The emotional impact of prostate cancer
1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. If you are Black, this increases to 1 in 4. Despite it being relatively common. the toll a cancer diagnosis can take on you can come as a surprise. Something that is rarely discussed is the emotional toll it can take, compared with a physical one.
Every consultant at The Focal Therapy Clinic has seen first-hand how a prostate cancer diagnosis can affect your, and your family and friends’, mental health. We know that it can be difficult to share that you are struggling. That’s why at every consultation, we are here to support you in making a confident decision about your treatment.
Active surveillance and watchful waiting
Active surveillance and watchful waiting are advised for people with prostate cancer that’s early stage and not very aggressive, or that have other conditions that are more likely to cause them problems in the future. You might feel reassured that you don’t currently have life-threatening prostate cancer. However, we have heard that for some people, knowing they have cancer that’s not being treated causes considerable stress and anxiety.
Focal therapy
Not everyone is suitable for focal therapy treatments. However, if you’re on active surveillance or watchful waiting, a second opinion could provide some reassurance that you are on the most appropriate treatment plan. If your prostate cancer is visible on an MRI, it could be treated.
You could be suitable for focal therapy if you have early stage, intermediate prostate cancer that is localised, and have been scheduled for a prostatectomy. Different focal therapies, such as HIFU or NanoKnife, are most suitable depending on where your tumour is located within your prostate cancer gland.
“…if there is a target lesion, then why would you just monitor it when you can successfully treat it?”
Alan Doherty
Consultant Urologist at The Focal Therapy Clinic
Learn more about who is suitable for focal therapy
Enquire about a second opinion today
Any questions?
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.
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