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.
Signs And Symptoms Of Prostate Cancer
Most prostate cancers are found early, through screening. Early prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms. More advanced prostate cancers can sometimes cause symptoms, such as:
- Problems urinating, including a slow or weak urinary stream or the need to urinate more often, especially at night
- Blood in the urine or semen
- Trouble getting an erection
- Pain in the hips, back , chest , or other areas from cancer that has spread to bones
- Weakness or numbness in the legs or feet, or even loss of bladder or bowel control from cancer pressing on the spinal cord
Most of these problems are more likely to be caused by something other than prostate cancer. For example, trouble urinating is much more often caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia , a non-cancerous growth of the prostate. Still, its important to tell your health care provider if you have any of these symptoms so that the cause can be found and treated, if needed. Some men might need more tests to check for prostate cancer.
Bladder And Urinary Troubles
A prostate tumor that has grown significantly in size may start to press on your bladder and urethra. The urethra is the passage the carries urine from your bladder out of your body. If the tumor is pressing on your urethra, you might have trouble passing urine.
One of the common areas for prostate cancer to spread to is the bladder, because the two organs are close. This can cause additional problems with urination and bladder function.
Some symptoms your bladder and urethra are being affected by cancer include:
- urinating more frequently
- getting up in the middle of the night to pee
- having blood in your urine or semen
- feeling like you have to urinate often and not actually passing anything
Its not as common, but prostate cancer can also spread to your bowel. The cancer first spreads to the rectum, which is the part of your bowel closest to the prostate gland.
Symptoms of cancer thats spread to the bowels include:
- stomach pain
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How Long Does Lower Back Pain Normally Last
Lower back pain can be categorized as acute, subacute or persistent. Acute episodes of lower back pain generally last from a couple of days to 4 weeks as well as subacute lower back pain lasts between 4 to 12 weeks. However, according to the National Institutes of Health, concerning 20 percent of people with acute back pain take place to develop chronic back pain defined as discomfort that lasts 12 weeks or longer. Also in these cases, there are various therapy choices to assist alleviate lower back pain signs and symptoms.
When your back is truly eliminating you, you may fret something is seriously incorrect. The same goes for back pain that seems never-ending. Fortunately is that while back pain is a significant inconvenience, it is seldom an urgent clinical issue. In fact, the majority of the time you dont have to treat it. Back pain typically resolves on its own unless you have a significant hidden concern. Lower Back Pain Associated With Prostate Cancer
Symptoms Of Advanced Prostate Cancer
The symptoms of advanced prostate cancer depend on where the cancer has spread to. Find out about the possible symptoms and when to see your doctor.
Advanced prostate cancer means that a cancer that began in the prostate gland has spread to another part of the body. If your cancer has spread you might:
- have bone pain
- have weight loss for no known reason
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What Should I Do If I Have Pain
Let your doctor or nurse know about any pain you have as soon as possible. The earlier you ask for help, the easier it will be to get your pain under control. With the right treatment and management, your doctor and nurse should be able to help you control your pain.
Dont think that you are complaining too much or that you should put up with pain. You shouldnt have to accept pain as a normal part of having cancer. Pain will affect your daily life if it isnt properly controlled.
As well as treatments, there are things you can do yourself that might help with your pain.
What questions might my doctor or nurse ask about my pain?
Your doctor or nurse will ask you questions about your pain to try to get as much information about it as possible. This will help them work out the best treatment for you. They might ask you the following questions.
- Where is your pain?
- How bad is it?
- What does it feel like? For example, is it a stabbing pain, or a dull ache?
- When did the pain start? How often do you get it? How long does it last?
- Does it wake you at night?
- Does anything help?
- Have you tried any pain-relieving medicines? Did they help?
- Does anything make it worse?
- How does your pain make you feel? For example, do you feel anxious or depressed? Does this affect the pain?
- How does the pain affect your daily life?
Fight Prostate Cancer With Rcca
If you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, the expertise you need can be found at Regional Cancer Care Associates. Your treatment plan will entail the latest and most advanced treatment methods and techniques available. For more information, contact one of our locations or call our headquarters at 844-346-7222.
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Drugs To Strengthen The Bones
Treatment for bone pain is usually reserved for men with advanced prostate cancer. IF you have advanced prostate cancer, its likely youre already receiving cancer drugs to treat the cancer directly. For bone pain specifically, Filson says bisphosphonates are the usual course of treatment. Cancer drugs that lower testosterone can weaken bones, and doctors prescribe bisphosphonates to help reverse the process.
Symptoms Of Prostate Cancer
Once a tumor causes your prostate gland to swell, or once cancer spreads beyond your prostate, you may have symptoms including:
- The need to pee often, especially at night
- Trouble starting or stopping a stream of urine
- A weak stream or one that starts and stops
- Leaking pee when you laugh or cough
- Not being able to pee standing up
- Pain or burning when you pee
- Pain or burning when you ejaculate
- Less fluid when you ejaculate
- Blood in your pee or semen
- Pressure or pain in your rectum
- Pain or stiffness in your lower back, hips, pelvis, or thighs
- New trouble getting an erection
These arenât symptoms of the cancer itself. They happen because the cancer growth is blocking your prostate.
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House Treatments Lower Back Pain Associated With Prostate Cancer
Non-prescription discomfort relief medicine, generally nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines , such as ibuprofen, can eliminate pain. Applying a hot compress or an ice bag to the unpleasant location might also minimize discomfort.
Resting from laborious activity can aid, but walking around will alleviate stiffness, minimize discomfort, as well as prevent muscular tissues from weakening.
Bone Loss From Prostate Cancer Treatment
Testosterone, the male sex hormone, fuels the growth of prostate cancer but it also is crucial to bone health. Treatment of prostate cancer with hormone therapy, also called androgen deprivation therapy , blocks the production of testosterone which stops or slows the growth of the cancer. Without testosterone, bones can become weak and break more easily. When a man is on ADT recovery from a bone fracture takes longer than for other men. It is especially important for men taking ADT to speak with their physician about how to plan for and manage the bone loss before a problem arises. Bone strength can also be decreased as a result of radiation and chemotherapy used to treat prostate cancer.
Fortunately there are ways to strengthen and repair your bones including medicines and lifestyle changes.
- Bisphosphonates can prevent the thinning of the bone and help make them stronger
- Oral bisphosphonates include Fosamax and Actonel
- The intravenous bisphosphonate is Zometa
- Strive for a healthy diet and make sure to get enough calcium and vitamin D
- When exercising, include weight bearing and muscle strengthening exercises
- Avoid tobacco and excessive alcohol
Learn
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Risk Factors For Prostate Cancer
Some risk factors have been linked to prostate cancer. A risk factor is something that can raise your chance of developing a disease. Having one or more risk factors doesn’t mean that you will get prostate cancer. It just means that your risk of the disease is greater.
- Age. Men who are 50 or older have a higher risk of prostate cancer.
- Race. African-American men have the highest risk of prostate cancerâthe disease tends to start at younger ages and grows faster than in men of other races. After African-American men, prostate cancer is most common among white men, followed by Hispanic and Native American men. Asian-American men have the lowest rates of prostate cancer.
- Family history. Men whose fathers or brothers have had prostate cancer have a 2 to 3 times higher risk of prostate cancer than men who do not have a family history of the disease. A man who has 3 immediate family members with prostate cancer has about 10 times the risk of a man who does not have a family history of prostate cancer. The younger a man’s relatives are when they have prostate cancer, the greater his risk for developing the disease. Prostate cancer risk also appears to be slightly higher for men from families with a history of breast cancer.
- Diet. The risk of prostate cancer may be higher for men who eat high-fat diets.
Prostate Cancer Can Cause Pain In Many Areas And Not Just Because Of Bone Spread But Also Due To Other Features Of The Disease
It can feel different ways depending on the nature of the cause.
Curable early stage prostate cancer usually does not cause pain, says Sean Cavanaugh, MD, Chief of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Treatment Centers of America at Southeastern Regional Medical Center.
That is the most important message do not use pain as a primary screening mechanism for prostate cancer.
Most pain associated with prostate cancer is from bone metastases in stage IV disease.
For example, men with bone metastases to their spine may have pain in their back.
Prostate cancer can spread to the ribs , pelvis and femur .
Even shoulder and arm pain are possible when a metastatic tumor is pressing against the spine.
Bone metastases occur in approximately 80% of patients with advanced prostate cancer, says the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
When prostate cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it almost always goes first to the bones.
Bone pain from prostate cancer can feel like a dull ache or feel like a toothache in the bones, or you may feel a sharper sensation.
Can worsen with movement
May come and go or be constant
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Pain 1 Of 3 In A Cluster Of Symptoms Affecting Men After Prostate Cancer
Pain, fatigue, and depression are 1 cluster of symptoms afflicting 1 in 13 survivors of prostate cancer, according to a recent study.
One in 13 survivors of prostate cancer are afflicted with pain, fatigue, and depression as one cluster of symptoms, according to a recent analysis.
This cluster of these 3 specific symptoms is not unknown in cancer, and taken individually, they are also known in prostate cancer. The authors noted that up to 75% of prostate cancer survivors may experience cancer-related fatigue. Urethral pain is reported by 16% following radiation therapy. And on average, 18% of survivors have depression after treatment.
However, the authors sought to explore the specific association of this cluster with prostate cancer. Besides wanting to know the prevalence of this sequelae in prostate cancer, the researchers also aimed to understand more about the factors shared by these survivors.
While the incidence of prostate cancer is rising, so is survival, and so there are more men living with this cancer than any other malignancy, the authors noted.
The study took place in Ireland, where population-based cancer registries exist in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Participants came from both areas. A total of 6559 survivors were sent questionnaires 3348 men participated . They had been diagnosed with prostate cancer 2-18 years previously.
In addition, there was a strong association between the cluster and HRQoL .
Reference
Signs And Symptoms Of Low Back Pain Lower Back Pain Associated With Prostate Cancer
These may range from a plain pain to a stabbing or firing feeling. The discomfort might make it hard to move or stand directly. Pain that begins instantly is intense. It may happen throughout sporting activities or hefty training. Discomfort that lasts greater than 3 months is thought about chronic. If your discomfort is not better within 72 hours, you need to consult a physician.
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Management Of Prostate Cancer Pain
The same study reveals that pain has a major impact on numerous dimensions of patients quality of life. Patients with poorly controlled pain experience significant physical effects, such as decreased strength, limited mobility, and difficulty sleeping. In terms of psychological effects, patients with pain have increases in fear, anxiety, and depression and a decrease in their overall enjoyment of life. Socially, pain has an effect on the patients ability to form and maintain relationships with others and also places an increased burden on caregivers. However, there are treatment options for the management of pain in patients with prostate cancer.
Pharmacologic management of pain usually start with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , and opioid analgesics, while step-two drugs include codeine, dihydrocodeine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, and propoxyphene. Step-three drugs are usually opioids like morphine, hydromorphone, oxycodone, and fentanyl. For a small percentage of people who cant take oral medication, transdermal fentanyl or rectal morphine suppositories are also options. Adjuvant medication may be used to increase the efficacy of opioids or to treat pain of a different etiology, and it includes tricyclic antidepressants, anticonvulsants and corticosteroids. Local therapy may consist of palliative radiation, multimodal chemotherapy or physical therapy, while systemic therapies refers to the use of bisphosphonates.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Prostate Cancer
As the second most common cancer found in American men, prostate cancer typically doesnt present warning signs in its early stages, but several signs and symptoms can signal the disease in its more advanced stages. Men of all ages need to watch for these warning signs. Here are the signs and symptoms we see most commonly among patients at Regional Cancer Care Associates.
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Tests Used To Check The Prostate
This first step lets your doctor hear and understand the “story” of your prostate concerns. You’ll be asked whether you have symptoms, how long you’ve had them, and how much they affect your lifestyle. Your personal medical history also includes any risk factors, pain, fever, or trouble passing urine. You may be asked to give a urine sample for testing.
Urinating Frequently At Night
As we get older, its common to have to get up during the night to use the washroom. This is callednocturia and can be completely normal.
However, if you notice a sudden change in how frequently you have to get up during the night, consult your doctor.
For example, if you used to sleep through the night but now have to get up at least once every night, it could just be a sign of aging or it could be something more.
If you have to get up to urinatemore than twice a night, or experience changes in your usual pattern, a prostate rectal exam could be helpful. Get a check-up right away. This could be an indication of an enlarged prostate or prostate cancer.
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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.
When To Have Psa Tests
The prostate gland produces a protein called PSA. Levels of this protein increase when the prostate is dealing with irritation, swelling, or the growth of cancerous cells.
High levels of PSA in the blood do not necessarily mean that an individual has prostate cancer, but they can suggest that further tests are necessary.
The Prostate Cancer Research Institute recommend that most men start having PSA tests at the age of 45.
Males with a higher risk of developing the disease, including those who are African-American or who have a family history of prostate cancer, should start undergoing these tests at age 40.
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Why Does Prostate Cancer Cause Hip Pelvis And Back Pain
Some men with prostate cancer dont realize the existence of the disease for many years until it gets worse and show some discomfort symptoms. The reason is due to this kind of cancer is more likely to grow very slowly, though in some cases it can grow rapidly and aggressively, too. Does it cause pain in the back, pelvis, and hip if so, when and why?
Understanding the symptoms of prostate cancer in general
As men get older, many of them experience a condition called prostate enlargement. Though it is a common condition, but the good news it is not cancerous tumor. But this enlargement can generate some similar symptoms to what happen in prostate cancer see more this issue in this section!
In general, the very early stage of prostate cancer doesnt lead to any signs and symptoms at all. Typically, the symptoms appear when the cancerous tumor has become large enough to cause pressure to the urethra .
*Picture credit to the Cancer Research UK
The pressure that hits the urethra can cause some problems in the way of how you pass the urine. Both cancerous and non-cancerous enlargement of prostate can press on the urethra, blocking the flow of urine. See in here for in-depth information about the symptoms of prostate cancer.
If the cancer does cause the symptoms, some of them may include: