Beyond the Diagnosis: Exploring Treatment Options for Advanced Prostate Cancer

ByMrMed

What Is Prostate Cancer?

It is a type of cancer that develops in the prostate gland of males. The prostate gland is a walnut-shaped small gland responsible for producing seminal fluid, which aids in the transportation of sperm.

What Is Advanced Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer is a different type of cancer in which patients are often unaware due to its asymptomatic nature, which leads to the spread of cancer beyond the prostate gland. Advanced prostate cancer needs advanced treatment like immunotherapy, target therapy, or combination therapy to treat and prevent the spread of cancer in the patients. Today, we are going to explore various treatment options for advanced prostate cancer in this article.

How To Analyze The Symptoms Of Advanced Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer can be analyzed by the following symptoms, which are given below:

  1. Painful urination: Individuals may experience a burning sensation or pain during urination 
  2. Trouble urinating and emptying the bladder: You may have difficulty urinating and emptying the bladder.
  3. Frequent urination: You may experience an urge to urinate adequately.
  4. Blood in the urine or semen: Individuals may experience blood in their urine or semen.
  5. Pain: in the back, hips, or pelvis.
  6. Tiredness: You may experience an unexplained tiredness.
  7. Swelling: You may experience swelling in the legs or pelvic region.
  8. Numbness: You may experience numbness or pain in the hips, legs, or feet.
  9. Bone pain: You may experience persistent bone pain that leads to fractures.

What Is The Diagnosis Method Of Prostate Cancer?

  • Blood Tests: Your doctor may advise you to do a blood test to measure the body’s PSA (prostate-specific antigen). 
  • Digital Rectal Exam (DRE): DRE is a physical examination of your prostate by your healthcare provider.
  • Imaging and Scans: Your doctor may advise you to do an MRI, CT, PET, or X-ray.
  • Biopsy: Your doctor may advise you to do a biopsy of the prostate cancer tissues.

What Is The Best Choice Of Treatment For Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer?

The treatment for stage 4 or advanced prostate may help to slow down the growth of cancer but can’t be used to cure it. Some of the treatment options for advanced prostate cancer include:

1. Hormone therapy:

Hormone therapy is a treatment that helps to stop or lower the testosterone level, which fuels the prostate cancer cells in the body. 

There are two types of hormone therapy or androgen deprivation therapy (LHRH/GnRH medications) that are used to treat prostate cancer in patients: agonists and antagonists therapy. Non-steroidal anti-androgens like Caluran CP 50mg Tablet (Bicalutamide) are used along with Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone (LHRH) analog or after the surgical removal of testicles in the patients.

2. Radiation therapy:

Radiation therapy uses radioactive beams to kill the cancer cells in prostate cancer patients. Individuals in the last stage of prostate cancer are suggested to treat the symptoms and relieve the pain of prostate cancer with radioactive beams.

3. Surgery: 

Usually, advanced stages of prostate cancer may not be treated with surgery. However, it can be used as a combination therapy along with chemotherapy or radiation therapy or to relieve prostate cancer symptoms in patients. Radical prostatectomy and lymph node removal surgery are the two options that may be included in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer.

4. Chemotherapy:

Chemotherapy is a type of medicine that is used to kill prostate cancer cells in individuals. They can help to slow down the growth of prostate cancer and also aid in relieving the symptoms.

5. Targeted therapy:

Target therapy are medicines which are used to particularly target specific molecules that are involved in the growth of cancer cells. Target medicines like Rucaparib (Rubraca) can be used to treat metastatic cancer in patients.

6. Immunotherapy:

Immunotherapy is a medication that is used to treat prostate cancer with the help of our own body’s immune system. Medications like sipuleucel are approved for the treatment of prostate cancer in patients.

7. Bone-building medicines:

Patients who are affected by advanced prostate cancer may be prescribed bone-building medicine to reduce the pain caused by metastatic prostate cancer. This medicine can help to treat prostate cancer, which has spread to the bones.

Patients with locally advanced prostate cancer (cancer has spread outside the prostate gland but hasn’t spread to lymph nodes or any other parts) can be treated with combination radiation therapy with hormone therapy, surgery, and radiation therapy. 

Conclusion

Advanced prostate cancer is a severe health crisis that needs a proper treatment plan to manage the symptoms and improve the overall rate of the individuals. Spreading awareness about early diagnosis can help to prevent the risk of metastatic cancer in the patients.