Disclaimer

Although we take care to ensure accuracy, Macmillan Cancer Support does not accept liability for the information and materials provided or referenced in Ask an Expert or for any errors or omissions in them, or for third-party information or services such as other websites we may link to. The information and materials provided or referenced in Ask an Expert are for information purposes only and are not intended to be legal, financial or medical advice or opinions. If you need more details on your rights, please contact a financial, legal or other appropriate adviser.

We recommend that you consult your doctor if you are concerned about your health. Any You should not rely on any information and materials provided or referenced in Ask an Expert including by our Experts as they are not a replacement for advice, diagnosis or treatment from your medical team, and our Experts cannot provide a second opinion to that of your medical team.

Your question can be read by others – so please don't post your contact details or any other information that could personally identify you. Please read our Terms and Conditions and Community Guidelines for more details.

Hormone therapy vs surgery – what’s best for elderly low-risk prostate cancer?

Lana W
  • 1 reply
  • 43 subscribers
  • 210 views

Hello,

My father (78 years old) was recently diagnosed with stage 3 prostate cancer, with local spread to the seminal vesicles. He also has a history of heart problems, including a past heart attack.

Despite the fact that his cancer appears to be low-risk (Gleason score 6 and PSA of 5.3), doctors are strongly recommending radical prostatectomy.

My question is:
Can a patient in this situation choose hormone therapy alone instead of surgery, especially considering his age and cardiac history?

Thank you very much for any advice or shared experiences.

Best regards,

Alex

  • Dear Alex,

    Thanks for getting in touch. My name is Lindsey and I am one of the Cancer Information Nurse Specialists on the Macmillan Support Line.

    Thanks for contacting the online community about your father. It is important that you feel comfortable that he is getting treatment that is right for him.

    A Radical Prostatectomy is one of the treatments that can be used for locally advanced prostate cancer. Other treatments that can be used to treat prostate cancer include radiotherapy (external beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy), hormone therapy and watchful waiting.

    Your father has the right to receive care and treatment that is appropriate for him, meets his needs and reflects his preferences.

    He can talk his options through with his specialist nurse and consultant. It’s important that he understands which treatments are suitable for him and would be helpful to prepare questions to ask in advance. These could include asking:

    • Which treatment would be appropriate?
    • How effective would each treatment be?
    • What are the advantages and disadvantages of each treatment? Taking into account his heart history.

    I hope that this information is helpful. If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch again. We often find that we can help people more by talking to them directly. You can speak to one of our experienced cancer information nurses by calling our free helpline on 0808 808 00 00 or by Webchat seven days a week 8am – 8pm. You can also email us back and we aim to reply within two working days.

    Kind Regards,

    Lindsey

    Ref: Lrob/TT

Help us do whatever it takes, because we’ve never been needed more.

© Macmillan Cancer Support 2025 © Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604). Also operating in Northern Ireland. A company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales company number 2400969. Isle of Man company number 4694F. Registered office: 3rd Floor, Bronze Building, The Forge, 105 Sumner Street, London, SE1 9HZ. VAT no: 668265007