Prostate cancer service

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK, with over 40,000 new cases diagnosed every year. 

The Royal Free London is part of the North Central London Cancer Alliance and we run a prostate cancer service from Royal Free Hospital, Barnet Hospital and Chase Farm Hospital. 

We also work closely with North Middlesex Hospital, a collaboration that leads to better services for local people.

The prostate cancer service provides radiotherapy at these four hospitals. 

As part of the University College London Hospital (UCLH) cancer centre, patients can receive treatment such as robotic surgery, focal cryotherapy (a treatment that uses extreme cold to destroy cancer cells) and high-dose brachytherapy (a type of radiotherapy where radiation is used to destroy cancer cells). 

If low-dose brachytherapy is needed, patients are referred to St Bartholomew’s Hospital.

Our urologists, oncologists and specialist nurses work as a team to ensure that patients receiving treatment at UCLH continue to have follow-ups at their local hospital.

For many men with prostate cancer, no treatment will be necessary. 

For men with low-volume, low-grade disease, they may be offered the option of active surveillance. Active surveillance will mean keeping an eye on the cancer and starting treatment only if the cancer shows signs of getting worse or causing symptoms.