Context:

Metastatic prostate cancer, also known as stage 4 or advanced prostate cancer, occurs when cancer originating in the prostate gland spreads to distant parts of the body such as bones, lymph nodes, or organs like the liver and lungs. Symptoms of this advanced stage include urinary difficulties, bone pain, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, and potential liver and respiratory issues. Key risk factors include age, race, and family history, with older age and being Black significantly increasing risk. Diagnosis typically involves screening tests like PSA blood tests and biopsies to confirm cancer spread, while treatment focuses on managing symptoms and slowing the cancer’s growth through hormone therapy, surgery, and clinical trials. Despite the lack of a cure, treatment can improve quality of life, and regular screenings are advised to catch the disease early, although the five-year survival rate remains at 37% for metastatic cases.

Dive Deeper:

• Metastatic prostate cancer is the most advanced form of prostate cancer, characterized by the spread of cancer cells from the prostate to distant parts of the body such as bones, lymph nodes, liver, and lungs, causing severe complications and symptoms like bone pain, erectile dysfunction, and respiratory issues.

• The disease often progresses silently without symptoms in its early stages, making early detection challenging and frequently resulting in undetected spread by the time it is diagnosed. Risk factors include age, with a significant number of cases occurring in those over 65, racial predispositions, particularly among Black men, and family history.

• Diagnosis involves routine screenings such as a digital rectal exam, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests, and imaging tests like MRI and CT scans to assess the spread of cancer, often followed by a biopsy for confirmation.

• Treatment options aim to manage symptoms and improve quality of life, with hormone therapy being a common approach to slow cancer growth by reducing testosterone levels, while surgery may be used to alleviate urinary symptoms, and clinical trials offer access to experimental treatments.

• Management of metastatic prostate cancer also includes addressing bone-related complications with bisphosphonates and other medications to prevent bone damage and alleviate pain, as well as considering lifestyle adjustments and emotional support to help patients cope with the disease’s impact on daily life.