Whilst organisations around the world advocate for improved care for prostate cancer during September, Physiopedia volunteers are busy updating pages to reflect current guidelines on prostate cancer to help raise awareness and improve global access to current information when treating patients with prostate cancer.
September is a special month for Prostate Cancer. Policy makers, scientists, researchers, patient groups and healthcare professionals gathered in the European Parliament on 3 September to mark European Prostate Cancer Awareness Day and discuss better ways to improve patient care. September is also Awareness Month for the American Association for Cancer Research and ZERO Prostate Cancer.
Prostate cancer remains one of the most common cancers affecting men globally, with one in seven men reported to have prostate cancer at some point in their lives. Men of older age and lower income, men with a family history of prostate cancer and men of African-American descent may be at greater risk. Global trends show that by 2040, new prostate cancer cases will increase to 2.9 million compared to 1.4 million in 2020.
The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system, and prostate cancer affects the cells of this gland. When prostate cancer begins, it may have no specific symptoms that can alert people to look for appropriate management, and other conditions sometimes mimic prostate cancer symptoms. Screening for prostate cancer raises the likelihood of catching the disease before it spreads and may lead to better quality of life and survival rates. Early detection usually starts with a blood test to detect elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and a digital rectal examination. Other examinations and therapeutic modalities may follow along the disease path and these management strategies may vary depending on each country’s policies. This variation is also evident in guideline recommendations for prostate cancer management worldwide according to a recent study.
Although diagnosis of prostate cancer has improved, more men are dying of this condition – especially in low-to-middle income areas, reinforcing the need to address accessibility disparities to prostate cancer care in these settings. A 2025 policy report from the Global Action on Men’s Health warns that prostate cancer is not adequately addressed in national and global cancer policies and urges for a coordinated global response and focused action. Urgent and radical interventions are required, and education of the public and health professionals is key to increasing awareness on prostate health and disease. This has significant implications for all healthcare professionals managing patients with prostate cancer who are dealing with the consequences of this condition and its treatment side-effects.
Following release of the latest guideline updates (including the European Prostate Cancer (PCa) Guidelines Panel document – Guidelines on Prostate Cancer), Physiopedia’s volunteer team has been incorporating the latest evidence to ensure rehabilitation professionals worldwide have access to current information when managing patients with prostate cancer. The main Prostate Cancer page includes guideline updates that reflect current best practice, which is particularly relevant to physiotherapists working in oncology rehabilitation, as understanding the broader clinical context helps inform treatment planning and improve holistic and personalised care. By supporting function and addressing individual health concerns and problems, physiotherapists play a significant role in the health and disease journey of patients with prostate cancer.
Men with prostate cancer may present with pain, post-surgical complications, treatment-related fatigue and deconditioning, pelvic floor dysfunction, anxiety and a threat to their previously established male personal identity. Knowledge of the broader clinical context including when and why certain treatments are indicated and how patients are impacted by these treatments may help clinicians manage these concerns by providing accurate information, effective treatment options and promoting better interdisciplinary communication. Management of prostate cancer is complex and multidisciplinary and physiotherapy plays an important role. Understanding physiotherapy assessment after prostate cancer is an important first step when aiming at successful and comprehensive physiotherapy treatment after prostate cancer. For clinicians seeking comprehensive information about prostate cancer and its rehabilitation implications, these updated pages provide a valuable starting point. Special attention was paid to integrating recommendations with practical rehabilitation considerations to create a resource that serves both novice and experienced practitioners in delivering evidence-informed care to men affected by prostate cancer.
These updated Physiopedia resources support addressing global healthcare disparities in prostate cancer care by ensuring rehabilitation professionals worldwide have access to current, evidence-based information. By bridging the gap between clinical guidelines and practical rehabilitation applications, these resources empower physiotherapists to deliver more informed, comprehensive care to the growing number of men affected by this condition.
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