Main content Prostate Cancer, Advanced or Metastatic

Prostate Cancer, Advanced or Metastatic

Topic Overview

Is this topic for you?

This topic is about prostate cancer that has spread or come back after treatment. For information on prostate cancer that has not spread outside the prostate (localized prostate cancer), see the topic Reference Prostate Cancer.

What is prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer is a group of cells that grows faster than normal in a man's prostate gland. It can spread into other areas and kill normal tissue.

The Reference prostate gland Opens New Window Reference Opens New Window sits just below a man's bladder. It makes part of the fluid for Reference semen Opens New Window. In young men, the prostate is about the size of a walnut. It usually grows larger as you grow older.

The cancer may be one of these types:

Reference Locally advanced prostate cancer Opens New Window. This is cancer that has grown through the outer rim of the prostate and into nearby tissue.
Reference Metastatic prostate cancer Opens New Window. This is cancer that has spread, or metastasized, to the Reference lymph nodes Opens New Window Reference Opens New Window or other parts of the body.
Reference Recurrent prostate cancer Opens New Window. This is cancer that has come back after it was treated. The cancer can come back in the prostate, near the prostate, or in another part of the body. If it comes back in another part of the body—often the bones—it is still called prostate cancer, because it started in the prostate.

What causes prostate cancer?

Experts don't know what causes prostate cancer. But they believe that getting older and having a family history of prostate cancer raise your chance of getting it.

What are the symptoms?

Sometimes there are no symptoms of either locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer.

When they do appear, symptoms of locally advanced prostate cancer include:

Waking up many times during the night to urinate.
Having trouble starting your urine stream, having a weaker-than-normal stream, or not being able to urinate at all.
Having pain or a burning feeling when you urinate.
Having blood in your urine.
Having a deep pain or stiffness in your lower back, upper thighs, or hips.

Symptoms of metastatic prostate cancer may include:

Bone pain.
Weight loss.
Swelling in your legs and feet.

How is prostate cancer diagnosed?

Your doctor will do a Reference digital rectal exam Opens New Window, in which he or she puts a gloved, lubricated finger in your rectum to feel your prostate. You may also have a blood test called a Reference prostate-specific antigen (PSA) Opens New Window test. These tests will help find out if you have prostate cancer or if your prostate cancer has come back.

Your doctor also may do a Reference biopsy Opens New Window. In this test, your doctor takes samples of tissue from your prostate gland or from the area where the cancer may have spread and sends the samples to a lab for testing. A biopsy is the only way to know for sure that you have prostate cancer.

If you have had prostate cancer before, your doctor may also order a Reference bone scan Opens New Window, Reference CT scan Opens New Window, or Reference MRI Opens New Window to see if it has come back or spread.

Learning that you have cancer that has spread or come back can be very hard. Some people find that it helps to talk about their feelings with their family and friends. You may also want to talk with your doctor or with other people who have had this kind of cancer. Your local American Cancer Society chapter can help you find a support group.

How is it treated?

Your treatment choices depend on your overall health, how fast the cancer is growing, and how far it has spread.

Locally advanced prostate cancer may be treated with surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, or a combination of these.

Treatment of metastatic cancer focuses on slowing the spread of the cancer and relieving symptoms, such as bone pain. It also can help you feel better and live longer. Treatment may include hormone therapy, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy.

In some cases, men may be able to wait before starting treatment (active surveillance). But older men with other serious health problems may decide not to have treatment except for what is needed to treat any symptoms (watchful waiting).

Frequently Asked Questions

Learning about prostate cancer:	Reference What is advanced prostate cancer? Opens New Window Reference What is recurrent prostate cancer? Opens New Window Reference What is metastatic prostate cancer? Opens New Window Reference What causes prostate cancer? Reference Can it be prevented? Reference What are the symptoms? Reference What increases my risk?
Being diagnosed:	Reference How will my doctor diagnose prostate cancer? Reference What do "stage" and "grade" mean? Reference What is a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test? Reference What is a biopsy?
Getting treatment:	Reference What type of treatment will I have? Reference Which medicines are used to treat prostate cancer? Reference What is radiation therapy? Reference Will I need surgery? Reference What are clinical trials?
Ongoing concerns:	Reference What can I do about nausea and vomiting? Reference Reference Is cancer treatment painful?
Living with prostate cancer:	Reference Are there steps I can take at home to manage my prostate cancer? Reference How will prostate cancer affect my daily life?
End-of-life issues:	Reference How can I prepare for end-of-life issues?

By:	Reference Healthwise Staff	Last Revised: Reference October 22, 2012
Medical Review:	Reference E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Reference Christopher G. Wood, MD, FACS - Urology, Oncology

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Reference Terms of Use. Reference How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.