Prostate Cancer Healthcare Team Everyday Health MenuNewslettersSearch Prostate Cancer 6 People to Add to Your Prostate Cancer Healthcare Team Because prostate cancer tumors usually grow slowly, you likely have time to enlist a wide variety of experts and others who can help treat your cancer. By Paul RaeburnMedically Reviewed by Sanjai Sinha, MDReviewed: July 3, 2018Medically ReviewedYour prostate cancer healthcare team may include oncologists, urologists, and more.iStockTreating prostate cancer requires more than a good urologist. In addition to your primary care doctor — who may have given you the diagnosis — you may also want to recruit radiation oncologists, mental health specialists, and other experts to your healthcare team. But regardless of who you enlist, you don’t have to rush into treatment. “I encourage men to interview different doctors,” says Durado D. Brooks, MD, MPH, vice president of cancer-control interventions, prevention, and early detection at the American Cancer Society (ACS). “Call their office and ask for a consultation.” Your primary care doctor can also help guide you through the process, and may recommend a urologist, provide insight into different treatment options, and help you weigh the risks and benefits of different procedures. Here are six people to add to your prostate cancer healthcare team. 1 A urologist A surgeon — or in this case, a urologist — can perform a biopsy and recommend a form of treatment. For some men, this may be a wait-and-see approach, because cancer tumors might not cause problems for years. Not only do some tumors grow slowly, but men diagnosed with prostate cancer might also be older and have other problems that could shorten their lives before the cancer has any effect on them. “Most men with prostate cancer are diagnosed with earlier-stage disease, which means it’s likely not urgent that they get treatment right away,” Dr. Brooks says. “Many men don’t know that not starting treatment is a reasonable approach.” The decision to delay treatment is called watchful waiting or active surveillance. Neither is a precise technical term, although there can be some differences between the two definitions:Watchful waiting is often a less intensive follow-up that may involve fewer tests and more careful observation of symptoms, according to the ACS.Active surveillance often refers to much closer monitoring. Your doctor might recommend a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and a digital rectal exam (DRE) every six months. A rise in the levels of PSA (a type of protein that’s produced by cells in the prostate gland) can mean that the cancer is getting worse. A DRE, in which a doctor inserts a finger into the rectum to feel the size of the prostate, can also hint at how severe the cancer is by giving the doctor the approximate size of the prostate. If your cancer has spread, however, delaying treatment is likely not recommended. 2 A radiation oncologist Surgery and radiation are the two principal therapies for prostate cancer. These treatments are administered either by a urologist, who does the surgery, or a radiation oncologist, who administers radiation therapy. When you ask for consultations with different doctors, consider both approaches. Talk to both types of doctors, Brooks says. 3 A mental health professional If you’ve seen a therapist or counselor in the past, you may want to enlist professional help from a psychologist or psychiatrist to help you cope with having prostate cancer, Brooks says. “No man wants to go through this or knows how he’s going to be able to handle it,” he says. “Men with prostate cancer need someone they can share their feelings with.” If you’re religious or spiritual, you might want to talk to a priest or rabbi. And because sexual difficulties can accompany a diagnosis of prostate cancer, you and your spouse may want to speak to a marital counselor. Your primary care doctor may also be able to screen you for depression and help decide whether you may benefit from professional help. 4 A close family member or two Resist the impulse to take on prostate cancer by yourself. “It’s imperative that you not wall off this part of life from your family,” Brooks says. “Numerous people have told me that they found out a family member had prostate cancer only when the family member died.” 5 An online support group One online support group is Us Too, an international organization founded and run by men with prostate cancer. Its website can connect you with educational materials, a help line, and local support groups. Another helpful group is Zero — The End of Prostate Cancer, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to end prostate cancer. Zero “advances research, improves the lives of men and families, and inspires action.” 6 A workout buddy or nutritionist A personal trainer or workout buddy can help you exercise, while a nutritionist can help you design healthy meal plans, Brooks says. “Your level of physical activity and nutrition can have an effect on your treatment and could reduce the risk of your cancer coming back.” More in Prostate Cancer 6 Pain Relief Tips for Men With Advanced Prostate Cancer FAQs About Prostate Cancer That Has Spread to the Bones Diagnosed With Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer What s Next NEWSLETTERS Sign up for our Men' s Health Newsletter SubscribeBy subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The Latest in Prostate Cancer Prostate Cancer Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment and MoreBy Laura NewmanSeptember 18, 2022 New Combos of Old Drugs Improve Survival in Patients With Prostate Cancer Day 3 of the European Society for Medical Oncology s 2021 CongressAdd-on Zytiga is expected to become the new standard of care almost immediately. Also, COVID-19 vaccination is safe and effective in people with cancer...By Darcy LewisOctober 5, 2021 5 Ways to Boost Your Quality of Life During Prostate Cancer TreatmentAdd these strategies to your prostate cancer treatment regimen to boost your physical and mental health.By Paul RaeburnJuly 6, 2021 NBC Today Show Cohost Al Roker Diagnosed With Prostate CancerRoker spoke out about screening for this form of cancer, which affects 1 in 6 men overall and is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Black men.By Don RaufNovember 6, 2020 Everyday Health s Prostate Cancer Awareness Month Twitter Chat Here s What You MissedSeptember is prostate cancer awareness month. To mark it, Everyday Health hosted a Twitter chat with two experts from the Prostate Cancer Foundation. ...By Elizabeth DeVita-RaeburnOctober 20, 2020 Prostate Cancer Screening Recommendations Result in More Prostate Cancer Diagnosed Late Fewer Cases Diagnosed EarlyNew study results suggests that the cost of more conservative screening for prostate cancer may be more men diagnosed at more advanced, difficult to treat...By Shari RoanMay 21, 2020 Treating Prostate Cancer With Hormone TherapyBy Julia CalifanoApril 27, 2020 Chemotherapy and Prostate Cancer A First Choice for Treating Metastatic Prostate CancerOver the past couple of years, chemotherapy has emerged as a first-line therapy to treat prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.By Julia CalifanoApril 27, 2020 Multidisciplinary Prostate Cancer Clinics Improve CareThe clinics allow men to get several opinions on the best way to proceed with treatment for their cancer.By Shari RoanNovember 21, 2019 Nonmetastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Two New Treatment Options Have Changed the Way It s ManagedUntil recently, there weren’t any approved therapies for this type of prostate cancer.By Julie MarksDecember 10, 2018