Advanced Prostate Cancer happens when the cancer has metastasized to other organs like bones and may be termed as metastatic or secondary prostate cancer. The current treatment options do not offer much in terms of treatment but with proper management strategies they can be controlled for several years. Advanced prostate cancer usually spreads to the bones and lymph nodes but may also affect the urethra, bladder, ureters and rectum. In cases where the cancer starts growing again, treatment options are available to counter the same.

The future perspective

Advanced prostate cancer can bring upon queries trying to understand the benefit offered by the treatment suggested and how successful the treatment options would be. This is called as Outlook or Prognosis and there are no hard and fast rules to commit the exact benefits or chances of survival. It is difficult to commit given that each cancer is different and will affect each man differently. Knowing your outlook comes handy to set the right expectations and to understand what the patient can do to increase the chances of survival. It is also good to know that not all men with who have advanced prostate cancer will die from their cancer. This includes management of symptoms and taking care of emotional and practical support which is termed as Palliative Care. It aims to manage pain and provides emotional, physical, practical and spiritual support. It may be started from the times prostate cancer is first diagnosed. In most of the cases, Hormone Therapy or Androgen Deprivation Therapy can be helpful for several years. There are other specific treatment options like chemotherapy, use of cancer vaccines and monoclonal antibodies that are also available to address the symptoms as well.

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It is essential to know that many treatment alternatives might not be efficacious in advanced prostate cancer especially in metastatic prostate cancer and castrate-resistant prostate cancer and hormone therapy works well in them. What the patient needs to understand is that these are not curable and newer treatments can only extend the quality and length of life for men. Read more to Know everything about Prostate Biopsy.