Online support group

Having prostate surgery involves staying in hospital, which could put you at risk of catching coronavirus.  Your doctor will talk to you to make sure you understand your options and help you decide what to do next. Most localised prostate cancer grows slowly. For many men with localised prostate cancer, having hormone therapy for a while first won’t affect how well the surgery works in the long term. If tests show your cancer is more likely to grow quickly, your doctor should make your treatment a priority so that you get the treatment you need without unnecessary delays.

If you’ve been in contact with someone with coronavirus, or if you have a new and continuous cough or a high temperature (fever), stay at home and contact your medical team at the hospital straight away.  If you’re having you should already have the number of someone to call at the hospital if you have any signs of an infection.

If you can’t get hold of your medical team, contact 111 for advice, but make sure you tell them about your prostate cancer diagnosis and any cancer treatments you are having.

Even if you aren’t having one of the treatments listed above, it’s very important to follow the advice from the government and other medical professionals. Avoid contact with other people, including friends and family, to reduce your risk of catching coronavirus.

If the advice for people having cancer treatment changes at any time, health professionals and charities will take steps to make sure patients have the latest information.

The effects of coronavirus infection could be severe for certain people with prostate cancer. These include if you are having chemotherapy or are part of a clinical trial, using a drug that affects your immune system, such as olaparib (Lynparza®) or pembrolizumab (Keytruda®).

If you’re having one of these treatments, it’s very important to follow the Government’s guidance of shielding.

It’s very likely that your doctor or nurse will limit the amount of time you need to spend at the hospital or GP surgery. For example, you will probably have phone appointments, wherever possible, instead of visiting the hospital or GP surgery. It might also be possible to have blood tests done at home. Speak to your doctor or nurse if you’re concerned about your appointments.

If you’ve had one of the treatments listed above in the last three months, but are no longer having it, you might still be classed as vulnerable. You might get a letter or text from the department of health, or please speak to your hospital doctor about your level of risk from coronavirus. They can help you decide whether or not to follow the latest advice.

The NHS is continuing to provide cancer treatments and has taken steps to make sure the necessary drugs are still available. But some men and their doctors will have to decide whether to delay or change their prostate cancer treatment. This could be for the following reasons.

• Some prostate cancer treatments increase your risk of getting infections, which could put you at risk of catching coronavirus. In this case, other treatments may be safer for you at this time.
• Some prostate cancer treatments involve regular hospital appointments or time on a hospital ward, which could put you at risk of catching coronavirus. In this case, other treatments that don’t involve spending time at the hospital may be safer for you until the risk has reduced.

Prostate cancer often grows slowly, so for many men, a delay or change to their treatment shouldn’t affect how well their treatment works in the long term. If tests show your cancer is more likely to grow quickly or spread, your doctor should make your treatment a priority so that you get the treatment you need without unnecessary delays.

If your doctor does need to delay or change your treatment at all, they will talk to you first to make sure you understand your options and why this is happening. Speak to your doctor if you have any concerns.

Your appointments and check-ups may happen over the phone so that you don’t have to go into the hospital or GP surgery. If you’re not sure whether to go to any planned appointments, contact your doctor or nurse to check.