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How Long Can You Live With Prostate Cancer Without Treatment?
March 21, 2025
The life expectancy for a man diagnosed with prostate cancer varies significantly. It depends on several factors, including how advanced the cancer is when it's found (the stage), how quickly it's likely to grow (the grade), the man's age and general health, his ethnic background, and the treatment he receives. It's really important to remember that life expectancy figures are averages, based on large groups of people, and they can't predict exactly what will happen to any one individual. Many men diagnosed with prostate cancer, especially if it's caught early, live for many years and often die from something else entirely, not the prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer prognosis
The term “prognosis” refers to the likely course and outcome of a condition. In the context of prostate cancer, it considers how advanced the cancer is, how aggressive it appears under the microscope (the grade), and various aspects of a patient’s health and medical history. Prognosis is not a precise prediction of what will happen to every individual; rather, it provides general expectations based on statistical averages. Improvements in screening and treatment over recent decades mean that survival rates for localised prostate cancer are generally very high.
How common is prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy in men across many Western countries. In the United Kingdom, approximately one in eight men will be diagnosed with it at some stage in their lifetime. Several factors affect prevalence rates:
Age: Risk rises with age, and most diagnoses occur in men over 50.
Ethnicity: Men of African or African-Caribbean heritage have a higher risk compared to other groups.
Family history: Having a close male relative who has or had prostate cancer can significantly increase your own risk.
How quickly does prostate cancer spread?
The speed at which prostate cancer spreads is very variable. The Gleason score (or Grade Group) is a key indicator: higher scores mean the cancer is more aggressive and likely to grow faster. The stage at diagnosis also shows how far it's spread: localised cancer is confined to the prostate, while advanced cancer has spread to lymph nodes, bones, or other organs. A quickly rising PSA level might suggest more aggressive disease, but PSA alone isn't enough to tell the whole story.
Why are people scared to get treatment?
Many men worry about prostate cancer treatment, mainly because of the potential for side effects like urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction. However, treatment techniques are always improving, and options like focal therapy aim to reduce these side effects. It's really important to have an open and honest conversation with your doctor about any fears you have.
How is prostate cancer treated?
Treatment options vary based on the stage and risk category of the cancer:
Treatment
Description
Active Surveillance
Monitoring low-risk prostate cancer without immediate treatment. Involves regular PSA tests, DREs, and possibly repeat biopsies and MRI scans.
Surgery (Radical Prostatectomy)
Removal of the prostate gland and surrounding tissues. Often recommended for localised cancer.
Radiation Therapy
Uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. Can be given externally (external beam radiotherapy) or internally (brachytherapy, where radioactive seeds are implanted in the prostate).
HIFU (High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound)
A non-invasive treatment that uses focused ultrasound waves to heat and destroy cancer cells within the prostate, while aiming to preserve surrounding healthy tissue.
NanoKnife (IRE Therapy)
Uses electrical pulses to destroy cancer cells, with the aim of minimising damage to surrounding nerves and tissues.
Hormone Therapy
Reduces testosterone levels to slow cancer growth. Often used for more advanced cancers or in combination with radiotherapy.
Chemotherapy
Used for advanced or metastatic prostate cancer.
Explore Treatment Options
Prostate cancer survival rates
Survival rates are often described as "5-year survival rates," which show the percentage of men who are still alive five years after they were diagnosed. It's really important to remember that these are just averages based on large groups of people. They can't tell you exactly what will happen in your own case. Also, these figures usually come from data collected several years ago, and treatments are constantly getting better. The figures below are net survival statistics.
5-Year Survival Rates by Stage
The following survival statistics are for men diagnosed with prostate cancer in England between 2013 and 2017.
Stage
Description
5-Year Survival Rate (2013-2017)
Stage 1
The cancer is in only half of one side of the prostate, or less. It's completely contained within the prostate gland.
Almost 100%
Stage 2
The cancer is in more than half of one side of the prostate, but it's still completely contained within the prostate gland.
Almost 100%
Stage 3
The cancer has broken through the covering (capsule) of the prostate. It may have spread into the tubes that carry semen (seminal vesicles).
Around 95%
Stage 4
The cancer has spread to nearby organs (like the bladder or rectum), nearby lymph nodes, or to other parts of the body outside the pelvis.
Around 50%
Read More About Stages
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can one live with stage 4 prostate cancer?
There's no single answer to this, as everyone’s experience is different. Some men live for many years with effective treatment, while others have a more aggressive type of the disease. Treatment is constantly improving, and newer therapies are helping men with metastatic prostate cancer live longer and better lives.
What happens if prostate cancer is left untreated?
The outcome of leaving prostate cancer untreated depends on how aggressive the cancer is. Some very low-risk cancers might never cause problems, while others will spread and eventually become life-threatening. You can't know without a proper diagnosis (including PSA, Gleason score/Grade Group, and scans). That's why it's important to discuss your individual case with a urologist.
How long does it take prostate cancer to develop?
Prostate cancer often develops slowly, over many years. Some low-risk cancers might stay slow-growing for decades and never need treatment. But, more aggressive forms of prostate cancer can develop and spread more quickly. Regular screening can help spot changes early.
What is the general prognosis of prostate cancer?
While there is no such thing as a 'good' cancer, prostate cancer, in general, carries a better prognosis when compared to other cancer types. This is because it is often slow-growing, and effective treatments are available.
If you’ve got any questions about your prostate cancer diagnosis or want to know more about HIFU or NanoKnife, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our friendly, knowledgeable team.
