Before choosing a treatment
A prostate cancer opinion is most useful when the specialist can review the PSA trend, biopsy/pathology report, MRI and relevant staging scans. For some patients, pathology review or updated imaging may be advised.
Possible treatment pathways
- Active surveillance for selected lower-risk cancers.
- Radical prostatectomy, including robot-assisted surgery, for appropriately selected localised disease.
- Radiation therapy with or without hormone therapy depending on risk category.
- Hormonal treatment, chemotherapy and newer systemic therapies for selected advanced cancers.
What to send for a prostate cancer opinion
Try to provide the PSA history rather than a single PSA value, the biopsy report and pathology details, prostate MRI and relevant staging scans, together with previous treatment records and a medication list. When available, the actual imaging and pathology material may be useful if the treating team recommends formal review.
Localised and advanced disease require different planning
For localised disease, the discussion may include active surveillance, radical prostatectomy and radiation depending on risk and patient factors. For higher-risk, recurrent or metastatic disease, treatment planning may involve urologic, radiation and medical oncology teams and combinations of local and systemic treatment. A patient should understand the stage and treatment objective before choosing a hospital or travelling.
If robotic prostatectomy is being considered
Ask why surgery is preferred in your particular case, whether lymph-node dissection is planned, what the team expects regarding catheterisation and recovery, and how urinary and sexual function will be discussed. Final pathology after surgery and subsequent PSA follow-up are also part of the treatment pathway, not an afterthought.
See the dedicated robotic prostatectomy in India guide.
Planning treatment as an international patient
Before booking travel, clarify whether further imaging, pathology review or consultations are likely to change the plan; obtain an estimated treatment schedule and hospital cost; and ask how long you should remain in India after treatment. There should also be a clear plan for pathology, PSA or oncology follow-up after returning home.
Questions to ask before deciding
- What is my cancer risk group and stage?
- What are the reasonable treatment options for this stage?
- What is the purpose of the proposed treatment: surveillance, cure or disease control?
- Which specialists should be involved in the decision?
- What important side effects and functional outcomes should I consider?
- What follow-up will be needed once I return home?
Real IndiaMedHealth experience
The current website documents multiple prostate cancer journeys from Kenya, including robotic radical prostatectomy at Medanta, radical prostatectomy at Artemis and multimodal treatment for advanced disease at Fortis Memorial Research Institute.