Prostate Cancer Prognosis

The prostate cancer prognosis you get depends upon how advanced your prostate cancer is. Stages I and II prostate cancer are much easier to treat as the cancer cells are confined to the prostate gland itself, and not the surrounding tissues. In stages I and II, your doctor may advise you to undergo hormone therapy or radiation therapy to kill the cancer cells and keep new cancer cells from spreading. Hormone therapy can be challenging for a man to deal with because it brings on feminine symptoms, such as breast enlargement, impotence or lowered libido, and menopausal hot flashes and mood swings.

Radiation therapies have come a long way and they are very effective at shrinking tumors and killing cancer cells without destroying healthy tissues. In most stage I and II prostate cancer cases, the prognosis is very good. Men can typically expect to beat the cancer through the treatments recommended by their doctors.

Stage III and IV prostate cancer is trickier to treat because cancer cells have spread to the surrounding tissues, lymph nodes, and possibly other organs. In these cases, a combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy is necessary to eradicate the cancer cells in the body. This combination of treatments can be very taxing on the patient, as the side effects of chemo are nausea, vomiting, sores in the mouth, and extreme fatigue. Surgery will typically leave a man permanently impotent, which can be extremely upsetting news.

A Good Prognosis Is within Your Control

Believe it or not, you can play a large part in the prognosis of your cancer. First, getting tested annually will allow your doctors to detect prostate cancer in its earliest stages, even before symptoms present themselves. Second, maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine can also boost your immunity and help you fight cancer. Finally, getting support from counselors, loved ones, and your doctor can greatly help you cope with this challenging disease.