Prostate Cancer

Advanced Prostate Cancer

Treatment Options For Advanced Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is a disease found in men typically over the age of fifty, it can eventually kill and often doesn’t show any symptoms. It is found in the reproductive system of the male at the base of the bladder, the prostate is typically the size of a walnut. When the prostate is altered or starts to grow out of control then prostate cancer develops. Eventually prostate cancer can spread to the lymph nodes and bones.

The sooner you find and diagnose prostate cancer the better chances you have of recovering. There are a number of factors that will determine the success of treatment with advanced prostate cancer such as the progression of the cancer once it is discovered, where the cancer is located, the age and health of the patient and how the cancer reacts to treatment.

Cancer Stages

The peripheral area of the prostate gland is typically first affected by prostate cancer and this small area can’t be felt on a digital rectal exam. However, a prostate screening may be able to pick it up or an ultrasound exam. This is why prostate cancer is in Stag One. As the cancer grows it will create abnormalities that can be felt during a digital rectal exam, it is at this time that the cancer has advanced to Stage Two. During both these stages the cancer is limited to the prostate gland and can be treated surgically, with radiation therapy, cryosurgery or ultrasound.

The cancer will spread into surrounding tissues in the pelvic area as it continues to grow and eventually it will enter into Stage Three. Then when the prostate cancer is carried to other areas outside of the pelvic area it has reached Stage Four. During these two stages of the cancer it is considered to be advanced prostate cancer. During this time the treatment of advanced prostate cancer is specifically targeted towards slowing the spread of the disease, providing the patient with quality of life and extending the individuals life as long as possible.

While Stage Three advanced prostate cancer can be successfully cured it is a difficult task due to the advanced nature of the disease. By this time the reality of the situation is largely just to focus on management of the disease and not actually curing it. The main form of treatment for advanced prostate cancer is hormone treatment since prostate cancer cells require male hormones to grow and this treatment relies on reducing the production of testosterone. In some advanced prostate cancer cases hormone therapy may not be effective or only have limited results at Stage Four which then may mean that patients need systematic radiation therapy or chemotherapy.