What does prostate cancer treatment in Turkey cost?
Prostate cancer treatment in Turkey costs between £4,800 and £13,000, depending on the technique used and the tests carried out on site. In the UK, it is generally covered by the NHS, so the cost is not usually the deciding factor[1].
| Prostate cancer treatment in Turkey | £4,800 - £13,000 |
Introduction
The prostate is a gland found only in men. About the size of a walnut in younger men, it sits below the bladder, just in front of the rectum.
This small gland plays a key role in the male reproductive system by producing part of the fluid contained in semen.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men. With more than 1.4 million new cases diagnosed in 2020[2], it is a genuine public health issue worldwide.
What is prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer is a malignant tumour that develops when abnormal cells in this gland begin to multiply uncontrollably.
Prostate cancer, which mainly affects older men, is rarely diagnosed in younger men.
Although this form of cancer often progresses slowly, and some men with the disease die of old age, more aggressive forms do exist. These spread quickly to other parts of the body, leading to metastatic prostate cancer.
What are the first symptoms of prostate cancer?
The early stages of prostate cancer generally cause no symptoms at all, which is why early detection matters.
A more advanced form, however, may cause several signs or symptoms, including:
- Difficulty urinating;
- Pain or a burning sensation when passing urine;
- Frequent need to urinate, especially at night;
- A feeling of not being able to empty the bladder fully;
- Blood in the urine or semen;
- Painful ejaculation;
- Pain or discomfort in the pelvic area;
- Weight loss.
These symptoms can also be caused by other, non-cancerous conditions. They may be linked to a simple urinary infection or to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is why it is important to see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis.
Read our guides on Parkinson’s disease treatment in Turkey, lung cancer treatment, and brain tumour treatment.
Prostate cancer screening in Turkey
A digital rectal examination is a routine, quick and painless test that allows the urologist to detect an abnormality in the shape or consistency of the prostate.
If there is any doubt, a blood test including a PSA level is carried out. This protein, produced by the prostate, can point to an abnormality in the organ when its level is abnormally high, whether or not the cause is cancer. In the UK, there is no national PSA screening programme; in the European ERSPC trial, PSA testing reduced deaths from this cancer by 13%, at the cost of a 30% higher incidence[4].
A multiparametric MRI (detailed magnetic resonance imaging of the prostate) may be performed to pinpoint suspicious areas more accurately before a prostate biopsy. The biopsy, sometimes carried out using a transrectal ultrasound (TRUS), involves taking samples of prostate tissue, which pathological examination then confirms or rules out the presence of cancer cells and determines their type.
Finally, further tests such as an MRI or a PET scan (positron emission tomography) help assess the stage and aggressiveness of the cancer detected.
What prostate cancer treatments are available in Turkey?
To offer patients with prostate cancer a complete care pathway, Turkey provides a wide range of modern medical technologies and approaches.
Prostate cancer treatment for each patient is decided on the basis of several criteria: the size of the tumour, its type and grade, and the patient’s overall state of health.
Here are the treatment options available in Turkey, some of which can be combined.
- Active surveillance: in some cases, prostate cancer detected early requires only close, regular monitoring (PSA levels and biopsies);
- Surgery (radical prostatectomy): this procedure, either retropubic (incision in the lower abdomen) or perineal (incision between the anus and the scrotum), possibly robot-assisted, aims to remove the prostate entirely. Other, less invasive surgical methods may be chosen, such as laparoscopic surgery (tiny incisions in the abdominal wall). Transurethral resection of the prostate, a partial removal of the inner part of the prostate through the urethra, without opening the skin, does not treat cancer: it relieves urinary discomfort, most often caused by benign enlargement.
- Radiotherapy: this treatment delivers high-energy radiation to destroy the cancer cells in the prostate. Radiotherapy is either external (standard radiotherapy) or internal (brachytherapy).
- Chemotherapy: anti-cancer drugs are given by intravenous injection or by mouth.
- Other drug treatments: hormone therapy, immunotherapy or other targeted therapies (radiopharmaceutical drugs such as lutetium 177 (177Lu-PSMA)) complete the fight against the disease;
- Cryotherapy: extremely low temperatures are used to destroy cancer cells;
- HIFU (high-intensity focused ultrasound): targeted ultrasound waves allow thermal ablation through a probe inserted into the rectum, with no incision.
Which is the most effective treatment for prostate cancer?
In localised cancer, no treatment has outperformed the others on survival. The ProtecT trial followed 1,643 men for 15 years: 3.1% died of this cancer under active surveillance, 2.2% after prostatectomy and 2.9% after radiotherapy, a difference that is not statistically significant[5].
What separates the options is progression: metastases appeared in 9.4% of the men under surveillance, against 4.7% after surgery and 5.0% after radiotherapy. At 15 years, 24.4% of the men under surveillance had never been treated[5]. The choice therefore comes down mainly to side effects, to be discussed before a medical trip to Turkey.
What are the side effects of prostate cancer treatment?
When prostate cancer grows beyond the original organ, it can cause pain, erection problems and even incontinence.
On top of this come side effects caused by the treatment or treatments used against the disease, such as surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
These side effects include:
- Pain (lower abdomen, tip of the penis), caused by the urinary catheter that drains urine while the tissue heals;
- Fatigue, caused by a drop in red blood cells;
- Difficulty maintaining an erection;
- Problems controlling urination, following nerve damage;
- Various types of pain, particularly in the bones or nerves at an advanced stage.
These symptoms call for tailored medical management to improve the patient’s quality of life.
What is recovery like after prostate cancer treatment?
A patient who has prostate surgery leaves hospital a few days after the procedure and gradually returns to normal activities, depending on the technique and how recovery goes.
Several weeks to several months are usually needed before the muscles of the urinary system work normally again.
Comprehensive, high-quality follow-up is essential to support a patient treated for prostate cancer, whether surgically or not.
Beyond post-treatment monitoring, which tracks how the disease progresses, detects any recurrence and manages side effects, this includes:
- Rehabilitation care (physiotherapy);
- Dietary consultations;
- Specialist medical care to manage side effects such as incontinence;
- Psychological support.
Why choose Turkey for prostate cancer treatment?
Choosing Turkey for medical tourism to have prostate cancer treatment means paying for care that is generally covered at home. The decision therefore does not rest on price, but on how the pathway is organised. Waiting times are the real difference between the two systems.
- The urology departments of Turkish hospitals and clinics are equipped, like the best Western institutions, with advanced technology. This includes HIFU technology.
- Several Turkish health institutions treat prostate cancer. Some are designated “centres of integrated oncology and palliative care” by ESMO (European Society for Medical Oncology)[6]. Some are accredited by OECI (Organisation of European Cancer Institutes).
- Many highly qualified oncology specialists using advanced therapeutic techniques care for these patients. Some doctors work with leading colleagues based abroad (United States, Germany…)
- Turkish hospitals are renowned for their multidisciplinary care, which is not only personalised and attentive but also fast.
- During a medical trip to Turkey, especially to Istanbul, set on the beautiful Bosphorus, international patients enjoy surroundings that support a good recovery.
Frequently asked questions about prostate cancer treatment
Does prostate embolisation cure prostate cancer?
No. Prostatic artery embolisation treats benign prostatic hyperplasia, not cancer. A Cochrane review rates it as similar to transurethral resection for urinary symptoms, with considerable uncertainty about complications[7].
What is the minimum stay in Turkey for prostate cancer treatment?
After a prostatectomy, the hospital stay lasts a few days. The total length of stay in Turkey depends on the treatment chosen and on any care needed before you return home, such as removal of the urinary catheter. It is decided with the medical team; a companion is recommended.
What is the life expectancy for prostate cancer?
In the United States, 5-year relative survival reaches 100% at localised and regional stages, but 37.9% at the metastatic stage[8]. In France, it is 93% across all stages[9]. Inflated by overdiagnosis, these figures are not cure rates.
What are the consequences of prostate removal?
In the ProtecT trial, 7 to 12 years after total removal of the prostate, 18% to 24% of the men were using pads for urinary incontinence, and only 18% had erections firm enough for intercourse at 7 years[10].
What causes prostate cancer?
Various factors increase the risk of prostate cancer, including older age, ethnic origin (Black men are more affected), obesity, inherited faulty genes, certain sexually transmitted infections, and a high level of the hormone IGF-1.
What are the different types of prostate cancer?
The vast majority of prostate cancers are adenocarcinomas, arising from the glandular cells. Other forms (small cell, carcinoid, sarcoma, urothelial, squamous) are rare. Prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) is a possible pre-cancerous lesion.
Sources & References
- Assurance Maladie. À quoi sert la prise en charge en affection de longue durée (ALD) exonérée ? Consulté le 26/09/2026. View the source
- Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel RL, et al. Global Cancer Statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN Estimates of Incidence and Mortality Worldwide for 36 Cancers in 185 Countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2021. View the source
- Haute Autorité de Santé. Détection précoce du cancer de la prostate. 2013. View the source
- Roobol MJ, de Vos II, Månsson M, et al. European Study of Prostate Cancer Screening, 23-Year Follow-up. N Engl J Med. 2025. View the source
- Hamdy FC, Donovan JL, Lane JA, et al. Fifteen-Year Outcomes after Monitoring, Surgery, or Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer. N Engl J Med. 2023. View the source
- European Society for Medical Oncology. ESMO Designated Centres of Integrated Oncology and Palliative Care. Consulté le 26/09/2026. View the source
- Jung JH, McCutcheon KA, Borofsky M, et al. Prostatic arterial embolisation for men with benign prostatic hyperplasia: a Cochrane review. BJU Int. 2022. View the source
- National Cancer Institute, programme SEER. Cancer Stat Facts: Prostate Cancer. Consulté le 26/09/2026. View the source
- Santé publique France. Survie des personnes atteintes de cancer en France métropolitaine 1989-2018 : prostate. 2020. View the source
- Donovan JL, Hamdy FC, Lane JA, et al. Patient-Reported Outcomes 12 Years after Localized Prostate Cancer Treatment. NEJM Evid. 2023. View the source
