See prostate cancer differently, together

From diagnosis to treatment, every decision about your prostate cancer care should be a joint agreement between you, those who care for you, and your healthcare team. Shared decision-making means that while you will always have the final say, others will work with you to help you make the best choice for your situation.

To make an informed choice it’s important that you understand why a particular test or treatment is being recommended to you and what may happen as a result. Get to know your options. Do your research. And don’t be afraid to ask questions, ask for more information or ask for information to be repeated.

Advocate Hero
‘YOU'RE THE DECISION MAKER IN YOUR HEALTH’
“It was a big educational experience… You've got to make choices about what diagnostics and what treatments you're going to have done… ultimately, you're the decision maker in your health.”
John Wright
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John Wright

Video transcript

John Wright

After I was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer, I was actually sitting very close to here. It was when the ice storm hit in 2021. And the power was out, and it was cold. And I was very depressed. I really was very, very depressed.

But I knew that shouldn't stop me. It shouldn't stop me from really owning my health. If it had stopped me, you know... It could have gotten much worse, for a variety of different reasons, even if I would have dragged out the treatment, or what have you. But what I decided to do is I had to learn about my condition. I had to reach out, you know, beyond, beyond my doctor's, I had to find people that I knew that had prostate cancer, and I knew some people. And let me tell you, once you start looking, they're out there.

So, to me, it was a big educational experience. Most importantly, it really faced me to own my health. It said, you need to, you need to own this. You can't just wait for someone to tell you what to do. You've got to do your finding out; you've got to do your investigation. You've got to talk to people. You've got to make choices about what diagnosis and what treatments you're going to have done. You know, doctors will tell you things, but ultimately, you're the decision maker in your health.
John Wright

Starting the conversation

Ongoing check-ups and screenings are important steps you and your doctor can take to monitor your prostate cancer. Here are a few questions to help you start or continue the conversation with your doctor about prostate cancer imaging and specifically prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography (PSMA PET). Don’t forget that you can add your own questions and that all questions are good questions.

Top tips
Take note graphic
Take someone with you if you can.
They can remind you of the questions you want to ask and help take note of the answers.
Record conversation graphic
Record the conversation.
Always check with the healthcare professional that it’s OK to do so first.
A nurse caring for a seated patient, they're both smiling

Example questions to ask about prostate imaging

Don’t forget that all questions are good questions!

  • What imaging methods are available to me?
  • How do different imaging methods compare?
  • How safe are the scans; don’t they involve radiation?
  • How should I prepare for my scan?
  • What is it like going inside a scanner?
  • What can the scans show and how will this impact my care?

Download (PDF 165KB)

Example questions to ask about PSMA PET imaging

  • What is a PSMA PET scan, do you think it’s an option for me?
  • What can the scans show and how might this impact my care?
  • What about the safety of using radiation?
  • Can I eat and drink normally before my scan?
  • Will a PSMA PET scan be covered by my insurance?
  • How accurate are the scans for detecting prostate cancer?

Download (PDF 166KB)

Man sitting on the sofa in front of a laptop, looking at his phone
‘STOP AND ASK QUESTIONS’
“Stop and ask the questions and learn about the disease and learn about what your options are for treatment.”
Michael Crosby
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Michael Crosby

Video transcript

Michael Crosby

What’s your advice for other men with prostate cancer? 

Michael Crosby 

CEO & President of Veterans Prostate Cancer Awareness 

Prostate Cancer Survivor 

My message to men with prostate cancer is stop and learn. Stop and ask the questions and learn about the disease and learn about what your options are for treatment. I encourage everyone to look at new clinical trials and also get second opinions ask the physicians for second opinions. And really that's it, I mean if you've got the cancer and you've been diagnosed, that's what you need to do. 
Michael Crosby
‘PROCRASTINATION IS NOT YOUR FRIEND’
“It's not going to get better because you ignore it, because it affects everybody."
Ken Burton
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Ken Burton

Video transcript

Ken Burton

KEN

Prostate Cancer Survivor

What is your advice for men at the start of their prostate cancer journey?

Procrastination is not your friend. It's not going to get better because you ignore it, because it affects everybody. It's not about me. It's not about me; it's about family. I would hope that other people recognize that and get off their, their duff and, and recognize there's more to it than, than yourself. And if you can do that, life will be great.
Ken Burton

Trusted prostate cancer resources

Where to find further information on prostate cancer that you can trust

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