You've heard it so many times: "It's important to talk to your doctor..." But there is evidence for why doing exactly that could have a positive impact on you.

Taking an active role in your treatment decisions can have genuine benefits for your health. Speaking up helps your medical team know what’s most important to YOU so they can tailor how they approach your care.

Some people think that because medical teams have lots of expertise and experience, you should solely leave decision-making to them. But that’s not true. Many medical teams prefer shared decision-making, where their patients are involved in making decisions. Sometimes speaking up can impact the options they provide to you because they now understand what’s most important to you.

Stress is a common feeling for people with cancer, and it’s OK to have bad days. But studies show that adopting a positive attitude and getting help when you’re feeling worried or hopeless is an important part of cancer care.

Choosing to take an active role can inspire a positive frame of mind, which may have its own health benefits. It can also help you become more focused on your health decisions.

Being an engaged patient doesn’t have to be “all or nothing.” Small steps can make a big difference. Here are a few places you can start:

1. Come prepared with a list of questions for your care team. It is easy to forget what you wanted to ask at your appointment, so write everything down and keep it handy.

2. Talk about how you feel. It’s OK to bring up any mental, social, or spiritual concerns you have. Your care team is often able, and more than willing, to help.

3. Join a support group. Many people find support groups helpful because they provide the opportunity to talk with others who are going through, or have been through, similar experiences.

4. Read up about your condition. It has been shown that patients with a better understanding of their cancer experience less stress, more confidence in making decisions, and even improved outcomes.

Metastatic prostate cancer can be treated several ways. Hormone therapy is often combined with other therapies to help increase their effectiveness. Finding the right treatment for you is important, and some men want "the experts" to make these decisions. But your health care team wants your input—YOU are the expert on YOU!

Taking an active role in your care can help you:

• Understand the pros and cons of each treatment option

• Know what to expect from each treatment

• Inform your health care team about your preferences and needs so they are taken into consideration as part of your treatment plan

Referenced with permission from the NCCN Guidelines for Patients® for Advanced-Staged Prostate Cancer, 2026. ©National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. 2026. All rights reserved. Accessed March 13, 2026. To view the most recent and complete version of the NCCN Guidelines for Patients, go online to https://www.nccn.org/patientresources/patient-resources/guidelines-for-patients ↗

NCCN makes no warranties of any kind whatsoever regarding their content, use or application and disclaims any responsibility for their application or use in any way.