Delaying Treatment For Prostate Cancer
Not everyone with prostate cancer needs treatment straight away.
In some situations, doctors may ask you to think about delaying treatment. It means you can avoid treatment and its side effects until you need it. Sometimes treatment is never needed.
There are two ways of delaying treatment. They are called active surveillance and watchful waiting. Watchful waiting is also called watch and wait.
Prostate Cancer Caregiver Podcast Series
We are proud to announce a new podcast series geared toward helping give support, hope and guidance to prostate cancer caregivers. The goal of this Prostate Cancer Caregiver Podcast Series is to help others connect with a diverse group of people who have felt the impact of prostate cancer in their lives and empower them on their journey.
How Will I Know That My Hormone Therapy Is Working
Doctors cannot predict how long hormone therapy will be effective in suppressing the growth of any individual mans prostate cancer. Therefore, men who take hormone therapy for more than a few months are regularly tested to determine the level of PSA in their blood. An increase in PSA level may indicate that a mans cancer has started growing again. A PSA level that continues to increase while hormone therapy is successfully keeping androgen levels extremely low is an indicator that a mans prostate cancer has become resistant to the hormone therapy that is currently being used.
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Your Doctor Will Want To Discuss Treatment Options As Well As The Prognosis For Bladder Cancer
Here are 10 more facts about prostate cancer. In fact, most people dont even know what it does. Although it is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in american women, breast cancer can impact people of all genders. It may grow slowly and its typically treatable. Although the percentage of cases in men is much lower than in women, male breast cancer accounts for a por. Your doctor will want to discuss treatment options as well as the prognosis for bladder cancer. Of course, your specialist is the main person whose advice you should follow but it doesnt do anyone harm. Treatment for bladder cancer depends on your overall health, progression of the c. Although screenings for prostate cancer are one tool for early detecti. Getting a diagnosis of bladder cancer can be a difficult time. Being armed with information is vital to begin the fight. Prostate cancer is a common type of cancer in men, according to the mayo clinic. Despite this, pancreatic cancer is among the deadliest types of cancer, which is why its extremely important to know and recogni.
What Is The Prognosis For People Who Have Prostate Cancer
Because prostate cancer tends to grow slowly, most men die from something other than the disease. Early detection is key to better outcomes. Almost all men 97% to 98% diagnosed with localized cancer that hasnt spread outside of the prostate live at least five years after diagnosis. When metastatic cancer has spread outside of the gland, one-third of men continue to survive after five years.
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Treatments For Prostate Cancer
If you have prostate cancer, your healthcare team willcreate a treatment plan just for you. It will be based on your health andspecific information about the cancer. When deciding which treatments to offerfor prostate cancer, your healthcare team will consider:
- the type and stage of the cancer
- the grade or Gleason score
- prostate-specific antigen levels
- the risk group
- possible side effects of treatments
- your personal preferences
- your overall healthand any existing medical conditions
- your age and life expectancy
- whether you have symptoms
Prostate cancer treatments can seriously affect your qualityof life and cause side effects such as erectile dysfunction and incontinence . Manyprostate cancers grow slowly and cause no symptoms or problems.
Surgically Removing The Prostate Gland
A radical prostatectomy is the surgical removal of your prostate gland. This treatment is an option for curing prostate cancer that has not spread beyond the prostate or has not spread very far.
Like any operation, this surgery carries some risks.
A recent trial showed possible long-term side effects of radical prostatectomy may include an inability to get an erection and urinary incontinence.
Before having any treatment, 67% of men said they could get erections firm enough for intercourse.
When the men who had a radical prostatectomy were asked again after 6 months, this had decreased to 12%. When asked again after 6 years, it had slightly improved to 17%.
For urinary incontinence, 1% of men said they used absorbent pads before having any treatment.
When the men who had a radical prostatectomy were asked again after 6 months, this had increased to 46%. After 6 years, this had improved to 17%.
Out of the men who were actively monitored instead, 4% were using absorbent pads at 6 months and 8% after 6 years.
In extremely rare cases, problems arising after surgery can be fatal.
It’s possible that prostate cancer can come back again after treatment. Your doctor should be able to explain the risk of your cancer coming back after treatment, based on things like your PSA level and the stage of your cancer.
After a radical prostatectomy, you’ll no longer ejaculate during sex. This means you will not be able to have a child through sexual intercourse.
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How Is Metastatic Prostate Cancer Diagnosed
After an initial diagnosis of prostate cancer, your doctor will closely monitor your prostate-specific antigen levels. Rising numbers may indicate that prostate cancer is back or spreading. Youll also get more frequent imaging scans after a diagnosis or treatment. These scans can show when cancer becomes active again.
Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer
Locally advanced prostate cancer is cancer that has started to break out of the prostate, or has spread to the area just outside the prostate.
What are my treatment options?
Treatments for locally advanced prostate cancer will aim to get rid of the cancer, or to keep it under control, depending on how far the cancer has spread.
The treatment options for locally advanced prostate cancer are:
A small number of men may be offered high dose-rate brachytherapy on its own, but this isnt very common.
Choosing a treatment
Depending on how far your cancer has spread, you may have a choice of treatments. If so, your doctor or nurse will talk you through your treatment options and help you choose the right treatment for you. You might not be able to have all of the treatments listed above.
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Certain Factors Affect Prognosis And Treatment Options
The prognosis and treatment options depend on the following:
- The stage of the cancer .
- The patients age.
- Whether the cancer has just been diagnosed or has recurred .
Treatment options also may depend on the following:
- Whether the patient has other health problems.
- The expected side effects of treatment.
- Past treatment for prostate cancer.
- The wishes of the patient.
Most men diagnosed with prostate cancer do not die of it.
How Common Is Prostate Cancer
About one in nine men will receive a prostate cancer diagnosis during his lifetime. Prostate cancer is second only to skin cancer as the most common cancer affecting males. Close to 200,000 American men receive a diagnosis of prostate cancer every year. There are many successful treatments and some men dont need treatment at all. Still, approximately 33,000 men die from the disease every year.
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How Is Hormone Therapy Used To Treat Hormone
Hormone therapy may be used in several ways to treat hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, including:
Early-stage prostate cancer with an intermediate or high risk of recurrence. Men with early-stage prostate cancer that has an intermediate or high risk of recurrence often receive hormone therapy before, during, and/or after radiation therapy, or after prostatectomy . Factors that are used to determine the risk of prostate cancer recurrence include the grade of the tumor , the extent to which the tumor has spread into surrounding tissue, and whether tumor cells are found in nearby lymph nodes during surgery.
The use of hormone therapy before prostatectomy has not been shown to be of benefit and is not a standard treatment. More intensive androgen blockade prior to prostatectomy is being studied in clinical trials.
Relapsed/recurrent prostate cancer. Hormone therapy used alone is the standard treatment for men who have a prostate cancer recurrence as documented by CT, MRI, or bone scan after treatment with radiation therapy or prostatectomy.
Hormone therapy is sometimes recommended for men who have a “biochemical” recurrencea rise in prostate-specific antigen level following primary local treatment with surgery or radiationespecially if the PSA level doubles in fewer than 3 months.
Treatment Options For Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer treatment depends on the diagnosis and the stage and grade of the cancer.
Your doctor and nurse will help you understand what these treatments involve and how they may affect your life. If possible, you may want to involve a partner or someone close to you in these talks. can be difficult, but there is support to help you.
Your doctor will talk to you about the different factors you should consider when making treatment decisions. Together, you can decide on the best treatment for you. This will depend on:
- your general health
Sometimes your doctor may talk to you about having your treatment as part of a clinical trial.
The main treatments for prostate cancer include:
- active surveillance
- surgery to remove the whole prostate
- radiotherapy
- and hormonal therapy.
We understand that having treatment can be a difficult time for people. We’re here to support you. If you want to talk, you can:
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Your Cancer Care Team
People with cancer should be cared for by a multidisciplinary team . This is a team of specialists who work together to provide the best care and treatment.
The team often consists of specialist cancer surgeons, oncologists , radiologists, pathologists, radiographers and specialist nurses.
Other members may include physiotherapists, dietitians and occupational therapists. You may also have access to clinical psychology support.
When deciding what treatment is best for you, your doctors will consider:
- the type and size of the cancer
- what grade it is
- whether the cancer has spread to other parts of your body
What Causes Prostate Cancer
Experts arent sure why some cells in the prostate gland become cancerous . Genetics appear to play a role. For example:
- Youre two to three times more likely to get prostate cancer if your father, brother or son has the disease.
- Inherited mutated breast cancer genes and other gene mutations contribute to a small number of prostate cancers.
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What Is Stage 4 Prostate Cancer
Metastatic prostate cancer and stage 4 prostate cancer are the same thing. You may also know it as advanced prostate cancer. Cancer stage refers to how advanced or widespread the cancer is throughout your body. Doctors use a cancer staging system that includes Grade Groups and the Gleason score to determine prostate cancer stage.
Cancer staging occurs at the time of the initial prostate cancer diagnosis. However, prostate cancer can spread years later. If this happens, the stage or Grade Group changes.
Prostate Cancer Is A Disease In Which Malignant Cells Form In The Tissues Of The Prostate
The prostate is agland in the malereproductive system. It lies just below the bladder and in front of the rectum . It is about the size of a walnut and surrounds part of the urethra . The prostate gland makes fluid that is part of the semen.
Prostate cancer is most common in older men. In the U.S., about 1 out of 5 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer.
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Of Course Your Specialist Is The Main Person Whose Advice You Should Follow But It Doesnt Do Anyone Harm
Getting a diagnosis of bladder cancer can be a difficult time. It may grow slowly and its typically treatable. One in seven men in the united states will receive a prostate cancer diagnosis during his lifetime. When malignant cancer cells form and grow within a persons breast tissue, breast cancer occurs. There are a number of different treatments doctors recommend. If you have been diagnosed with adenocarcinoma cancer, you have a cancer that developed in one of the glands that lines the inside of your organs. Here are 10 more facts about prostate cancer. Being armed with information is vital to begin the fight. Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer diagnosed in men. Treatment for bladder cancer depends on your overall health, progression of the c. Although it is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in american women, breast cancer can impact people of all genders. But hearing the words can still be scary. Your doctor will want to discuss treatment options as well as the prognosis for bladder cancer.
Your doctor will want to discuss treatment options as well as the prognosis for bladder cancer. Here are 10 more facts about prostate cancer. Adenocarcinoma cancers being usually in one of the following organs: Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer diagnosed in men. The earlier the detection of prostate cancer, the better the patients chance of survival is.
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Low Risk Localised Prostate Cancer
Low risk localised prostate cancer is very unlikely to grow or develop for many years. Your doctor is likely to suggest monitoring your cancer. This is called active surveillance and involves keeping an eye on the cancer to see whether it begins to develop. Doctors choose to do this because your prostate cancer may grow so slowly that it never causes any symptoms.
Treatments for prostate cancer can cause long term side effects, so doctors try to avoid giving treatments if they can safely do so. If the cancer starts to develop while you are having active monitoring, your doctor will offer you surgery to remove the prostate gland or radiotherapy to the prostate. You may have hormone therapy as well as radiotherapy.
A Cochrane review in 2011 looked at research comparing different treatments for localised prostate cancer. This review found that after 5 years of follow up, internal radiotherapy worked as well as surgery to remove the prostate gland. You can see the prostate cancer treatment review on the Cochrane Library website. There is a plain English summary at the bottom of the review.
In men younger than 65, the risk of cancer growing within their lifetime is higher. So doctors may offer treatment with surgery to remove the prostate gland or radiotherapy to the prostate at an earlier stage than in older men.
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The Grade Group And Psa Level Are Used To Stage Prostate Cancer
The stage of the cancer is based on the results of the staging and diagnostic tests, including the prostate-specific antigen test and the Grade Group. The tissue samples removed during the biopsy are used to find out the Gleason score. The Gleason score ranges from 2 to 10 and describes how different the cancer cells look from normal cells under a microscope and how likely it is that the tumor will spread. The lower the number, the more cancer cells look like normal cells and are likely to grow and spread slowly.
The Grade Group depends on the Gleason score. See the General Information section for more information about the Gleason score.
- Grade Group 1 is a Gleason score of 6 or less.
- Grade Group 2 or 3 is a Gleason score of 7.
- Grade Group 4 is a Gleason score 8.
- Grade Group 5 is a Gleason score of 9 or 10.
The PSA test measures the level of PSA in the blood. PSA is a substance made by the prostate that may be found in an increased amount in the blood of men who have prostate cancer.
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.
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What About My Physical And Emotional Wellness
Eating a healthy diet including a variety of foods, will ensure you have what your body needs to cope with treatment and recovery. Regular physical activity can improve your cancer recovery and reduce side effects such as fatigue.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for professional and emotional support.
- Consider joining a cancer support group.
- Learn to ignore unwanted advice and “horror stories”.
- Live day-to-day and remember that every day is likely to be different.
Complementary therapies can work alongside medical treatments and some have been shown to improve quality of life or reduce pain. There is no evidence that these therapies can cure or prevent cancer. Some have not been tested for side-effects, may work against other medical treatments and may be expensive. Talk to your doctor about using complementary therapies.
What Types Of Hormone Therapy Are Used For Prostate Cancer
Hormone therapy for prostate cancer can block the production or use of androgens . Currently available treatments can do so in several ways:
- reducing androgen production by the testicles
- blocking the action of androgens throughout the body
- block androgen production throughout the body
Treatments that reduce androgen production by the testicles are the most commonly used hormone therapies for prostate cancer and the first type of hormone therapy that most men with prostate cancer receive. This form of hormone therapy includes:
Treatments that block the action of androgens in the body are typically used when ADT stops working. Such treatments include:
Treatments that block the production of androgens throughout the body include:
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