Prostate cancer rarely involves a single treatment. It may involve several therapies. And it may require many health care professionals from different specialties to decide the best treatment options, timing, and dosage. Even the complications and side effects of prostate cancer require attention from different experts.

A Multidisciplinary Model

To receive the best care possible, many experts say you should seek care from a multidisciplinary medical team. This means that a group of health care professionals from different specialties work together to prolong the length and quality of your life. How can you tell if your medical providers are truly working as a team to help you stay as healthy as possible? Find out if they hold regularly scheduled meetings that include all team members to discuss your status. Occasionally you may want to attend such a meeting, or ask for a briefing on it.

Medical Team Members

Treating advanced prostate cancer requires collaboration between many health care professionals. Here are the important members of a health care team that treats advanced prostate cancer:

A urologist is a surgeon who specializes in treating diseases of the urinary tract and the male reproductive system. The urologist plays a key role in managing men with prostate cancer, from diagnosis to treatment. The urologist may perform surgery and prescribe drugs such as hormone therapy to treat prostate cancer. In cases of advanced prostate cancer, the urologist may also refer a man to other specialists trained specifically to treat advanced prostate cancer.
A radiation oncologist specializes in using radiation to treat cancer. Many men with prostate cancer receive radiation to delay the spread of cancer and/or relieve pain if the cancer spreads to other parts of the body.
A surgical oncologist specializes in using surgery to treat cancer. Some men with prostate cancer have surgery to remove the prostate gland and surrounding tissue, or to remove cancer in the prostate.
A medical oncologist is a doctor specially trained to diagnose and treat cancer with chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and other medications, although hormone therapy for prostate cancer is usually administered by a urologist.
A physical therapist is a health professional who helps people restore or maintain strength, mobility, and function. For men with prostate cancer, physical therapy can help offset side effects of treatment (such as bone weakening due to hormone therapy). It can also give men a better sense of physical control. And, it can help relieve stress and anxiety.
A nutritionist is an expert in the nutritional requirements of patients. Nutritionists suggest dietary choices that help people maintain their overall health and strength. This combats certain side effects of treatment and may even slow the growth of prostate cancer.
A social worker is a member of the health care team who provides a wide range of counseling services and support. Social workers can help when men with prostate cancer face challenging issues, such as uncertainty about a treatment option, concern about sexual function, depression, financial insecurity, and more.