How long can one live after prostate cancer has spread to the bones?

Written by Zhou Zi Hua
Oncology
Updated on September 17, 2024
00:00
00:00

Bone metastasis is the most common site of metastasis for prostate cancer. If a patient with prostate cancer develops bone metastasis, it means that the cancer is no longer in its early stages and has progressed to a more advanced stage. However, unlike other cancers with a higher degree of malignancy, if the tumor is highly sensitive to hormone therapy, with standardized treatment, the patient's survival time can be significantly extended.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
53sec home-news-image

Is prostate cancer stage T2 considered early or mid-stage?

Prostate cancer stage T2 is considered early or intermediate, but it is also necessary to understand the patient's N and M status. If the patient is at stage T2, and both N and M are at stage 0, then it is considered early-stage prostate cancer. If the primary lesion is at stage T2, but N1 is present and there is no metastasis (M), then the patient is considered to have intermediate-stage prostate cancer. If the primary lesion is at stage T2, but there is metastasis in N and M, then the patient's clinical stage is considered advanced. The clinical staging of prostate cancer not only requires understanding of the primary lesion T, but also involves the regional lymph nodes N and distant metastasis M.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
1min 8sec home-news-image

Best treatment methods for prostate cancer

Treatment methods for prostate cancer include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and endocrine therapy, among others. The choice of specific treatment methods is comprehensively considered based on the stage of the disease and the patient's physical condition. Early-stage prostate cancer patients can choose prostatectomy or radical radiotherapy. For patients with locally advanced T3 or T4 stage prostate cancer, since the efficacy of prostatectomy alone is relatively poor, radiotherapy combined with endocrine therapy can be chosen. For patients with metastatic prostate cancer, those who are found to have bone metastasis or distant metastasis from the onset, endocrine therapy is primarily used. If endocrine therapy is ineffective or fails, chemotherapy can also be adopted for these late-stage metastatic prostate cancer patients. If the bone metastasis causes pain, local radiotherapy can also be used to alleviate the pain symptoms.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
50sec home-news-image

Is chemotherapy for prostate cancer painful?

For patients with advanced prostate cancer, endocrine therapy is primarily used. Chemotherapy is generally chosen when endocrine therapy is resistant and ineffective. The side effects of chemotherapy are similar to those of other chemotherapy treatments. The first is the gastrointestinal side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, or bloating and abdominal pain. The second is bone marrow suppression, which leads to a decrease in white blood cells and platelets. The side effects of chemotherapy vary with each patient's constitution and other factors. In most cases, with the support of medications for stomach protection, anti-nausea, and increasing white blood cells, the majority of patients can generally tolerate the treatment.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhou Zi Hua
Oncology
43sec home-news-image

Where can prostate cancer metastasize to?

When prostate cancer invades surrounding tissues and structures, it can cause a variety of clinical symptoms, including urinary irritation, urinary obstruction, urinary incontinence, sciatica, erectile dysfunction, etc., and can compress causing unilateral or bilateral hydronephrosis. In severe cases, when the tumor invades the rectum, it can cause difficulty in defecation or colon obstruction. When the cancer metastasizes to the bones, it can cause bone pain and pathological fractures, and may also spread to the lungs.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xiao Li
Oncology
59sec home-news-image

Can prostate cancer patients eat milk and eggs?

Prostate cancer is the most common malignant tumor in the male urinary reproductive system, with 80% of cases occurring in elderly individuals over the age of 65. From an etiological perspective, a high-fat diet may be a contributing factor to prostate cancer. However, we know that malignant tumors are consumptive diseases, and nutritional status is crucial during the treatment and recovery process, especially in elderly individuals with weaker constitutions. Therefore, patients with malignant tumors should ensure adequate nutrition intake, particularly protein intake. Milk and eggs are common foods for the general population and offer a cost-effective source of nutrition. They can be included in the diet of prostate cancer patients. Of course, dietary intake should focus on healthy proportions. It is not about consuming only milk and eggs at every meal but maintaining a normal and healthy dietary balance, which is better for the patient.