Treatment By Stage Of Prostate Cancer
Different treatments may be recommended for each stage of prostate cancer. Your doctor will recommend a specific treatment plan for you based on the cancers stage and other factors. Detailed descriptions of each type of treatment are provided earlier on this same page. Clinical trials may also be a treatment option for each stage.
Early-stage prostate cancer
Early-stage prostate cancer usually grows very slowly and may take years to cause any symptoms or other health problems, if it ever does at all. As a result, active surveillance or watchful waiting may be recommended. Radiation therapy or surgery may also be suggested, as well as treatment in clinical trials. For those with a higher Gleason score, the cancer may be faster growing, so radical prostatectomy and radiation therapy are often recommended. Your doctor will consider your age and general health before recommending a treatment plan.
ASCO, the American Urological Association, American Society of Radiation Oncology, and the Society of Urologic Oncology recommend that patients with high-risk early-stage prostate cancer that has not spread to other areas of the body should receive radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy with hormonal therapy as standard treatment options.
Locally advanced prostate cancer
Watchful waiting may be considered for older adults who are not expected to live for a long time and whose cancer is not causing symptoms or for those who have another, more serious illness.
Sex Relationships And Fertility
Prostate cancer treatments can have a direct effect on your sex life and fertility. They can reduce your sex drive and cause difficulties getting an erection. This is called erectile dysfunction or ED. Talk to your doctor or nurse about sexual difficulties or concerns. They will be used to talking about these issues.
Stage 1 Prostate Cancer
Stage 1 is the least advanced form of prostate cancer. Cancer in this stage is small and hasnt spread past the prostate gland. Its characterized by a PSA of less than 10 ng/mL, a grade group score of 1, and a Gleason score of 6.
Stage 1 prostate cancer has a 5-year survival rate of nearly 100 percent.
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Early Diagnosis Of Prostate Cancer May Not Require Treatment
Recent studies from the University of Oxford have shown that for men who have benefited from early diagnosis of prostate cancer, they can choose to do active surveillance or active monitoring instead of getting treatment from surgery or radiation to control cancer .
Medical advancements have shown that a significant number of cases involving prostate cancer have the disease progressing at a prolonged rate that may not necessarily mean the end of the patients life.
Modern active surveillance practices rival the advantages of treatments such as radiation therapy, especially where the cancer is confined within the prostate. Men diagnosed early may be able to handle prostate cancer without treatment, especially if it is less aggressive.
Treatment Options For Early Stage Prostate Cancer
Early stage, or localized, prostate cancer refers to cancer that is still confined to the prostate either Stage I or Stage II. If you have been diagnosed with early stage prostate cancer you will be able to chose which kind of treatment is best for you. You do have time to do the research you need to make the right decision for you. Consider including those you love and respect as part of your journey, as they can provide, support, insight, and help. Some prostate cancer treatment options may impact your sexual function so it is important to be open and honest with your partner. Ask your doctor questions and try to talk to other men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
In ZEROs annual survey more than half of the patient/survivors had support when making a treatment decision from someone not on their medical team . Of those, nearly all were a wife/spouse/partner.
Most men with early stage prostate cancer have several treatment options. To learn more about the treatment options here, visit our treatment section. The most common treatment options for early stage, or localized, prostate cancer include:
While all prostate cancer treatment can have side effects, the most common side effects of surgery and radiation are erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence . It is important to talk with your doctor to understand potential side effects of each treatment option available to you.
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What Are The First Steps In Prostate Cancer Treatment
When a man receives a prostate cancer diagnosis, especially if testing shows the disease is in early stages, the doctor and patient often start with a watch and wait approach.
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers among men. As a result, theres a large body of data that show what treatments are most effective at any given stage of the disease. If prostate cancer is detected early and appears to be slow-growing, invasive procedures, chemotherapy, radiation and other approaches can sometimes do more harm than good.
Many prostate cancer treatments come with side effects, like incontinence or impotence, so its in the patients interest to put off invasive treatments as long as is medically safe.
As long as your doctor is monitoring your early-stage prostate cancer and has signed off, you can also try diets and doctor-approved, non-invasive alternative therapy to improve prostate cancer symptoms or general health. Beware, however herbal remedies, homeopathy, and acupuncture, etc., have shown limited or no effect on prostate cancer and could interfere with your doctors prescribed treatment. The most effective complementary/alternative therapy is focused on symptom relief rather than curing the cancer itself.
Dr Frank Critz The Developer Of Prostrcision Says Do Your Own Homework About How You Want To Get Rid Of Yourcancer
Call Joe Hall at 844-863-5518 to learn more about his prostate cancer journey. Joes an 11-year prostate cancer survivor and has talked to thousands of men about their prostate cancer.
Veterans, call us at and well help you navigate through the VA system to receive prostate cancer treatment here at Radiotherapy Clinics of Georgia.
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Treating Advanced Prostate Cancer
If the cancer has reached an advanced stage, it’s no longer possible to cure it. But it may be possible to slow its progression, prolong your life and relieve symptoms.
Treatment options include:
- hormone treatment
- chemotherapy
If the cancer has spread to your bones, medicines called bisphosphonates may be used. Bisphosphonates help reduce bone pain and bone loss.
What Questions Should I Ask My Healthcare Provider
If you have prostate cancer, you may want to ask your healthcare provider:
- Why did I get prostate cancer?
- What is my Gleason score? What is my Grade Group? What do these numbers mean for me?
- Has the cancer spread outside of the prostate gland?
- What is the best treatment for the stage of prostate cancer I have?
- If I choose active surveillance, what can I expect? What signs of cancer should I look out for?
- What are the treatment risks and side effects?
- Is my family at risk for developing prostate cancer? If so, should we get genetic tests?
- Am I at risk for other types of cancer?
- What type of follow-up care do I need after treatment?
- Should I look out for signs of complications?
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Prostate cancer is a common cancer that affects males. Most prostate cancers grow slowly and remain in the prostate gland. For a small number, the disease can be aggressive and spread quickly to other parts of the body. Men with slow-growing prostate cancers may choose active surveillance. With this approach, you can postpone, and sometimes completely forego, treatments. Your healthcare provider can discuss the best treatment option for you based on your Gleason score and Group Grade.
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What Is The Best Treatment For Early Stage Prostate Cancer
Filed in Treatment
Many of our patients have their prostate cancer diagnosed early, giving them an extremely high chance of a long-term cure with limited side effects, if any. Once they are diagnosed and they have come to terms with their condition, their mind soon turns to the best way to treat it. There is a lot of information out there on what treatment is best, so I thought it sensible to compile a list of the key points for such a patient to consider.
In order of most important first, the answer to this question depends on a number of factors:
It May Grow Slowly And It’s Typically Treatable
Compared to other types of cancer, such as lung cancer,. Treatment for bladder cancer depends on your overall health, progression of the c. Part of what makes colon cancer so deadly is that it often goes relatively unnoticed because of a lack of early symptoms. If breast cancer is diagnosed at an early enough stage, it’s treatable. Although screenings for prostate cancer are one tool for early detecti. But hearing the words can still be scary. Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer diagnosed in men. However, as with other types of cancer,. One in seven men in the united states will receive a prostate cancer diagnosis during his lifetime. But the earlier you detect it, the better your chances are for survival. Getting a diagnosis of bladder cancer can be a difficult time. Prostate cancer is a common type of cancer in men, according to the mayo clinic. Colon cancer is the third deadliest cancer affecting both men and women in the united states.
But hearing the words can still be scary. Sections show more follow today when al roker shared that he’d been diagnosed with prostat. Here are 10 more facts about prostate cancer. The earlier the detection of prostate cancer, the better the patient’s chance of survival is. However, as with other types of cancer,.
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Treatment For Intermediate Risk Prostate Cancer
Intermediate risk prostate cancers are the most frequently treated prostate cancers. They are cancers that are confined to the prostate, often are Gleason 7 and have a PSA of less than 20. These cancers are treated in men with life expectancy greater than 10 years to prevent spread of the cancer in the long-term. There are a number of different effective treatment options for intermediate risk prostate cancer and the decision is often a personal one. Here at UCLA we recommend consultation with both Urologist and Radiation Oncologist to help men decide which treatment option is best for them.
Complementary And Alternative Care Approaches
In addition to standard types of prostate cancer treatments, there are other approaches that patients may choose during their treatment for their disease.
Some of these treatments are called complementary treatments and may help with control of symptoms or problems the patient may be experiencing. Examples of these include acupuncture for pain control, yoga and meditation for relaxation, as well as guided imagery, aromatherapy, and other techniques. Tell your doctors about all treatment approaches you are engaged in. These approaches usually will be of no harm to you, and may be very beneficial. Knowing what you are doing may help your doctor to better understand and coordinate your treatments and medications.
Herbal therapies have been demonstrated in the lab to affect prostate cancer cells, but in many cases, have not been proven to be clinically effective. PC-SPES is an herbal therapy that has been used in the past for prostate cancer, for example. It was associated with an increased risk of blood clots. Thus, prior to taking this or other herbal therapies, discuss these therapies with your doctor.
Prostate cancer patients, like all cancer patients, are frightened. Discuss your anxiety and concerns with your primary care doctor, urologist, and radiation and medical oncologists. They have many ways to help.
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Watchful Waiting Or Active Surveillance
Your doctor might suggest waiting to see if your tumor will grow or spread before you treat it. Most prostate cancer grows slowly. Some doctors think itâs better not to treat it unless it changes or causes symptoms. In watchful waiting, your doctor will closely track how the disease makes you feel. With active surveillance, youâll also get regular tests to check on the cancer.
What Are Possible Side Effects Of Treatments For Localized Prostate Cancer
All treatments can cause side effects. The most common side effects are urinary, bowel, and sexual problems. Some problems happen soon after treatment, but others develop over time. Some side effects may get better, but some may last a long time or may never go away. Talk with your doctor if you have any side effects. There may be ways to help manage them.
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Some types of hormone therapy may increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke. |
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What Affects My Treatment Options
Your treatment options will depend on whether your cancer is contained within the prostate gland , has spread just outside of the prostate or had spread to other parts of the body .
You may have a choice of treatments. Your doctor or specialist nurse will explain all your treatment options, and help you to choose the right treatment for you.
Your treatment options and which treatment you choose may depend on several things, including:
- how far your cancer has spread
- how quickly your cancer may be growing
- the advantages and disadvantages of each treatment
- what each treatment involves
- the possible side effects of each treatment
- practical things, such as how often you would need to go to hospital, or how far away your nearest hospital is
- your own thoughts about different treatments
- how the treatment you choose now could affect your treatment options later if your cancer comes back or spreads
- your general health
- how long youre expected to live for.
The first treatment you have may affect which treatments you can have in the future, if you need further treatment. Speak to your doctor or nurse about this.
It can help to write down any questions you want to ask at your next appointment. And to take someone to appointments, such as your partner, friend or family member.
Listen to a summary of this page
Good Prostate Cancer Care
Your MDT will be able to recommend what they feel are the best treatment options, but ultimately the decision is yours.
You should be able to talk with a named specialist nurse about treatment options and possible side effects to help you make a decision.
You should also be told about any clinical trials you may be eligible for.
If you have side effects from treatment, you should be referred to specialist services to help stop or ease these side effects.
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What Tests Check For Prostate Cancer
Common tests to check for prostate cancer include:
- Digital rectal exam: Your doctor inserts a finger into your rectum and touches your prostate gland. The doctor feels the shape of the prostate gland and checks for any hard spots.
- PSA blood test: This blood test tells how much PSA is in your blood. Many men with prostate cancer have PSA levels that are higher than normal or that have gotten higher over time.
- A high PSA level does not always mean a man has prostate cancer. As men get older, their prostate gland may grow larger over time. This growth, and other health conditions, can cause a high PSA level in men who do not have prostate cancer.
If the test results are not normal, your doctor may recommend more tests, such as a biopsy. During a biopsy, the doctor uses a needle to take out a tiny piece or pieces of the prostate gland. An ultrasound probe may be used to guide the needle. Another doctor called a pathologist looks at the tissue under a microscope to check for cancer cells.
Note
Initial Treatment Of Prostate Cancer By Stage
The stage of your cancer is one of the most important factors in choosing the best way to treat it. Prostate cancer is staged based on the extent of the cancer and the PSA level and Gleason score when it is first diagnosed.
For prostate cancers that haven’t spread , doctors also use risk groups to help determine treatment options. Risk groups range from very low risk to very high risk, with lower risk group cancers having a smaller chance of growing and spreading compared to those in higher risk groups.
Other factors, such as your age, overall health, life expectancy, and personal preferences are also taken into account when looking at treatment options. In fact, many doctors determine a mans possible treatment options based not just on the stage, but on the risk of cancer coming back after the initial treatment and on the mans life expectancy.
You might want to ask your doctor what factors he or she is considering when discussing your treatment options. Some doctors might recommend options that are different from those listed here.
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