Cancer of Prostate

Most deaths occur in the prostate cancer advanced stages of the disease. Prostate cancer is the leading cause of death in men dying of cancer in the US. It is estimated that 1 in 10 men in the US will get this cancer in their lifetime. Approximately 10% to 20% of newly diagnosed cases are in the advanced stages of the disease. Early testing and diagnoses however now show a big decline in mortality rates as compared to what it was like in the 1970s.

Three categories will normally present:

• Locally advanced prostate cancer where it has grown beyond the prostate to nearby tissue,

• Metastatic where it has metastasized or spread to lymph nodes and other parts of the body

• Recurrent cancer where there is a return of the cancer after it had been treated.

The most common indication of advanced prostate cancer is rising PSA levels that fail to respond to local treatment.

The cancer is then classed into different prostate cancer stages between 1 and 5, showing whether the cancer is widely advanced or locally advanced to determine what treatment  options to take. Other tests required would include bone scans, chest radiotherapy and scans of the abdomen and pelvis.

Once the metastatic stage has been reached however, the cancer is not curable. What is available is various treatments and methods to help you live longer inspite of the cancer and also ways that will support your psychological well-being . Many patients go on to live for many years after  diagnosis of prostate cancer advanced stage.