Advanced Prostate Cancer Treatments Available in Canada
LEARN ABOUT TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR ADVANCED PROSTATE CANCER
There are many different treatment options for advanced prostate cancer. Not all treatment options are right for all patients. Talk with your healthcare provider for complete information on advanced prostate cancer and available treatment options.
As with all treatments, there are possible side effects.
Talk to your healthcare team to learn how to minimize and manage side
effects.
To download the content on androgen deprivation therapy most frequently used in Canada, click below.
Download AndrogenDeprivation Therapy Content
Advanced Prostate Cancer Pharmacological Treatments in Canada
(including Androgen Deprivation Therapy)
Given as a subcutaneous injection (under your skin)
Depending on dose strength, dosing schedule can be 2
injections per year (every 6 months), 3 injections per year
(every 4 months), 4 injections per year (every 3 months), or
12 injections per year (every month)
Injections are given using a 20-gauge needle (for monthly,
3-month, and 4-month doses) or an 18-gauge needle (for 6-month
dose)
Depending on dose strength, injection volume can be 0.25 to
0.5 mL
Given as an intramuscular injection (into your muscle)
Depending on
dose strength, dosing schedule can be 3 injections per year
(every 4 months), 4 injections per year (every 3 months), or
12 injections per year (every month)
Injections are
given using a 23-gauge needle (for 3-month, and 4-month doses)
Depending on
dose strength, injection volume can be 1 to 1.5 mL
Given as an intramuscular injection (into your muscle)
Depending on dose strength, dosing schedule can be 2
injections per year (every 6 months), 4 injections per year
(every 3 months), or 12 injections per year (every month)
Injections are given using a 21-gauge needle (for monthly,
3-month, and 6-month doses)
Injection volume is 2 mL
Given as a deep subcutaneous injection (under your skin) into
the anterior abdominal wall
Dosing schedule is 4 injections per year (every 3 months), or
12 injections per year (every month)
Injections are given using a 16-gauge needle
Given as a subcutaneous injection (under your skin) in the
abdominal region
Higher starting dose given as 2 separate injections
One month after the starting dose, dosing schedule is 12
injections per year (every month)
Injections are given using a 25-gauge needle (for starting and
monthly doses)
Depending on dose strength, injection volume can be 3 to 4 mL
Comes in tablet form taken orally
Higher starting dose given as 3 tablets on the first day
After first day, dosing schedule is 365 tablets per year (once
daily) as 1 tablet per dose
Taken with or without food at approximately the same time each
day
Comes in tablet form taken orally
Dosing schedule is 365 doses per year (once daily) as either 2
or 4 tablets per dose (depending on dose strength)
Must be taken on an empty stomach (no solid or liquid food
should be taken for 2 hours before and 1 hour after each dose)
Comes in tablet form taken orally
Dosing schedule is 365 doses per year (once daily) as 1 tablet
per dose
Taken with or without food
Comes in tablet form taken orally
Dosing schedule is 365 doses per year (once daily) as either 1
or 4 tablets per dose (depends on dose strength)
Taken with or without food
Comes in tablet form taken orally
Dosing schedule is 1095 doses per year (3 times daily) as 1
tablet per dose
Taken with or without food
Comes in tablet form taken orally
Dosing schedule is 730 doses per year (twice daily) as 2
tablets per dose
Should be taken with food at approximately the same times each
day
Comes in tablet form taken orally
Dosing schedule is 365 doses per year (once daily) as 4
tablets per dose
Taken with or without food
Given as an intravenous infusion (into your vein)
Dosing schedule is a 1-hour infusion every 3 weeks
Given as an intravenous infusion (into your vein)
Dosing schedule is a 1-hour infusion every 3 weeks
Comes in tablet form taken orally
Dosing schedule is 365 doses per year (once daily) as 2
tablets per dose
Must be taken on an empty stomach (no solid or liquid food
should be taken for 2 hours before and 1 hour after each dose)
at approximately the same time each day
Comes in tablet form taken orally
Dosing schedule is 730 doses per year (twice daily) as 2
tablets per dose
Taken with or without food
Given as an intravenous infusion (into your vein)
Dosing schedule is every 6 weeks for up to 6 doses
Given as an intravenous infusion (into your vein)
Dosing schedule is every 4 weeks for up to 6 doses
- Involves the use of a machine that emits targeted radiation at cancer cells
- Procedure may be multiple times per week (depends on individual treatment plan)
- Performed by a team of healthcare professionals with specialized roles
- Involves the placement of controlled radioactive materials inside or near a tumour
- Procedure may be multiple times per week, multiple times per month, or once for permanent placements (depends on individual treatment plan)
- Performed by an oncology physician
There are different types of surgery that your healthcare team will consider based on your cancer:
- Involves removal of the entire prostate gland and some tissues around it
- Typically a one-time procedure requiring hospital stay for 1–3 days
- Performed by a surgeon and healthcare team
- Involves removal of the inner part of the prostate gland through the urethra
- Typically a one-time procedure requiring hospital stay for 1–2 nights
- Performed by a surgeon and healthcare team
- Involves surgical removal of one or both testes
- Typically a one-time procedure with no hospital stay required
- Performed by a surgeon and healthcare team