What Is The Treatment For Prostate Cancer
If you test positive for cancer, then there are many different methods of treatment available.
Your GP and allotted cancer support team will talk through the best options for you.
This may include radiotherapy, high-intensity focused ultrasound , cryotherapy, hormone treatment, or surgically removing the prostate.
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However, you might not need treatment at all.
If the cancer is at an early stage and not causing symptoms, your doctor may suggest either watchful waiting or active surveillance.
This would depend on many factors including your age and overall health.
When Should I Be Evaluated For Prostate Cancer
Starting around age 40, men should begin having annual PSA blood tests to screen for prostate cancer. Patients with elevated risk factors such as a family history of prostate cancer, being of a certain ethnicity, and exposure to chemicals like Agent Orange may require earlier or more frequent prostate cancer evaluations, which should include PSA testing and a digital rectal exam .
Although early prostate cancer often causes no symptoms, men who are experiencing symptoms of prostate cancer should still discuss them with their provider, who may recommend a dedicated prostate cancer evaluation. Some of the most common signs and symptoms of prostate cancer include:
- Frequent urination
Stage 2 Prostate Cancer Survival Rate
Stage 2 prostate cancer occurs when the tumor starts spreading within the limits of the prostate gland. Stage 2 can follow three different scenarios.
- Stage IIA: PSA reading nears 20ng/mL, the Gleason score remains at 6. The location of the tumor is in one-half of the prostate gland
- Stage IIB: PSA reading nears 20ng/mL, the Gleason score reaches 7. The location of the tumor is in one-half of the prostate gland or on both of its sides
- Stage IIC: PSA reading nears 20ng/mL, the Gleason score is at either 7 or 8. The location of the tumor is in one-half of the prostate gland or on both of its sides.
Stage 2 prostate cancer survival rate for the first 5 years records a slight decrease from 99% to 97.5%. This means that around 97 out of 100 men diagnosed with prostate cancer are going to survive their disease for at least 5 years.
The treatment plan for stage 2 prostate cancer takes into consideration the removal of the prostate gland as well as the nearby lymph nodes. Hormone therapy is discussed with the patient but only when administered along with radiation therapy. Brachytherapy is also anticipated. Active surveillance remains a viable treatment plan for stage IIA and IIB prostate cancer cases.
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Survival Of Prostate Cancer
Survival depends on many factors. No one can tell you exactly how long you will live.
Below are general statistics based on large groups of people. Remember, they cant tell you what will happen in your individual case.
Survival for prostate cancer is generally good, particularly if you are diagnosed early.
Diagnosing Stage 2 Prostate Cancer
A stage 2 prostate cancer diagnosis can only be made after a number of tests have been given. Such tests may include:
A Needle Biopsy : a needle is inserted into the seminal vesicles, which are glands connected to the prostate, and a sample of fluid is taken. This sample is then analyzed using a microscope. If a certain level of cancerous cells are found and the cancer is still localized to the prostate, a diagnosis of second stage prostate cancer may be made.
Imaging Tests: MRI or CT scans determine whether tumors are present and the cancer has spread.
Digital Rectal Examination: a finger is inserted in the rectum to feel for any abnormalities of the prostate area.
PSA Test: prostate-specific antigen is a protein created in the prostate gland and found in the blood. Higher levels of PSA may indicate prostate cancer .
Gleason Test: the Gleason grading system assesses how aggressive a cancer is. The arrangement of cancer cells are examined underneath a microscope and patterns of cells are graded.
After the relevant tests have been taken, prostate cancer can be staged using a four stage system.
Currently, there are two main systems used to stage prostate cancer. The TNM system uses four categories 1-4 and the Whitmore-Jewett system uses four categories: A-D.
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Outlook For Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer
Many men with locally advanced prostate cancer have treatment that aims to get rid of their cancer. For some men, this treatment can be very successful and they may live for many years without their cancer coming back or causing them any problems. For others, treatment may be less successful and the cancer may come back. If this happens, you might need further treatment. Read more about the risk of your cancer coming back.
Some men with locally advanced prostate cancer will have treatment that aims to help keep their cancer under control rather than get rid of it completely. For example, if you have hormone therapy on its own, it can help to keep the cancer under control, usually for several years. And there are other treatments available if your hormone therapy stops working.
Gleason Score Vs Grade Groups
The International Society of Urological Pathology released a revised prostate cancer grading system in 2014. The grade group system seeks to simplify Gleason scores and give a more accurate diagnosis.
One of the major problems with the Gleason score is that some scores can be made up in different ways. For example, a score of 7 can mean:
- 3 + 4. The 3 pattern is the most common in the biopsy and 4 is the second most common. This pattern is considered favorable intermediate risk.
- 4 + 3. The 4 pattern is the most common in the biopsy and 3 is the second most common. This pattern is considered unfavorable and may mean local or metastatic spread.
So, although both situations give a Gleason score of 7, they actually have very different prognoses.
Heres an overview of how the two grading systems compare:
| Cancer grade | |
|---|---|
| grade group 5 | 910 |
Not all hospitals have switched to the grade group system. Many hospitals give both grade group and Gleason scores to avoid confusion until grade groups become more widely used.
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What Is The Most Effective Treatment For Prostate Cancer
For most men with prostate cancer, the most effective treatment will be surgery to remove the tumor or the entire prostate. The different types of prostate cancer surgery include:
- Radiofrequency ablation A minimally invasive procedure, RFA uses ultrasound or another imaging technique to guide a needle electrode into the cancerous tumor. The electrode then emits high-frequency electrical currents to destroy cancer cells.
- Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy During this procedure, a surgeon will remove the entire prostate. The surgeon will make a few small incisions and insert special instrumentsone of which has a video camera attachedto complete the procedure.
- Robotic surgery For certain procedures, surgeons can use robotic assistance, which can improve precision.
Some patients may also undergo radiation therapy after their surgery to eliminate any lingering cancer cells.
As with other cancers, prostate cancer has the most favorable survival rates when patients are diagnosed early. When prostate cancer is detected before it has spread to the lymph nodes , it is most responsive to treatment and, therefore, more easily cured.
How Soon Can We Detect This
One of the main advantages of surgery over radiotherapy for prostate cancer is that following prostate removal, the PSA should be very low , which we can of course detect with blood tests. If metastasis occurs, because the metastatic cells originated in the prostate and therefore make PSA, the PSA level in the blood starts to rise. Once it has reached a given threshold additional or salvage treatment will be discussed.
A PSA level of more than 0.2 ng/ml defines biochemical recurrence. At this stage the cancer is still much too small to be seen on scanning. If it can be seen on a scan it is termed clinical recurrence, which generally does not occur until the PSA level is more than 0.5 ng/ml. Symptoms, such as bone pain, dont usually occur until the PSA is more than 20 ng/ml.
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Is Prostate Cancer Curable
Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer among men, second only to skin cancer. Learning that one has any type of cancer isnt easy, but the first question on most patients minds after diagnosis is, is prostate cancer curable?
The short answer is yes, prostate cancer can be cured, when detected and treated early. The vast majority of prostate cancer cases are discovered in the early stages, making the tumors more likely to respond to treatment. Treatment doesnt always have to mean surgery or chemotherapy, either. Non-invasive radiation therapy can effectively treat prostate cancer in the case of Pasadena CyberKnife, radiosurgery treatment generally takes less than a week, and you can typically resume your normal activities the same day you receive treatment.
How To Book A Prostate Cancer Check
There is no special process to booking a prostate check-up, so simply book an appointment with your GP, and let them know on the day that you would like to be checked.
If you would be more comfortable being checked by a male doctor, then you should let the receptionist know when youre booking.
During your appointment, your GP will access the risk of you having prostate cancer, based on factors such as your age and ethnicity.
They will then be able to perform the initial exam.
Prostate Cancer UK has also created a quick 30-second test to access your risk at home.
Youll be asked three questions on your age, ethnicity, and family history of the disease during the test as these can all factor into the chance that you will get it.
However, it is still recommended that you get checked by your doctor even if your risk factor is low.
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How Can You Tell The Difference Between Prostate Cancer And Bph
Although screenings for prostate cancer are one tool for early detecti. But hearing the words can still be scary. It may grow slowly and its typically treatable. If breast cancer is diagnosed at an early enough stage, its treatable. One in seven men in the united states will receive a prostate cancer diagnosis during his lifetime.
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How Is Stage 2 Prostate Cancer Treated
Your doctor will recommend treatment based on several factors, including your age, overall health, and whether or not youre having symptoms.
Your doctor might consider active surveillance if you have a slow-growing cancer and no symptoms. That means you wont actually be treating the cancer, but you will be monitoring it carefully with your doctor. This might involve visiting your doctor every six months, which would include a digital rectal exam and PSA testing. You might also need an annual prostate biopsy.
Active surveillance is only an option if you can commit to following up as advised by your doctor. Treatment will be considered if there are any changes.
Treatment may involve a combination of therapies, some of which are:
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What Does A Prostate Exam Include
Many people feel nervous or embarrassed about getting their prostate checked, but it is a painless and fairly quick process.
The examination may include the doctor checking your prostate gland.
To do this your doctor puts a gloved finger into your rectum to check for abnormal signs, such as a lumpy, hard prostate. This test is called a digital rectal examination .
You might also be asked to provide a urine sample and undergo a blood test, while further testing can also include an MRI scan or biopsy.
Detecting Prostate Cancer Early
Thanks to advances in screening options for prostate cancer, it is very possible to detect this cancer early to improve a patients outlook. Prostate cancer screening is recommended for men ages 50 to 70, as well as younger men with risk factors, such as obesity or a family history of prostate cancer. The screening process typically involves a digital rectal examination , in which a physician inserts a gloved finger into the rectum, and a blood test called the prostate-specific antigen .
PSA is a protein produced by prostate tissue cancerous cells emit more PSA than noncancerous cells. Therefore, an elevated PSA level in a blood test may indicate prostate cancer. However, this screening test is not infallible, as there are other, less-serious reasons for an elevated PSA level, such as prostate inflammation, a urinary tract infection, benign prostatic hyperplasia or even the natural aging process. A physician will take other factors into account when evaluating a patients PSA levels and will recommend a biopsy if they suspect prostate cancer may be the cause.
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Advanced Prostate Cancer Life Expectancy And Prognosis
Typically, each stage of prostate cancer has different prognosis. In general, the advanced stages of the disease are much more difficult to treat than when the disease is still at early stage not yet spread. What are factors that affect the outlook and life expectancy of patient? The following are some statistics for each stage of this disease.
You might also like to know more about how fast prostate cancer spreads and what are the most common sites /organs of the body for the metastasis of this cancer in this section, before continuing
One thing you need to clearly understand that there is no any statistic that can be detail enough to tell you about what will happen. In other words, this statistic is only purposed for general information! In fact, each case of cancer is unique. So, there is always a chance and a hope for anyone who diagnosed with cancer.
Advanced prostate cancer symptoms
The symptoms of the disease are more likely to occur when the disease at advanced stage. This is the most challenging for doctors, because the early warning signs that are more likely to not occur will increase the number of patients diagnosed with the disease at later stages.
Once the cancerous tumor is bigger in size and also spreads to nearby sites or even other distinct organs of the body, there will be more complications that can be generated. These may include:
Understanding n-years survival statistics
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The Stages Of Prostate Cancer: What You Need To Know
After a prostate cancer diagnosis, your oncologist will refer to the stage of your cancer. All cancers are categorized into four distinct stages, each of which identifies the progress of the growth of cancerous cells within clinically defined standards. These stages help doctors determine the most appropriate care for each patient based on his or her condition, and can also provide easy-to-understand context for your diagnosis. Learn more about the stages of prostate cancer, how each stage will affect your treatment plan and the survival rates for each stage, then contact Regional Cancer Care Associates to schedule a consultation.
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Management Of Diabetes Affects Survival Rates In Prostate Cancer Patients
PHILADELPHIA Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer found in men in the United States, affecting 14 percent, whereas diabetes affects about 9 percent of the population. Even though both conditions are often present in the same individual, it has not been clear how a diabetes diagnosis affects clinical outcomes for prostate cancer. Research at Fox Chase Cancer Center Temple Health showed that the answer depends on what type of anti-diabetic drugs, if any, prostate cancer patients are taking.
The implication of the study is that prevention and control of diabetes is important, particularly among cancer patients, said lead study investigator Nicholas G. Zaorsky, MD, resident physician in radiation oncology at Fox Chase. Men who are having their prostate cancer treated should be mindful of any other conditions they have been diagnosed with, and they should continue to see physicians who will manage these conditions appropriately.
To examine the link between diabetes and prostate cancer, Zaorsky and his collaborators reviewed their prospectively collected institutional database of 3,176 men undergoing intensity-modulated radiation therapy for localized prostate cancer. They then compared the outcomes of the 2,576 patients without a history of type 2 diabetes and the 600 patients with a history of type 2 diabetes.
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General Prostate Cancer Survival Rate
According to the American Cancer Society:
- The relative 5-year survival rate is nearly 100%
- The relative 10-year survival rate is 98%
- The 15-year relative survival rate is 91%
Note: Relative survival rate means the percentage of patients who live amount of years after their initial diagnosis.
Keep in mind, however, that because the compiled list figures are of cancers diagnosed up to 15 years ago, you may have an even greater chance of survival than these indicate due to advances in prostate cancer treatment technology
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Understanding The Statistics: Cancer Survival
It is important to remember that all cancer survival numbers are based on averages across huge numbers of people. These numbers cannot predict what will happen in your individual case.
Survival rates will not tell you how long you will live after you have been diagnosed with bladder cancer. But, these numbers can give you an idea of how likely your treatment will be successful. Also, survival rates take into account your age at diagnosis but not whether you have other health conditions too.