Home > Cancer and Treatments > Prostate Cancer > Prostate Cancer Information

Prostate Cancer: Metastatic

Definition

In metastatic prostate cancer, the tumor has spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body. This means that the primary tumor sheds cancer cells, which travel through the bloodstream and lymph system and lodge in other parts of the body (usually the bones). There they begin to grow new tumors. The actual cause of metastatic prostate cancer is unknown.

Getting Diagnosed / Treatment

Metatstatic prostate cancer is treated in the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center's Multidisciplinary Urologic Oncology Clinic. Research into prostate cancer is underway within our Urologic Oncology Program.

Read more about:

What are the symptoms of metastatic prostate cancer?

Often it has no symptoms. The most common symptom of spread of prostate cancer is bone pain, especially of the back and pelvis.

How is it diagnosed?

The doctor will review your symptoms and examine you. X-ray evaluation is important in the area where symptoms are occurring and/or areas where symptoms commonly occur. For painful areas, bone scans and/or CT scans may be used in place of plain x-rays to look for the spread of cancer.

How is it treated?

The treatment for metastatic prostate cancer depends on:

• how large the tumor is
• how much it has spread to other parts of the body
• which treatments have already been used
• one's overall physical condition.

Some of the treatment options, which may be used alone or in combinations, are:

• Orchiectomy: A surgeon may remove one or both testicles to reduce the amount of testosterone (male hormone) that is produced.
• Hormone treatments: Estrogen, a female hormone, may be prescribed to help treat prostate cancer.
• Chemotherapy: Anticancer drugs may be used to try to kill the cancer cells.
• Radiotherapy: If the cancer has spread to the bone an option is to expose the cancerous area to radiation. This may shrink the tumor or destroy some of the cancer cells. It often decreases pain associated with spread to the bone.

How long will the effects last?

No study has yet demonstrated improved life expectancy by detecting or treating prostate cancer at earlier stages.

How can I take care of myself?

You can help yourself by eating a balanced diet, getting plenty of rest, and following your doctor's advice. In addition, take more time to relax. Ask your doctor any questions you may have about the course of the disease, treatments, side effects of the treatments, sexuality, support groups, and anything else that concerns you. Ask your doctor about some alternative methods for pain control (such as relaxation techniques, guided imagery, and hypnosis).

Can I help prevent prostate cancer metastasis?

Because the cause of prostate cancer and its metastases is not known, doctors do not know how to prevent it. In the hope of early diagnosis leading to longer life and fewer complications, all men, and especially men over 40, should have a doctor examine the prostate every year.

Return to the top of the page

See Also

• Urologic/Prostate Clinical Trials
  on the Engage website
  
  
• Prostate Cancer Detection
  
  
• Prostate Specific Antigen Screening
  
  
• Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy at the University of Michigan