Prostate Cancer Support Guide - Gold Heart Cancer Support

What to know first

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men, and many patients face difficult choices between active surveillance, surgery, radiation, and systemic therapies. Quality-of-life impacts can be just as important as the disease itself.

~313,780

Estimated New Cases (2025)

One of the largest survivorship communities in oncology

~35,370

Estimated Deaths (2025)

Many patients do well, but advanced disease remains serious

~97%

5-Year Survival (All Stages)

Localized disease is often highly treatable; metastatic disease is a different conversation

"The hardest part was hearing that several options were reasonable. I needed plain language about side effects, surveillance, and what mattered most to me."

Education Your Rights Mental Health Financial Help

Treatment Choice and Overtreatment Risk

For many localized prostate cancers, the biggest issue is not lack of options. It is understanding which option matches the cancer biology and the patient's priorities.

Active surveillance Many lower-risk cancers can be watched carefully rather than treated immediately, avoiding unnecessary side effects.

Surgery vs. radiation These choices often involve tradeoffs around urinary, bowel, and sexual side effects rather than one universally superior path.

Hormone therapy ADT can be essential in advanced disease but carries real effects on energy, mood, sexual health, weight, and bone health.

Equity considerations Black men face higher incidence and mortality and often need especially clear guidance around screening, treatment access, and second opinions.

Questions to bring to your next appointment

Use this checklist to decide what to ask first. You can print the page and mark the questions that matter most.

Open the doctor question guide

What is my Gleason score or Grade Group, and how does that affect treatment? Am I a candidate for active surveillance? What are the main side effects of surgery versus radiation in my case? Should I see both a urologic oncologist and a radiation oncologist? Do I need genetic testing or biomarker-informed treatment planning? Are there clinical trials for my stage, recurrence status, or advanced disease setting?

Trusted organizations

ZERO Prostate Cancer→

1-844-244-1309

Education, support, and advocacy across screening, treatment, and survivorship.

Prostate Cancer Foundation→

Research-focused education and treatment information for patients and families.

PHEN→

Focused education and advocacy supporting Black men affected by prostate cancer.

Related Gold Heart resources

Getting a Second Opinion→

1-800-227-2345Education

A second opinion confirms your diagnosis and treatment plan. You have the right to seek one, and it should not delay treatment. Ask your doctor to send medical records to another oncologist.

Understanding Cancer Staging→

1-800-422-6237Education

Cancer stages (I-IV) indicate how far cancer has spread. The TNM system measures Tumor size, lymph Node involvement, and Metastasis. Understanding your stage helps guide treatment decisions.

Questions to Ask Your Oncologist→

1-800-422-6237Education

Essential questions: What are my treatment options? What is the goal — cure, control, or comfort? What are the side effects? Should I consider a clinical trial? Bring a support person to take notes.

Finding Clinical Trials→

1-800-422-6237Education

Clinical trials test new treatments and may offer access to cutting-edge therapies. Search by cancer type, location, and trial phase at cancer.gov. Ask your oncologist if a trial is right for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What support is available for prostate cancer patients in Washington State?

Gold Heart connects prostate cancer patients to 585+ verified support programs across all 39 Washington State counties. Resources include financial assistance, housing, food, transportation, mental health counseling, and legal help — all free to access in 7 languages.

How do I find prostate cancer clinical trials near me?

Gold Heart's clinical trial finder searches ClinicalTrials.gov for recruiting prostate cancer studies by location. Enter your cancer type and city or county to see matching trials, then bring the results to your oncology team for discussion.

What financial help is available for prostate cancer treatment?

Washington State offers multiple financial assistance programs for prostate cancer patients, including copay assistance, insurance navigation, prescription aid, and grants for living expenses. Gold Heart's directory lists verified programs with eligibility details and application instructions.