8 Prostate Cancer Books That Deliver Trusted Insights

Recommended by Patrick C. Walsh MD and Janet Farrar Worthington, these prostate cancer books offer expert guidance and patient-centered knowledge.

Updated on June 28, 2025
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What if you could navigate prostate cancer with clarity and confidence? Despite being one of the most common cancers among men, prostate cancer remains a source of confusion and fear for many. Understanding this disease deeply can make all the difference in managing treatment and quality of life.

Patrick C. Walsh, MD, a distinguished professor of urology at Johns Hopkins, revolutionized prostate cancer surgery and has authored one of the most detailed guides on the subject. Alongside medical writer Janet Farrar Worthington, his work unfolds the biology, diagnosis, and treatment options with exceptional clarity. Meanwhile, advocates like Gogs Gagnon, whose personal experience shaped his writing, bring invaluable patient perspectives to the conversation.

While these expert-curated books provide proven frameworks, readers seeking content tailored to their specific diagnosis stage, lifestyle, or treatment preferences might consider creating a personalized Prostate Cancer book that builds on these insights. This approach helps bridge expert knowledge with your unique journey.

Best for comprehensive, expert-backed guidance
Publisher's Weekly, a respected authority in medical publishing, highlights this guide's detailed explanations starting with the prostate's function and the disease's prevalence in various populations. Their review notes the book's clarity on causes, symptoms, and diagnostic procedures, alongside helpful diagrams and charts. This expert found the inclusion of practical biopsy preparation tips especially useful, underscoring the book's approachable depth. As they put it, "one of the best all-inclusive books on this subject." Such comprehensive coverage makes this book a valuable companion for men facing prostate cancer and those supporting them. Additionally, Booklist praises the authors' authoritative yet reader-friendly voice, noting the updated insights on detection and treatment that reflect the latest advances, reinforcing why this guide remains a key resource.

Recommended by Publisher's Weekly

Walsh, professor of urology at Johns Hopkins University, and Worthington, a medical writer, offer a thorough guide to one of the most frightening diseases for men. Starting with an explanation of how the prostate works surprisingly, it's not an essential organ Walsh then discusses why prostate cancer is prevalent in the U.S. and other developed Western countries, but not in Asia. He also details the reasons men develop prostate cancer, including age, race, family history, and diet. The book describes a variety of symptoms, some of which indicate ailments other than cancer, and what steps should be taken to get a proper diagnosis. Complete with diagrams and charts detailing the results of biopsy, the book provides an exceptionally complete (albeit worrisome, for squeamish readers) overview of the disease. Many of these details not taking aspirin prior to a biopsy, taking antibiotics ahead of time should obviously be included in the information doctors routinely provide to patients, but given the state of today's medical system, having such information available in this ready guide is useful and reassuring. Similarly comprehensive and easy-to-understand explanations are provided for surgical and other types of treatment, side effects, postsurgical complications and more, as well as a glossary of medical terms, along with a brief resource section. While people shouldn't use this book as a substitute for a medical check-up, it is one of the best all-inclusive books on this subject. All men and their loved ones battling or concerned about prostate cancer should read this book. (from Amazon)

Dr. Patrick Walsh's Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer book cover

by Patrick C. Walsh MD MD, Janet Farrar Worthington, Edward M Schaeffer MD PhD··You?

Unlike most prostate cancer books that focus narrowly on treatment, Dr. Patrick Walsh's guide offers a thorough exploration from causes to post-treatment life. You gain insight into genetic risks, lifestyle impacts like diet and exercise, and evolving diagnostic tools, including genetic testing and imaging advances. The authors address diverse patient needs, including high-risk groups and LGBTQ+ communities, making it a nuanced resource for men facing this diagnosis and their support networks. For example, chapters on managing side effects and caregiver support provide practical understanding beyond medical facts. This book suits those seeking a grounded, detailed perspective rather than a quick overview.

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Best for patients navigating treatment choices
Mark Scholz, a double board-certified medical oncologist and medical director of Prostate Oncology Specialists Inc., draws on his extensive clinical experience in prostate cancer to write this revised guide. His expertise ensures readers access to the latest, evidence-based strategies for managing prostate cancer with a focus on preserving quality of life. Scholz’s collaboration with patient Ralph H. Blum adds a nuanced perspective that helps demystify treatment options for men and their families facing this diagnosis.
2021·192 pages·Prostate Cancer, Prostate Disease, Patient Care, Treatment Options, Active Surveillance

Mark Scholz, a double board-certified medical oncologist, brings decades of focused prostate cancer expertise to this revised edition, co-authored with patient Ralph H. Blum, whose personal journey adds depth to the narrative. You’ll learn about the risks of overtreatment common in prostate cancer care, and why active surveillance can be a safer initial strategy for many men. The book discusses interpreting PSA levels accurately and navigates complex decisions around surgery, radiation, and lifestyle modifications. It's particularly suited for patients and families seeking clarity amid conflicting treatment options and aiming to preserve quality of life.

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Best for personalized treatment plans
This AI-created book on prostate cancer mastery is tailored to your specific diagnosis stage, lifestyle, and learning goals. You share your background, experience, and what you want to focus on, and the book is created to meet those needs. This personalized approach helps you cut through the overwhelming information and zero in on what really matters for your unique situation. It’s like having expert knowledge shaped just for your journey with prostate cancer.
2025·50-300 pages·Prostate Cancer, Diagnosis, Treatment Options, Cancer Staging, Side Effects

This tailored book on prostate cancer mastery offers a deeply personalized exploration of the disease, designed to match your unique background and specific goals. It covers all aspects from diagnosis and staging to treatment options and lifestyle considerations, ensuring that your learning journey aligns closely with your interests and current knowledge. By focusing on your particular stage and lifestyle, this book reveals how to navigate the complex landscape of prostate cancer with clarity and confidence. Combining expert medical insights with a custom approach, it examines the nuances of managing side effects, monitoring progression, and making informed decisions. This personalized guide enriches your understanding while supporting your individual path through prostate cancer care and well-being.

Tailored Guide
Personalized Care Insights
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for stage-specific treatment insights
Mark Scholz, MD, is the medical director of Prostate Oncology Specialists and executive director of the Prostate Cancer Research Institute. With medical training from Creighton University and USC Medical Center, and author of over 20 scientific publications on prostate cancer, he is deeply committed to patient empowerment. His book synthesizes expert perspectives into a stage-specific guide, designed to help you understand your diagnosis and treatment choices with clarity and confidence.
2018·492 pages·Prostate Cancer, Prostate Disease, Patient Education, Staging, Treatment Options

Drawing from decades of experience treating prostate cancer, Dr. Mark Scholz offers a detailed guide that helps you navigate the often overwhelming treatment landscape by focusing on the specific stage of your cancer. The book’s unique staging quiz directs you to exactly the sections relevant to your diagnosis, avoiding unnecessary information overload. With insights from 30 experts, it covers everything from PSA and Gleason scoring to lifestyle factors that impact outcomes, making it a practical companion for patients wanting informed discussions with their doctors. If you’re looking for a resource that balances clinical detail with personalized guidance, this book provides a clear pathway through complex choices.

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Robert J. Marckini is a prostate cancer survivor and advocate who has devoted himself to educating men about their treatment choices. His firsthand experience and extensive research culminate in this guide that clarifies complex treatment options and highlights the benefits of proton therapy, offering you a trustworthy resource to take control of your prostate cancer journey.
2019·382 pages·Prostate Cancer, Prostate Disease, Treatment Options, Proton Therapy, Patient Advocacy

During his personal battle with prostate cancer, Robert Marckini discovered the challenges men face when choosing treatment paths. This book guides you through various options, explaining complex medical information in understandable terms, and highlights proton therapy as a non-invasive alternative that often preserves quality of life better than surgery or radiation. You’ll find detailed discussions on the latest imaging and diagnostics, plus ten practical steps to actively manage your diagnosis and treatment decisions. It’s especially helpful if you want to explore treatments beyond surgery and are seeking clarity amid overwhelming medical jargon.

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Best for clear answers to common concerns
Pamela Ellsworth, MD, Professor of Urology at University of Central Florida College of Medicine and Chief of Pediatric Urology at Nemours Children’s Hospital, brings her authoritative voice to this guide. Her extensive lecturing experience and authorship of numerous urology patient guides underpin the book's practical approach to prostate cancer. Ellsworth's expertise ensures that you receive reliable, accessible information that addresses both medical facts and patient experiences, making it a valuable companion during a challenging time.
2018·252 pages·Prostate Cancer, Prostate Disease, Patient Education, Treatment Options, Support Resources

Pamela Ellsworth, MD, leverages her extensive academic and clinical experience as a Professor of Urology to offer a clear and balanced resource in this fifth edition. The book tackles common yet pressing questions about prostate cancer, including diagnosis explanations, treatment choices, and coping mechanisms, integrating both medical insights and patient perspectives. You'll find detailed discussions on what to expect after diagnosis, supported by real patient stories that illuminate day-to-day realities. This book suits those newly facing prostate cancer and their caregivers, providing a grounded understanding without overwhelming medical jargon or assumptions.

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Best for rapid decision plans
This personalized AI book about prostate cancer is created based on your unique diagnosis stage, background, and treatment interests. Using AI, it focuses on rapid, actionable steps to help you clarify complex information and make confident decisions quickly. Because every prostate cancer journey is different, having a custom guide that addresses your specific needs can make navigating the first critical month more manageable and less overwhelming. This tailored approach ensures you get exactly the information you want, avoiding unnecessary details while emphasizing what matters most to you.
2025·50-300 pages·Prostate Cancer, Diagnosis Clarity, Treatment Options, Decision Making, Risk Assessment

This tailored book offers a focused exploration of the critical first 30 days following a prostate cancer diagnosis. It delves into rapid decision-making and management steps, matching your background and addressing your specific goals. The content covers how to clarify diagnosis details, understand treatment options, and navigate early challenges with confidence. By concentrating on what matters most to you, this personalized guide reveals pathways through complex medical information and helps you establish a clear, actionable plan. It bridges expert knowledge with your unique situation to support informed choices in a demanding time.

Tailored Guide
Rapid Decision Making
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for understanding management options
Andrew Siegel, an honor graduate of Chicago Medical School and dual board-certified urologist, brings decades of surgical and clinical expertise to this guide. His background at top institutions like University of Pennsylvania and UCLA informs a balanced and patient-centered approach. Driven by a passion for wellness advocacy, he distills complex advances in prostate cancer care into accessible insights, empowering you to understand the nuances of diagnosis and treatment choices.
2023·327 pages·Prostate Cancer, Prostate Disease, Screening Methods, Diagnostic Imaging, Genetic Testing

Drawing from extensive clinical training and dual board certifications, Andrew Siegel offers a clear-eyed exploration of prostate cancer management tailored to individual cases. You’ll navigate the maze of screening, diagnostic tests, genetic insights, and emerging treatments, including surgical, radiation, and surveillance options. The book doesn’t shy away from discussing tough topics like sexual dysfunction and urinary incontinence, detailing strategies to manage these common side effects. If you’re facing prostate cancer or supporting someone who is, this guide equips you with the knowledge to engage actively in treatment decisions without feeling overwhelmed.

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Best for patient-centered emotional guidance
Gogs Gagnon brings a unique blend of analytical expertise and personal advocacy to his writing. Having built software for major organizations like Apple and IBM, he now channels his skills and experience into supporting prostate cancer awareness. His involvement as an executive member of the Prostate Cancer Foundation BC and contributor to health-focused publications underlines his commitment. This background informs a book that not only conveys medical details but also addresses the emotional journey, offering you a well-rounded resource from someone deeply embedded in both technology and patient support communities.
2022·192 pages·Cancer, Prostate Disease, Men's Health, Prostate Cancer, Patient Experience

What started as a personal health crisis for Gogs Gagnon became a detailed account blending patient experience with rigorous research. You gain insight into the emotional and medical journey through candid chapters covering diagnosis, treatment options, and recovery challenges. This book offers a perspective grounded in both technical understanding and lived reality, making it particularly useful if you’re seeking clarity on navigating prostate cancer’s complexities. While it doesn’t replace medical advice, it equips you with a clearer sense of what to expect and how others have coped, especially valuable if you’re newly diagnosed or supporting someone who is.

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Best for critical perspective on PSA testing
Richard J. Ablin, PhD, DSc (HON), professor of Pathology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, discovered the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in 1970. His extensive medical background and decades advocating against the misuse of PSA underpin this book’s authority. Co-authored with oncology writer Ronald Piana, the book exposes how PSA testing was co-opted into a multibillion-dollar industry, leading to unnecessary procedures and patient harm. Ablin’s unique perspective as the test’s discoverer offers invaluable insights for anyone questioning prostate cancer screening strategies.
2014·272 pages·Prostate Cancer, Medical Ethics, Diagnostic Testing, Healthcare Industry, Patient Advocacy

Richard J. Ablin’s decades-long expertise as a pathology professor and the original discoverer of PSA drives this eye-opening critique of prostate cancer screening. You’ll learn how the PSA test, originally never intended for widespread cancer screening, became a commercial tool that led to countless unnecessary biopsies and surgeries with severe side effects. The book carefully unpacks the complex interplay between medical innovation, corporate interests, and patient harm, offering detailed examples of how the test’s misuse created a public health dilemma. If you seek a clear understanding of prostate cancer diagnostics beyond headlines, this book provides a critical perspective that challenges common assumptions.

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Conclusion

These eight books together paint a detailed, nuanced picture of prostate cancer—from the science behind the disease to the emotional challenges patients face. They highlight key themes: informed treatment decisions, balancing risks and benefits, and the importance of patient advocacy.

If you’re newly diagnosed, starting with Dr. Patrick Walsh’s guide offers a solid foundation. For those weighing treatment options, The Key to Prostate Cancer and Invasion of the Prostate Snatchers provide stage-specific strategies and perspectives on avoiding overtreatment. Patients interested in non-surgical routes may find You Can Beat Prostate Cancer... especially insightful.

For rapid integration of knowledge, pairing a comprehensive guide with patient narratives like Prostate Cancer Strikes helps blend medical and emotional understanding. Alternatively, you can create a personalized Prostate Cancer book to bridge the gap between general principles and your specific situation. These books can accelerate your learning journey and empower you to take charge of your health.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm overwhelmed by choice – which book should I start with?

Start with "Dr. Patrick Walsh's Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer" for a thorough foundation. It's detailed but accessible, covering causes, diagnosis, and treatments comprehensively.

Are these books too advanced for someone new to prostate cancer?

Not at all. Books like "100 Questions & Answers About Prostate Cancer" explain complex topics in straightforward language, making them ideal for newcomers.

Should I read the newest book or a classic first?

Both have value. Newer books like "PROSTATE CANCER 20/20" offer up-to-date management insights, while classics provide foundational knowledge. Consider your learning goals.

Do any of these books contradict each other?

Some differ in treatment approaches, especially regarding surgery vs. active surveillance, reflecting ongoing debates. This diversity offers a balanced view of options.

Can I skip around or do I need to read them cover to cover?

Many books, like "The Key to Prostate Cancer," guide readers to relevant sections based on their diagnosis, so you can focus on what matters most to you.

How can personalized books complement these expert recommendations?

Personalized books tailor expert insights to your unique situation and goals, making complex information more applicable. They build on trusted knowledge with your specific needs in mind. Explore creating one here.

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