Metastatic Prostate Cancer is one of the advanced stages of prostate cancer in which cancer spreads to various other parts of the body. The areas where the prostate cancer spreads are the bones or the lymph nodes. When it becomes severe, it may also affect the lungs and liver. Metastatic Prostate Cancer is an advanced stage of prostate cancer which cannot be cured. But, yes, there are surely various treatments through which one can undergo to control the cancer cells. With these treatments you can lead a normal life for many years. By taking proper treatments, you can decrease the speed of cancer cells from growing fast and also the tumor size can be reduced.
Sometimes the cancer cells in the tumor may break up and flow through the blood or lymph vessel. These cells flow through capillaries and break the wall of the blood vessels and get attached to any tissue in your body. Here is where a new tumor forms inside you. Generally, the prostate cancer will spread to areas like pelvic bones, spine, ribs and lymph nodes. Some of the cancer cells that break down will not survive in your blood, but some cells will surely be active and get attached to the tissues.
How to Diagnose Metastatic Prostate Cancer
The doctors will recommend the patients to take X-ray, CT scan, MRI scan and PET scan to diagnose metastatic prostate cancer. With these scan reports, the doctors will identify if the cancer cells have spread to other parts of your body or not. Because, these tests will clearly examine the skeleton, belly and pelvic areas in your body.
A bone scan will be advised to patients who have severe bone pain and broken bones. Blood tests are also done for patients to check for any other signs and symptoms of metastatic Prostate Cancer spreading . When the blood is tested, they test for the PSA level which is a protein found in the prostate gland in men. In the blood test result, if the PSA level is high, then it is a sign that your cancer is growing. In some men, the PSA level also rises if there is an infection in the gland or when the prostate glands are enlarged.
If a Metastatic Prostate Cancer patient has already undergone a surgery or a hormone treatment to remove the prostate cancer, then the PSA level will be very low or it might not even show in the test. But if you find the PSA level still high in the blood test, then it is sure that the cancer cells are spreading. The doctors will surely advise proper treatment to diagnose Metastatic Prostate Cancer. It is always better to do a checkup in the early stage and start treatment properly to control the metastatic prostate cancer.
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Overview of Metastatic Prostate Cancer
The survival rate of Metastatic Prostate Cancer will be higher if the prostate cancer is only spread to nearby areas or if the doctor has diagnosed cancer before spreading. A routine checkup is advisable for men who have the signs and symptoms of prostate cancer. Choose the right test for you after consulting an expert specialist.
The treatments for metastatic prostate cancer can reduce the severity of the condition. But there are side effects for all these treatments since the treatment includes strong drugs. All the doctors will surely let you know about these side effects before starting your treatment. This will help you to be prepared to face such issues. Some of the side effects of metastatic prostate cancer treatments are as follows:
a) Urinary Incontinence
b) Diarrhea
c) Pain
d) Infertility
e) Erectile dysfunction
f) Urinary retention
g) Hair loss
h) Fatigue and Nausea
This about these side effects, you do not have to be scared or depressed. There are other medications to avoid such side effects and the doctors will prescribe you the right medicines. It is always important to share all your problems related to health to your doctor. Any difficulties you face should be communicated to the doctor. Only then, the doctors will be able to prescribe the right medications for Metastatic Prostate Cancer that suits you . In the US, prostate cancer is commonly found in men and it also causes deaths. In one of our previous article about prostate cancer, we have mentioned about the Gleason Grades which is marked according to the volume of the tumor. First, the doctors will grade your cancer and then start the treatment accordingly.
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When a person is suffering from an advanced prostate cancer with a Gleason grade of 4 and 5, the chances of spreading the cancer cell will be aggressive.
Metastatic Prostate Cancer Signs & Symptoms
The symptoms and signs of Metastatic Prostate Cancer is same as we discussed on the Prostate Cancer symptoms and signs .
Metastatic Prostate Cancer Treatments
There are many ways to treat the metastatic prostate cancer and they are:
1) Hormonal Therapy
2) Radiation Therapy
3) Surgery
4) Chemotherapy
5) Treatment for Bones
Lets take a detailed look on the Metastatic Prostate Cancer treatment methods.
- Hormonal Therapy is the most important treatment available to treat metastatic prostate cancer. This treatment will be administered along with radiation and chemotherapy. The kinds of hormonal therapy are: luteinizing hormone–releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists or antagonists, estrogens, surgical removal of the testicles (called an orchiectomy) and anti-androgen therapy.
- Radiation Therapy is used to destroy these killer cancer cells. The commonly used therapy for metastatic prostate cancer is known as External Beam Radiation Therapy that helps in relieving the urinary problems. This therapy also helps in reducing the pain in bones if the bones are affected. Another radiation therapy is the Systematic Radiation Therapy which is given to patients with castrate-resistant prostate cancer which means the cancer cells are spread to the bones nearby.
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- Prostate Surgery is another option that can be done if no other treatment work. In this method, the prostate is removed through the urethra. It is known as TURP – Transurethral resection of the prostate. This surgery is advised if the tumor is enlarged and if the patient cannot urinate.
- Chemotherapy – you all know what it is. This treatment is used along with or without the hormonal therapy. There are surely side effects of this treatment, but if the doctors really recommend, then you should do this therapy. The drugs used for Chemotherapy are called Docetaxel and Prednisone. If any of these drugs do not work for you, then the next option – Cabazitaxel or Mitoxantrone will be sued.
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When the bones are affected by prostate cancer cells, then the treatments used are bisphosphonates, denosumab, external radiation therapy and systematic radiation therapy. These are the treatments available for metastatic prostate cancer and you can surely control the growth of the cancer cells with these treatments and medications. If you have diagnosed any kind of cancer, the first thing you should have is courage.
If you are strong enough to fight these cancer cells with courage and treatment, then you can expect a longer life. Meditate, do exercise, eat healthy meals and engage in yoga to enhance the immunity and strength of your body to fight cancer.
So hope this serves to give you a detailed overview on Metastatic Prostate Cancer and Advanced Metastatic Prostate Cancer , early signs and symptoms of Metastatic Prostate Cancer, treatment of Metastatic Prostate Cancer and the side effects of Metastatic Prostate Cancer treatments all in nutshell .
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