Prostate Cancer Treatment Abroad: Advanced Options That Protect Your Quality of Life

Prostate cancer is one of the most treatable cancers in the world, and the standard of care available to patients today is significantly more advanced than it was even a decade ago.

A range of highly effective procedures now exists that are designed specifically to eliminate cancer while protecting sexual function, urinary control and overall quality of life. These are clinically proven options that combine precision, safety and strong long term outcomes.

For prostate cancer patients seeking the most advanced care, the best treatment is increasingly found beyond the borders of their home country.

World class cancer centres in Singapore, India, Turkey, South Korea, the UAE, Malaysia, Thailand and China deliver these procedures at high volume, with specialist multidisciplinary teams and technologies that represent the current global standard of excellence in oncology.

In most cases, treatment at these internationally accredited centres costs significantly less than equivalent private care at home, with shorter waiting times and a dedicated, personalised patient experience from the initial consultation through to follow up.

This guide covers the full range of advanced prostate cancer treatments available to international patients, the destinations best equipped to deliver them, and how to make a well informed decision about your care.

Speak to a My1Health patient support specialist today.

Why International Patients Choose Advanced Prostate Cancer Treatment Abroad

Prostate cancer is among the most successfully treated cancers when the right procedure is applied at the right stage by an experienced specialist team.

For a significant number of patients, however, access to that treatment requires looking internationally.

The most advanced procedures are not uniformly available across all healthcare systems, and where they are available, waiting periods or private costs can make timely, accessible care difficult to secure.

Prostate cancer patients who travel internationally for treatment typically do so for one or more of the following reasons:

• Their public health system carries a waiting period of several months, and their diagnosis calls for timely intervention rather than a prolonged delay.
• They have received a recommendation for standard surgical treatment and wish to explore less invasive alternatives that carry lower risk to function and quality of life.
• The cost of private treatment in their home country is prohibitive, and internationally accredited centres offer the same or higher standard of care at a substantially lower cost.
• They require a specific technology such as proton therapy, NanoKnife or focal HIFU that is not yet available at their local hospital.
• Their diagnosis is localised and low to intermediate risk, and they prefer a focal treatment approach that addresses only the affected area of the prostate rather than the entire gland.

My1Health partner hospitals treat prostate cancer at significant volume, with dedicated multidisciplinary oncology teams, internationally trained surgeons and facilities built to the current global standard.

These hospitals are internationally accredited, ensuring care quality and patient safety. They operate dedicated international patient units that manage every aspect of the patient journey, from pre-treatment coordination through to post discharge follow up.

Speak with a My1Health specialist to explore advanced prostate cancer treatment options abroad.

Advanced Prostate Cancer Treatments Available to International Patients

The treatments outlined below represent the current standard of specialist prostate cancer care across My1Health's partner hospital network.

Each has been selected on the basis of clinical effectiveness, quality of life outcomes and suitability for international patients.

The most appropriate option for each patient is determined by diagnosis, cancer stage, individual health profile and treatment preference, and is confirmed by the treating specialist team at the chosen centre.

HIFU Treatment for Localised Prostate Cancer

HIFU is among the most advanced non-invasive treatments available for localised prostate cancer.

Precisely focused sound waves target and destroy cancer cells with exceptional accuracy, leaving surrounding tissue largely undisturbed.

The procedure involves no incisions and no radiation, and the majority of patients are discharged the same day or the following morning.

HIFU delivers its strongest outcomes when applied as focal therapy, a technique that treats only the specific area of the prostate in which cancer has been identified rather than the whole gland.

This targeted approach is associated with a markedly lower rate of side effects and consistently high rates of functional preservation. HIFU is available at My1Health partner hospitals in Singapore, South Korea, India, Malaysia, Turkey and Thailand.

Proton Therapy for Precision Radiation Treatment

Proton therapy is a precision radiation treatment that directs a concentrated beam of protons to the tumour site, releasing the majority of its energy at the point of the target and minimising the dose delivered to surrounding healthy tissue, including the bladder, rectum and the nerve structures relevant to sexual function.

This makes it one of the most tissue sparing radiation based options available for prostate cancer. Proton therapy is particularly well suited to patients with localised or locally advanced disease who prefer a non-surgical approach, and to cases in which the precise location of the tumour makes standard radiation techniques less appropriate.

Proton therapy is available at a limited number of highly specialised centres globally. My1Health partner facilities offering this treatment include Apollo Proton Cancer Centre in Chennai and Samsung Medical Centre in South Korea.

NanoKnife Treatment for Focal Prostate Cancer

NanoKnife is one of the most targeted focal treatments in contemporary prostate cancer care.

Controlled electrical pulses are used to disrupt and destroy cancer cells at the membrane level, without generating heat and without affecting the blood vessels, nerves and soft tissue that surround the treatment area.

This precision is of particular clinical significance for tumours located close to the neurovascular bundle, the structure primarily responsible for erectile function.

NanoKnife remains unavailable at most hospitals worldwide, and internationally accredited centres that offer the procedure attract patients specifically because of this capability. My1Health partner hospitals in South Korea provide access to NanoKnife for appropriate candidates.

Robotic Prostate Surgery Using the da Vinci System

Robotic assisted prostatectomy using the da Vinci surgical system represents the most advanced form of surgical prostate cancer treatment currently available.

The system provides the operating surgeon with a high definition, three dimensional view of the operative field and enables instrument movements of a precision that exceeds the natural range of the human hand.

When performed using nerve sparing technique, the procedure aims to preserve the bilateral nerve bundles on either side of the prostate while achieving complete oncological clearance.

At high volume international centres, outcomes from nerve sparing robotic prostatectomy are consistently strong. Hospital stays are shorter, post operative recovery is faster and urinary continence is typically regained within weeks to a few months of the procedure.

Robotic prostatectomy is available at My1Health partner hospitals in Singapore, India, Turkey, South Korea, the UAE, Malaysia and Thailand.

Laparoscopic Prostate Surgery: Minimally Invasive Treatment

Laparoscopic prostatectomy is a minimally invasive keyhole procedure for the surgical removal of the prostate, performed through small incisions using a camera and specialised instruments.

Compared to open surgery, it results in significantly reduced blood loss, a shorter hospital stay and a faster overall recovery.

When performed by an experienced surgeon using nerve sparing technique, functional outcomes are clinically comparable to those achieved with robotic surgery.

Laparoscopic prostatectomy is available across My1Health's international hospital network and is particularly well suited to patients seeking surgical treatment at a more accessible cost point.

IMRT and SBRT Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer

Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) and Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) represent the current standard in radiation based prostate cancer treatment.

Both techniques deliver precisely shaped radiation beams that conform to the contours of the prostate, maximising the therapeutic dose to the tumour while substantially reducing radiation exposure to the surrounding bladder and rectum.

SBRT, also known as CyberKnife or SABR, is particularly efficient. A complete course of treatment is delivered in five sessions, compared to 35 or more with conventional radiotherapy.

For patients who wish to avoid surgery and minimise treatment related side effects, modern precision radiotherapy is a clinically robust and well evidenced option. IMRT and SBRT are available at My1Health partner hospitals across all major destination countries.

Clinical outcomes vary according to the stage and grade of the cancer, the patient's baseline health and the experience of the treating team. This comparison is intended as a reference guide. Your My1Health patient support specialist will help you understand which options are appropriate for your specific diagnosis.

Best Countries for Prostate Cancer Treatment Abroad: My1Health Partner Hospitals

My1Health's partner hospital network has been built on a single principle: every centre must demonstrate the clinical expertise, technology infrastructure and international patient experience required to deliver advanced prostate cancer care to the standard our patients deserve.

From non-invasive focal treatments to precision robotic surgery and high technology radiation therapy, the full range of specialist options is covered within the network.

The right destination for each patient is shaped by their treatment recommendation, the country they are travelling from, their budget and their personal priorities for care.

The summary below reflects what each destination offers:

For a detailed country by country comparison covering clinical strengths, treatment costs and what the international patient experience looks like at each destination, read: Best Countries for Prostate Cancer Treatment Abroad: Singapore, Turkey, India and South Korea Compared.

Compare the best hospitals abroad for prostate cancer treatment.

How My1Health Supports International Prostate Cancer Patients

My1Health has supported patients through some of the most demanding medical journeys, and that experience underpins the quality of support provided to every prostate cancer patient in the network.

The My1Health model is built around continuity of care and personal accountability. From the moment a patient makes contact, they are assigned a dedicated patient support specialist whose responsibility is to remain with them throughout the entire process, from initial enquiry to post treatment follow up at home.

The support provided includes:

1. A thorough initial review of the patient's diagnosis, treatment preferences and personal priorities, conducted before any hospital recommendations are made.
2. A personalised assessment of the most appropriate centres within the My1Health network for the patient's specific case, with a clear rationale provided for each recommendation.
3. Full coordination of pretravel consultations with the chosen hospital, travel and accommodation arrangements, and all in country logistics ahead of departure.
4. On arrival reception by the hospital's dedicated international patient team, who manage the full treatment pathway from admission through to discharge, with the My1Health patient support specialist remaining in continuous contact.
5. Post discharge coordination of follow up care, liaison with the patient's home country physician as required, and continued availability of the patient support specialist for any questions or concerns after the return home.

Continue Reading

Compare destinations in depth:

Best Countries for Prostate Cancer Treatment Abroad: Singapore, Turkey, India and South Korea Compared

Prostate cancer treatment in Singapore:

Prostate Cancer Treatment in Singapore: Hospitals, Robotic Surgery and Proton Therapy for International Patients

Proton therapy in India at Apollo Proton Cancer Centre:

Prostate Cancer and Proton Therapy at Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, Chennai

Prostate cancer surgery in Turkey:

Prostate Cancer Surgery in Turkey: Robotic Treatment, Costs and What UK and European Patients Need to Know