specialist nurse is and have their contact details.
Prostate cancer and its treatment may cause physical changes in your body. Some changes may result from treatment such as radiotherapy, surgery or hormone therapy. Your doctor, GP or specialist nurse will help you manage any changes. They can refer you to other health professionals such as:
dieticians
symptom control team
physiotherapists
You might have problems with your bladder after surgery or radiotherapy. These include leaking urine, bladder inflammation and difficulty passing urine.
There are things you can do to help you cope with bladder problems. Pelvic floor exercises can help strengthen the muscles that support and control your bladder. Contact your doctor or specialist nurse to help you manage bladder problems after treatment for prostate cancer.
Find out more about coping with bladder problems after treatment
Treatments such as surgery and hormone therapy can affect the amount of sex in your body. This can affect you in different ways and cause symptoms.
Find out about the effects of hormone changes and how to cope
Prostate cancer treatments can affect your sex life in many ways. This includes infertility and having less interest in sex.
Find out how prostate cancer can affect your sex life and ways to cope with this
You and your family might need to cope with practical things including:
money matters
financial support, such as benefits, sick pay, prescription costs and grants
work issues
early retirement
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. 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.
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 hospitals have a social worker available for people with cancer.
Read more about the practical support that is available to you
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.
Social workers can arrange:
home helps to help with shopping or housework
home care assistants for washing and dressing
meals on wheels
Your social worker can also help with money matters by checking you get all the benefits you’re entitled to. Or they can arrange 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 specialist nurse or your GP to refer you.
You may find it helpful to go to a charity or support group to talk to other people affected by prostate cancer.
Last reviewed: 29 Jul 2025
Next review due: 29 Jul 2028
Prostate cancer is cancer of the prostate gland. The prostate gland is part of the male reproductive system, and is at the base of the bladder.
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.
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.
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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