Metastatic prostate cancer: symptoms, treatment, more

Metastatic prostate cancer is also called stage 4 or advanced prostate cancer. It was cancer that started in prostate, a gland located under the bladder of people assigned by male at birth, and spread to areas far from the body, such as lymph nodes or bones.

Prostate cancer may include bladder symptoms such as:

• Urinary emergency increase
• Frequent night’s alarm clocks to urinate
• A slow or low urinary flow
• Blood in urine or semen

As prostate cancer progresses and spreads to other areas of the body, it can cause several symptoms, including:

• Erectile dysfunction: As the tumor grows, it can lead to an inability to obtain or maintain an erection.
• Bone pain: When prostate cancer spreads to bones, you can feel pain in your hips, back and chest. You can also feel bone fractures.
• Numbness or weakness: When prostate cancer spreads to the spine, it can compress the nerves that affect the feeling of your legs and feet.
• Fatigue: Advanced cancer often causes significant daytime fatigue.
• Involuntary weight loss: Metastatic cancer can lead to a decrease in appetite and involuntary weight loss.
• Struggling: Prostate cancer can spread to the lungs and cause symptoms of breathing like shortness of breath.
• Liver symptoms: When prostate cancer spreads in the liver, it can cause swelling in the abdomen (ascites) and yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice).

Metastatic prostate cancer occurs when prostate cancer cells spread to other areas of the body. Cancer cells can develop and invade nearby tissues and organs. They can also travel through your lymphatic fluid (part of your immune system) or blood circulation towards areas of the body further from the prostate.

Since prostate cancer generally does not cause symptoms in the early stages, it can often propagate not detected.

Risk factors

About 1 in 8 men will develop prostate cancer. Some people are more likely to develop metastatic prostate cancer than others. Risk factors to develop prostate cancer include:

• Age: Higher age is a risk factor. In the United States, around 60% of prostate cancers occur in people over 65.
• Race and ethnicity: Prostate cancer affects more black people than white, Latin, Hispanic or American Asian.
• Family history: Having a member of the nearby family with prostate cancer increases your risk.

Health care providers often detect prostate cancer using routine screening tools, including a digital rectal exam and a specific antigen test of prostate (PSA). To confirm the diagnosis, your supplier will probably refer you to a urologist, a doctor specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer, for a prostate biopsy.

To determine if your prostate cancer has metastasé (spread), your health professional can recommend these tests:

• X -ray: To detect bone fractures in the event of metastases in the bone
• Tomodensitometry (CT) Scan: To detect cancer cells in other parts of the body
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): To detect cancer cells in other organs and tissues
• Positrons program tomography (TEP) Scan: To detect the spread of cancer, especially if the results of other tests are not clear
• Bone scintigraphy: To determine if cancer has weakened your bones

Metastatic prostate cancer stages

Metastatic prostate cancer refers to the highest stage: stage 4. At this stage, cancer cells have spread to areas far from the body. Metastatic prostate prostate cancer sub-steps include:

• Step 4a: Cancer spread to the nearby lymph nodes and the tumor is developing.
• Step 4b: Cancer has spread to areas far from the body that can include your remote lymph nodes, your bones, your lungs, your liver or other organs.

There is no known remedy for metastatic prostate cancer, but treatment options can help relieve symptoms and stop spreading more. Your health care team will work with you to develop a treatment plan to improve your quality of life.

Hormone therapy

Your health care provider may recommend starting treatment with hormone therapy to slow out cancer growth and approach all uncomfortable symptoms.

Men’s sexual testosterone sex hormone feeds the growth of prostate cancer cells. Hormone therapy can block testosterone production to slow down cancer growth. Hormone therapy is generally available in the form of an oral pill or injection. Your health care team may recommend taking hormone therapy with chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Surgery

Your health care team may recommend surgery if you have urinary symptoms. Transpareral prostate resection (Turp) is a procedure that eliminates small parts of the prostate through the penis. The objective of this surgery in metastatic prostate cancer is to reduce the size of your prostatic gland to relieve symptoms.

Although Turp can facilitate urination, it does not heal cancer.

Bone treatments

Metastatic prostate cancer generally spreads to bones. Treatment options for metastatic prostate cancer that have spread to bones may include:

• Bisphosphonates: This group of drugs targets cells called osteoclasts to slow down bone degradation. Your supplier may recommend this type of medication to relieve bone pain and prevent other bone damage.
• Prolog (Denosusab): Like bisphosphonates, this drug blocks the activity of osteoclasts to help strengthen your bones.
• Corticosteroids: Your supplier can prescribe a corticosteroid such as the Deltasone (prednisone) to relieve bone pain.
• Radiotherapy: Your health care team may suggest radiotherapy to reduce a tumor in your spine and relieve uncomfortable symptoms.
• Ablative treatments: These treatments use extremely hot or cold temperatures to reduce a cancerous tumor and relieve pain and other symptoms.
• Analgesic: Bone pain can be difficult, so chat with your health care health care team.

Clinical trials

Your health care team may recommend participating in a clinical trial to receive new treatments before the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved them.

There is no guarantee guaranteeing to prevent metastatic prostate cancer. Seeing your primary health care provider regularly and receiving routine screening tests can reduce your prostate prostate cancer. Screen tests can catch prostate cancers before developing and spreading in distant areas.

Metastatic prostate cancer can increase your risk of certain health conditions, which can vary depending on where cancer has spread. Possible related conditions include:

• Bone fractures: When prostate cancer metastasis with bones, it leads to a weakening of bones and fractures.
• Hypercalcemia (high levels of calcium in the blood): If prostate cancer spreads to the bone, it can cause a calcium leak from your bones and in your blood circulation. This can cause dangerously high blood calcium levels.
• Compression of the spinal cord: When cancer spreads to the spine, it can cause a vertebral tumor that presses the nerves of your spine. This can cause problems of weakness, numbness and balance.

Metastatic prostate cancer can affect your quality of life, your relationships, your ability to work and your finances. Although there is no known remedy, it is treatable. Your health care team can develop a treatment plan that treats symptoms and improves quality of life. Consider meeting a therapist or support group for emotional support when browsing your treatment path.

To support your overall health, aim to obtain regular physical activity every day. Avoid tobacco products and foods rich in added sugars and fats.