Prostate Cancer, Advanced or Metastatic-When To Call a Doctor
Prostate Cancer, Advanced or Metastatic-When To Call a Doctor
Call your doctor immediately if you:
Call your doctor to schedule an appointment if you have unexplained:
Prostate Cancer: Alternative Treatment
If you're thinking about alternative therapy for prostate cancer, learn about the types available. Remember, talk to your doctor if you are considering using an alternative treatment. This link will take you to the National Cancer Institute's web site. Thinking About Alternative Treatment for Prostate Cancer?
Read the Prostate Cancer: Alternative Treatment article > >
Active surveillance means a man will be watched closely by his doctor and have regular checkups and tests, including prostatebiopsies. If the cancer starts to grow more quickly, he will have other treatment.
Active surveillance is an option for men with low-risk cancer who expect to live more than 10 years and don't have other chronic health problems. It may be an option for some men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer. But active surveillance usually is not a choice when prostate cancer has spread.
Sometimes men who have PSA levels that are rising slowly after having treatment may not start hormone treatments right away but be monitored with active surveillance.
Watchful waiting means a man will be watched closely by his doctor but not have treatments that try to get rid of the cancer. If an older man has serious health problems and isn't expected to live more than 10 years, he may not be able to handle treatments or even want to have treatments except those needed to keep him comfortable (palliative care).
Doctors who can treat locally advanced and metastatic prostate cancer include:
To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.
- Are completely unable to urinate.
- Have painful urination and a fever higher than 100°F (37.78°C), chills, or body aches.
- Have blood or pus in your urine or semen.
Call your doctor to schedule an appointment if you have unexplained:
Recommended Related to Prostate Cancer
Prostate Cancer: Alternative Treatment
If you're thinking about alternative therapy for prostate cancer, learn about the types available. Remember, talk to your doctor if you are considering using an alternative treatment. This link will take you to the National Cancer Institute's web site. Thinking About Alternative Treatment for Prostate Cancer?
Read the Prostate Cancer: Alternative Treatment article > >
- Weight loss.
- Dull, aching pain in your lower back, pelvis, or hips.
- Swollen lymph nodes in the groin area. These nodes are usually not tender.
Active surveillance or watchful waiting
Active surveillance means a man will be watched closely by his doctor and have regular checkups and tests, including prostatebiopsies. If the cancer starts to grow more quickly, he will have other treatment.
Active surveillance is an option for men with low-risk cancer who expect to live more than 10 years and don't have other chronic health problems. It may be an option for some men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer. But active surveillance usually is not a choice when prostate cancer has spread.
Sometimes men who have PSA levels that are rising slowly after having treatment may not start hormone treatments right away but be monitored with active surveillance.
Watchful waiting means a man will be watched closely by his doctor but not have treatments that try to get rid of the cancer. If an older man has serious health problems and isn't expected to live more than 10 years, he may not be able to handle treatments or even want to have treatments except those needed to keep him comfortable (palliative care).
Who to see
Doctors who can treat locally advanced and metastatic prostate cancer include:
To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.
