Localised prostate cancer
What is localised prostate cancer?
Localised prostate cancer is cancer that’s inside the prostate and hasn’t spread to other parts of the body. You may also hear it called early or organ-confined prostate cancer, or stage T1 or T2 prostate cancer.
Most localised prostate cancer grows slowly – or doesn’t grow at all – and has a low risk of spreading. So it may never cause you any problems or affect how long you live. Because of this, localised prostate cancer might not need treatment. You might be able to have your cancer monitored with regular check-ups instead. This is to make sure the cancer isn’t growing more quickly than expected.
But some men will have cancer that grows quickly and has a high risk of spreading. This is more likely to cause problems and needs treatment to stop it spreading outside the prostate.

Localised prostate cancer fact sheet
This fact sheet is for anyone who had been diagnosed with localised prostate cancer.
What do my test results mean?
Your results will help your doctor understand how quickly your cancer might grow and whether it has spread. This will help you and your doctor to discuss what treatments might be suitable for you.
Read more about what your test results might mean.
What are my treatment options?
Most localised prostate cancer often grows slowly and might not need treatment. You may be able to have your cancer monitored with regular check-ups instead. If you decide to have treatment, it will usually aim to get rid of the cancer.
The two ways of monitoring localised prostate cancer are:
The main treatments for localised prostate cancer are:
- surgery (radical prostatectomy)
- external beam radiotherapy
- high dose-rate brachytherapy
- permanent seed brachytherapy.
You might also be offered high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) or cryotherapy, but they are less common.
Your doctor or nurse will talk you through your treatment options and help you choose the right type of monitoring or treatment for you. You might not be able to have all of the treatments listed. There’s no overall best treatment for localised prostate cancer, and each one has its own advantages and disadvantages. Read more about choosing a treatment.
What will happen after my treatment?
You will have regular check-ups during and after your treatment to check how well it is working. You may hear them called follow-up appointments. You’ll have regular PSA blood tests – ask the people treating you how often you’ll have these. If your PSA level goes down this usually suggests your treatment is working.
Tell your doctor or nurse about any side effects you’re getting. There are usually ways to manage side effects.
Make sure you have the details of someone to contact if you have any questions or concerns between check-ups. This might be your specialist nurse or key worker. You can also speak to our Specialist Nurses.
Read more about follow-up after prostate cancer treatments.
What is my outlook?
Many men will want to know how successful their treatment is likely to be. This is sometimes called your outlook or prognosis. No one can tell you exactly what will happen, as it will depend on many things, such as the stage of your prostate cancer and how quickly it might grow, your CPG (Cambridge Prognostic Group) your age, and any other health problems. Speak to your doctor about your own situation.
Most localised prostate cancer is slow-growing and may not need treatment or shorten a man’s life. For many men who have treatment for localised prostate cancer, the treatment will get rid of the cancer. For some men, treatment may be less successful and the cancer may come back. If this happens, you might need further treatment.
For more information about the outlook for men with prostate cancer, visit Cancer Research UK. The figures they provide are a general guide and they cannot tell you exactly what will happen to you. Speak to your doctor or nurse about your own situation.
Where can I get support?
Being diagnosed with any kind of prostate cancer can be frightening and overwhelming. No matter what you’re feeling or thinking, there is support available if you want it. You can speak to our Specialist Nurses, in confidence or chat with them online. Our Dealing with prostate cancer page looks at things you can do to help yourself and people who can help.
Visit our wellbeing hub for information to help support you in looking after your emotional, mental, and physical wellbeing. If you are close to someone with prostate cancer, find out more about how you can support someone with prostate cancer and where to get more information.
Questions to ask your doctor or nurse
- What is my Gleason score?
- What is the stage of my cancer?
- What treatments are suitable for me?
- Could my cancer be monitored instead?
- How quickly do I need to make a decision?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of each treatment?
- What are the side effects?
- How effective is my treatment likely to be?
- What is the risk of my cancer coming back after treatment?
- Can I see the results of treatments you’ve carried out?
- Can I get copies of all my test results and letters about my treatment?
- Are all of the treatments available at my local hospital?
- If not, how could I have them?
- Can I join any clinical trials?
- If I have any questions or get any new symptoms, who should I contact?
References
Updated: May 2022|To be reviewed: May 2023
- Ahmed HU, El-Shater Bosaily A, Brown LC, Gabe R, Kaplan R, Parmar MK, et al. Diagnostic accuracy of multi-parametric MRI and TRUS biopsy in prostate cancer (PROMIS): a paired validating confirmatory study. The Lancet. 2017 Jan;
- Albertsen PC, Hanley JA, Fine J. 20-year outcomes following conservative management of clinically localized prostate cancer. Jama. 2005;293(17):2095–101.
- Allott EH, Masko EM, Freedland SJ. Obesity and Prostate Cancer: Weighing the Evidence. Eur Urol. 2013 May;63(5):800–9.
- Berney DM. The case for modifying the Gleason grading system. BJU Int. 2007;100(4):725–6.
- Cao Y, Ma J. Body Mass Index, Prostate Cancer-Specific Mortality, and Biochemical Recurrence: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Cancer Prev Res (Phila Pa). 2011 Jan 13;4(4):486–501.
- Discacciati A, Orsini N, Wolk A. Body mass index and incidence of localized and advanced prostate cancer--a dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies. Ann Oncol. 2012 Jan 6;23(7):1665–71.
- Epstein JI, Egevad L, Amin MB, Delahunt B, Srigley JR, Humphrey PA, et al. The 2014 International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) consensus conference on Gleason grading of prostatic carcinoma: definition of grading patterns and proposal for a new grading system. Am J Surg Pathol. 2016;40(2):244–52.
- General Medical Council. Good medical practice [Internet]. General Medical Council; 2014. Available from: https://www.gmc-uk.org/ethical-guidance/ethical-guidance-for-doctors/good-medical-practice#
- Gerdtsson A, Poon JB, Thorek DL, Mucci LA, Evans MJ, Scardino P, et al. Anthropometric Measures at Multiple Times Throughout Life and Prostate Cancer Diagnosis, Metastasis, and Death. Eur Urol. 2015 Dec;68(6):1076–82.
- Hamdy FC, Donovan JL, Lane JA, Mason M, Metcalfe C, Holding P, et al. 10-Year Outcomes after Monitoring, Surgery, or Radiotherapy for Localized Prostate Cancer. N Engl J Med. 2016 Sep 14;
- Hegarty J, Walsh E, Harry Comber, Tony Fitzgerald, Kazer MW. Radical prostatectomy versus watchful waiting for prostate cancer. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010;
- Ho T, Gerber L, Aronson WJ, Terris MK, Presti JC, Kane CJ, et al. Obesity, Prostate-Specific Antigen Nadir, and Biochemical Recurrence After Radical Prostatectomy: Biology or Technique? Results from the SEARCH Database. Eur Urol. 2012 Nov;62(5):910–6.
- Hu MB, Xu H, Bai PD, Jiang HW, Ding Q. Obesity has multifaceted impact on biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer: a dose-response meta-analysis of 36,927 patients. Med Oncol Northwood Lond Engl. 2014 Feb;31(2):829.
- Husson O, Mols F, Poll-Franse LV van de. The relation between information provision and health-related quality of life, anxiety and depression among cancer survivors: a systematic review. Ann Oncol. 2010 Sep 24;mdq413.
- Keto CJ, Aronson WJ, Terris MK, Presti JC, Kane CJ, Amling CL, et al. Obesity is associated with castration-resistant disease and metastasis in men treated with androgen deprivation therapy after radical prostatectomy: results from the SEARCH database. BJU Int. 2011;110(4):492–8.
- Moch H, Cubilla A, Humphrey P, Reuter V, Ulbright T. The 2016 WHO Classification of Tumours of the Urinary System and Male Genital Organs—Part B: Prostate and BladderTumours [Internet]. 2016. Available from: http://www.europeanurology.com/article/S0302-2838%2816%2900205-0/abstract/the-2016-who-classification-of-tumours-of-the-urinary-system-and-male-genital-organs-part-b-prostate-and-bladder-tumours
- Mohamad H, McNeill G, Haseen F, N’Dow J, Craig LCA, Heys SD. The Effect of Dietary and Exercise Interventions on Body Weight in Prostate Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review. Nutr Cancer. 2015 Jan 2;67(1):43–60.
- Mottet N, Cornford P, van der Bergh RCN. EAU Guidelines on Prostate Cancer. European Association of Urology; 2022.
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Low dose rate brachytherapy for localised prostate cancer. Interventional procedure guidance 132. 2005.
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Patient experience in adult NHS services: improving the experience of care for people using adult NHS services. 2021.
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Prostate cancer: diagnosis and management. 2021.
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Prostate Cancer: diagnosis and treatment. Full guideline 175. 2014.
- National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. High dose rate brachytherapy in combination with external-beam radiotherapy for localised prostate cancer. Interventional procedure guidance 174. 2006;
- Public Health England. Prostate cancer risk management programme (PCRMP): benefits and risks of PSA testing [Internet]. GOV.UK; 2016. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prostate-cancer-risk-management-programme-psa-test-benefits-and-risks/prostate-cancer-risk-management-programme-pcrmp-benefits-and-risks-of-psa-testing
- Ruane-McAteer E, Porter S, O’sullivan JM, Santin O, Prue G. Active surveillance for favorable-risk prostate cancer: Is there a greater psychological impact than previously thought? A systematic, mixed studies literature review. Psychooncology. 2017;26(10):1411–21.
- Wang LS, Murphy CT, Ruth K, Zaorsky NG, Smaldone MC, Sobczak ML, et al. Impact of obesity on outcomes after definitive dose-escalated intensity-modulated radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer. Cancer. 2015 Sep 1;121(17):3010–7.
- World Cancer Research Fund International. Continuous Update Project report: Diet, Nutrition, Physical Activity and Prostate Cancer [Internet]. 2014. Available from: www.wcrf.org/sites/default/files/Prostate-Cancer-2014-Report.pdf
This publication has been reviewed for accuracy and updated by:
- Our Health Information team
- Our Specialist Nurses.