Contents
Problems with my prostate
What does 'benign enlargement of the
prostate' mean?
Benign prostatic enlargement (BPE) is the medical term used to
describe an enlarged prostate. It means a non-cancerous enlargement
of the prostate gland.
You might also hear it called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
Hyperplasia means an increase in the number of cells. It's this
increase in cells that causes the prostate to grow.
An enlarged prostate is common for men after the age of about 50.
About 4 out of every 10 men (40 per cent)1 over the age
of 50 and 3 out of 4 men (75 per cent)2 in their 70s
have urinary symptoms that are caused by an enlarged prostate.
Having an enlarged prostate is not the same as
having cancer.
Read more about the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of an enlarged
prostate.
Last updated: January 2013
To be reviewed: January 2015
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Risk factors
Am I more likely to get
prostate cancer if my father had it?
Inside every cell of our body is a set
of instructions called genes. These are inherited from our parents.
Genes control how the body grows, works and what it looks like.
Researchers have found some characteristics in genes that might be
passed on through your parents and could increase your risk of
developing prostate cancer.1 Only 5 to 10 per cent
of prostate cancers are thought to be strongly linked to an
inherited risk.2
- You are two and a half times more likely to get prostate cancer
if your father or brother has been diagnosed with it, compared with
a man who has no affected relatives.3
- There may be a higher chance of you developing prostate cancer
if your relative was under 60 when he was diagnosed or if you have
more than one close relative with prostate cancer.3
Last updated January 2013
To be reviewed January 2015
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Is it true that African
Caribbean men are more likely to get prostate cancer?
In the UK, African Caribbean men are
three times more likely to develop prostate cancer than white men
of the same age1. The reasons for this increased risk
are not yet clear but may be due to changes in their genes passed
down through generations.2-6
You can read more online or
download our leaflet, What
do you know about your prostate? Information for African Caribbean
men.
Last updated May 2011
To be reviewed May 2013
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Is there anything I
can do to prevent getting prostate cancer?
We don't know how to prevent prostate
cancer for certain, but a healthy diet and lifestyle may be
important. Eating healthily and being active can help you stay a
healthy weight. This may mean that you are less likely to be
diagnosed with aggressive1 or
advanced2-4 prostate cancer. A healthy lifestyle can
also improve your general wellbeing and reduce your risk of other
health problems such as diabetes, heart disease and some other
cancers.5
Read our pages on diet and
your risk of prostate cancer for more information.
Last updated December 2012
To be reviewed December 2014
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Diet
Do vitamin E and selenium
protect against prostate cancer?
Vitamin E
Previous research suggested that
vitamin E supplements might help prevent prostate cancer and help
protect against advanced cancer. More recent research has shown
that it does not have this effect and might even be
harmful1. You do need vitamin E in your diet; like
all vitamins it is vital for good health. The best way to get
enough vitamin E is through a balanced diet, without taking
supplements.
Selenium
There is evidence to suggest that selenium helps to protect
against prostate cancer2,3 and advanced prostate
cancer.2 Most of us in the UK don't have much selenium
in our diet, but some foods are a good source of it. These include
Brazil nuts, fish, seafood, liver, kidney and poultry. Taking
selenium supplements doesn't appear to have any benefit in
protecting against prostate cancer.2,3
Please visit our pages diet and prostate cancer for more
information on improving your diet.
Last updated December 2012
To be reviewed December 2014
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Does drinking alcohol
increase my risk of getting prostate cancer?
We don't know if alcohol has any
specific effects on men with prostate cancer. But we do know that
drinking too much alcohol can make you put on weight and causes
health problems such as heart disease and some other
cancers.1
The government advises that men should not regularly drink more
than three to four units of alcohol a day.2
|
How many units are in a drink?
- A pint of lager, beer or cider contains 2.8 units
- A 175ml glass of wine contains 2.1 units
- A 25ml measure of 40 per cent single spirit with mixer contains
1 unit
|
Your doctor or nurse can tell you
whether alcohol will affect your prostate cancer treatment. If you
have urinary problems after treatment, try to cut down on alcohol
as it can irritate the bladder and make the problems worse. You can
find out more about managing how much you drink from NHS
Choices.
Last updated December 2012
To be reviewed December 2014
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Does red wine help to
prevent prostate cancer?
Red wine contains natural compounds
called antioxidants that may help prevent damage to cells.
Antioxidants are found in the skin and seeds of grapes as well as
other fruits and vegetables. Red wine contains more antioxidants
than white wine because it is made with grape skin but white wine
is not.
In 2005, one small study found that
red wine may help to lower a man's risk of prostate
cancer1. However, since then larger studies have not
found this to be true2,3. Therefore there is not enough
evidence at present to say that red wine helps to prevent prostate
cancer.
Drinking a lot alcohol might increase
your risk of prostate cancer4,5. Drinking alcohol also
increases your risk of some other cancers and health problems such
as high blood pressure and stroke6-8. If you are
drinking alcohol, you should aim to stay within the recommended
limits for your general health6-8. If you would like to
know more about how diet may affect your risk of prostate cancer,
read our pages about healthy living.
Last updated December 2012
To be reviewed December 2014
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Screening
Why is there no
screening programme for prostate cancer?
Screening programmes aim to spot the
early signs of cancers in people who do not have any symptoms. In
the UK there are screening programmes for breast, cervical and
bowel cancer.
There is currently no screening
programme for prostate cancer. One reason for this is that the PSA
test is not reliable enough to be used as part of a screening
programme. Read about the advantages and disadvantages of the PSA
test.
Some studies show that screening using
the PSA test could reduce the number of deaths from agressive
prostate cancer but it could also increase the number of men having
unnecessary treatment for slow growing prostate cancer.
In most cases prostate cancer is slow
growing and may not cause any problems in a man's
lifetime.1 However, some men will have fast
growing cancer that needs treatment to delay or prevent it
spreading outside of the prostate gland.
At the moment, if you are diagnosed
with prostate cancer, there is no way to tell whether it will be
fast or slow growing, so many men will have treatment. Treatment
can cause significant side effects such as erectile dysfunction and
urinary problems. So, screening could lead to many men having worse
side effects from treatment than they would have had from the
cancer itself.
Although there is currently no
screening programme for all men, research is looking into how
screening could be used to target men who have a higher risk of
prostate cancer due to genes passed down in their families. Early
results suggest that regular PSA tests could be helpful for these
men, but we still need more information.2 Only a
small number of prostate cancers are thought to be linked to genes.
But if you have a strong family history you may want to discuss
this with your GP. Read more on family history and
prostate cancer.
If you are concerned about prostate
cancer, you can talk to your GP about your individual risk and talk
through the advantages and disadvantages of the PSA test. If you
then decide that you want a PSA test, you can ask your GP for
one.
Researchers have been looking at other
tests that may be more helpful in diagnosing prostate cancer. These
tests are not widely available but they include the following. Find
out more here.
Last updated July 2012
To be reviewed July 2014
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Diagnosis
What is the PCA3 test?
Researchers have been looking at a number of other tests that
may be helpful in diagnosing prostate cancer. These tests are not
widely available and more research is needed before we can be sure
how useful they are.
The PCA3 test is a urine test. Your doctor or nurse will massage
your prostate and then take a urine sample. Cells from the prostate
pass into the urine where they can be examined later with a special
genetic-based test. The PCA3 test might be useful in helping to
decide whether some men who have had PSA test should have a
biopsy.1 Or for monitoring men who have already
had prostate biopsies and no cancer was found.2
This test is not usually available on the NHS as more clinical
trials are needed first.3
Read more about the tests to diagnose prostate
cancer.
Last updated March 2012
To be reviewed March 2014
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What does 'Gleason score'
mean?
If your biopsy samples contain cancer, it is graded to show how
active the cancer is. The pathologist looks at the pattern made by
the cancer cells and gives that pattern a grade from 1 to 5. This
is called Gleason grading.
Gleason score
The pathologist may see more than one grade of cancer in the
biopsy samples. The grades of the most common pattern and the
pattern with the highest grade are added together to give a
'Gleason score'.
For example, if the biopsy shows that most of the cancer seen is
grade 3 and the highest grade of cancer seen is grade 4, the
Gleason will be 3+4, and the Gleason score will be 7.
The higher the Gleason score, the more aggressive the cancer and
the more likely it is to spread. Gleason scores run from 2 to 10.
However, today doctors usually only give a Gleason grade of 3 or
more, so your Gleason score will normally be between 6 and
10.1
It is important to remember that your Gleason score is one of a
few factors that helps give your doctor an overall idea of your
cancer. They will also need to look at your PSA result and how far
your cancer has spread (stage).
Read more about Gleason
grading.
Last updated March 2012
To be reviewed March 2014
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What is the 'stage' of my
cancer and what does this mean?
Staging is a way of recording how far the cancer has spread. The
most common method is the TNM (Tumour-Nodes- Metastases)system.
This system separately assesses the tumour (T), lymph nodes (N) and
secondary cancer or metastases (M).
Read more about staging.
Last updated March 2012
To be reviewed March 2014
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Treatment
What is a multi-disciplinary team
(MDT)?
This is the team of health professionals or specialists involved
in your care. The team may include:
- A consultant urologist: This is a doctor who
specialised in the urinary and reproductive systems. Urologists are
also surgeons.
- A consultant oncologist: This is a doctor who
specialised in cancer treatments other than surgery, for example
radiotherapy.
- A consultant radiologist: This is a doctor who
specialises in diagnosing medical conditions using X-rays and
scans.
- A consultant pathologist (also known as a
histopathologist): This is a doctor who specialised in studying
cells and tissues under the microscope to identify diseases. A
pathologist will examine biopsy samples to diagnose prostate
cancer.
- A clinical nurse specialist:This is a nurse
who specialises in a particular medical condition. They are also
sometimes known as key workers.
- A key worker: This is your main point of
contact: This is usually your specialist nurse but may be another
member of the multi-disciplinary team. They help to coordinate your
care and can guide you to the appropriate team member or sources of
information.
Last updated July 2012
To be reviewed July 2014
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How
will I know my cancer is spreading if I am having active
surveillance?
Active surveillance involves monitoring your prostate cancer
with regular tests, rather than treating it straight away. The
tests aim to find any changes that suggest the cancer is growing.
If any important changes are found then treatment can be offered at
an early stage, with the aim of getting rid of the cancer
completely.
Monitoring varies from hospital to hospital but if you choose
active surveillance, you will have the tests listed below.
Prostate specific antigen (PSA) tests
You will have these every three to six months. This measures the
amount of PSA in your blood. PSA is a protein produced by cells in
the prostate.
Digital rectal examinations (DRE)
You will have these every three to six months for two years, then
every year. A DRE is where a doctor or nurse feels your prostate
gland through the wall of your back passage (rectum).
Prostate biopsies
You will normally have these every few years, depending on your
treatment centre.1 A biopsy involves taking small
pieces of prostate tissue to look at more closely under a
microscope for signs of prostate cancer. This will be like the
biopsy you had when your cancer was first found. You may hear this
called a trans-rectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided prostate needle
biopsy.
Read more about the tests to
diagnose prostate cancer.
The tests aim to find any changes that suggest that the cancer is
growing. Treatment can then be offered at an early stage, with the
aim of getting rid of the cancer completely.
For further information, please read our page on active
surveillance.
Updated June 2012
To be reviewed June 2014
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Should I have surgery or
radiotherapy?
There may be more than one treatment that is suitable for you.
Your choice of treatment will depend on your test results, personal
preferences and a number of other factors.
Surgery (radical prostatectomy)
- This is an operation to remove the whole prostate gland. There
are several types of operation: laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery
- traditional open surgery, and
- robotic-assisted keyhole surgery.
You can read more about radical prostatectomy, the different types
of operation and possible side effects in our pages about
surgery.
External beam radiotherapy (EBRT)
This treatment uses high energy X-ray beams to destroy the
cancer cells. The X-ray beams are directed at the prostate from
outside the body.
You may be offered hormone therapy for several months before
starting radiotherapy. This is to shrink the prostate and help make
the treatment more effective. In some cases you may continue
hormone therapy for two to three years after radiotherapy.
For more information about EBRT, including the possible side
effects, read our pages about external beam
radiotherapy.
Updated July 2012
To be reviewed July 2014
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Is robotic surgery
better than surgery by hand?
Robot-assisted surgery to remove your prostate is relatively new
and is only available in some hospitals in the UK. If your hospital
does not carry out robot-assisted surgery, they may be able to
refer you to one that does.
All types of surgery appear to be as good as each other in
treating prostate cancer1 and have similar side
effects. Your doctor or nurse can tell you which types of operation
are available in your area.
For further information please read our pages about surgery.
Updated August 2012
To be reviewed August 2014
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How can I find out
if my consultant is a good surgeon?
The most common side effects of surgery for prostate cancer are
difficulty getting and keeping an erection (erectile dysfunction)
and leaking urine (urinary incontinence). The risk of getting these
side effects depends on your overall health, the stage and grade of
your cancer and also your surgeon's skill and experience.
Your surgeon should be able to give you information about how
many operations they have done, the outcomes of these and the rate
of side effects. Research suggests that surgeons who do at least 20
radical prostatectomies each year, and ideally more than 35 a year,
have better results, including lower rates of side
effects.1 Hospitals should carry out more than 50
radical operations for prostate or bladder cancer in a
year.2
If you are worried, ask your surgeon:
• How many of these operations have you done
and how many do you do each year?
For more information please read our pages about surgery.
Last updated September 2012
To be reviewed September 2014
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How do oestrogens
treat prostate cancer?
You may be given oestrogen to treat your prostate cancer if your
original hormone therapy stops working. Diethylstilbestrol
(Stilboestrol®) is a tablet that is similar to the hormone
oestrogen. Oestrogen is a hormone found in both men and women, but
women usually produce more. Diethylstilbestrol can be used to treat
prostate cancer that is no longer responding to other types of
hormone therapy.
Diethylstilbestrol can cause similar side effects to other types
of hormone therapy, such as breast swelling and tenderness. A low
dose of radiotherapy to the breast area can prevent this. You can
read more about this and other side effects in our booklet, Living
with hormone therapy: A guide for men with prostate cancer.
Diethylstilbestrol can also increase your risk of circulation
problems, such as blood clots.1 You will usually
take drugs such as aspirin or warfarin to reduce the risk of blood
clots.2 You may not be able to take
diesthylstilbestrol if you have a history of high blood pressure,
heart disease or strokes. Your doctor or nurse will discuss this
with you and can explain the risks and benefits.
Last updated October 2012
To be reviewed October 2014
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What is
abiraterone?
Abiraterone (Zytiga®) is a new type of hormone therapy for men
with advanced prostate cancer that has stopped responding to other
hormone therapy. It is suitable for men who have already had
docetaxel chemotherapy and whose cancer has started to grow again.
Abiraterone may help some men to live longer.1 It
can also help control symptoms.
Abiraterone is taken as a tablet and works by stopping the
production of testosterone. You will also take a steroid called
prednisone to reduce the risk of side effects. Side effects of
abiraterone include fluid retention, high blood pressure, liver
problems and a lower than normal level of potassium in the
blood.2 This could make you feel tired and you may
be a risk of a fast irregular heartbeat. You should contact your
doctor if you experience this. You will have your blood pressure
checked regularly, and have blood tests to check how well your
liver is working.
Abiraterone is also effective in men who have stopped responding
to other types of hormone therapy but have not yet had
chemotherapy.3 However it is not widely available
in the UK for these men. If your doctor thinks it is suitable for
you, they may be able to apply for you to get it.
Last updated October 2012
To be reviewed October 2014
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Side effects
How can I get an erection after
treatment?
Some treatments for prostate cancer
can damage the nerves and blood vessels that are needed for an
erection. Treatments that can have this effect include surgery, external beam radiotherapy,
brachytherapy, high intensity focused
ultrasound (HIFU) and cryotherapy.
All types of hormone therapy can cause erection problems because
hormone therapy can reduce your desire for sex
(libido).1
Many of the treatments for erection problems work by improving the
flow of blood to the penis.
The treatments are:
- tablets
- injections
- pellets
- vacuum pump
- surgical implant
- sex therapy.
Because getting an erection also
relies on your thoughts and feelings, a combined approach to
erection problems often works well.2-4 Try getting some
medical treatment as well as tackling any worries or relationship
issues you may have. There are lots of ways to do this, so pick
what works best for you. It may be talking to someone close to you,
seeing your nurse or getting some counselling or sex therapy.
Read our information about sex and prostate
cancer to find out more about treatments for erections
problems.
Last updated December 2012
To be reviewed December 2014
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When will I stop leaking
urine after surgery?
Surgery may weaken some of the muscles
and damage nerves that help you control passing urine. This can
cause you to leak urine. You may leak a few drops when you
exercise, cough or sneeze (stress incontinence). Some men may leak
larger amounts of urine and need to wear absorbent pads or pants,
especially in the weeks after the operation. The risk of urinary
problems will also depend on other factors such as your age.
You may continue to leak urine for
several months after surgery.1 This is usual. Pelvic
floor muscle exercises may help you regain control of your bladder
more quickly after surgery. 2,3 You may need to
practise the exercises for up to three to six months after your
operation before you see an improvement in your symptoms. And
you may find it helps to continue doing pelvic floor muscle
exercises regularly. For more information about pelvic floor muscle
exercises and how to do them, read our Tool Kit fact sheet, Pelvic floor muscle exercises
[PDF].
Urinary symptoms should improve with
time and most men will notice an improvement three to six months
after surgery. However, some men may still have problems with
leaking urine a year after having surgery.
There are treatments available that
can help manage urinary problems, as well as things that you can do
yourself. You can read more about these in our Tool Kit fact sheet,
Urinary problems and prostate cancer. You can also call our
Specialist Nurses on our confidential helpline.
Last updated August 2012
To be reviewed August 2014
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Does stopping
hormone therapy from time to time help to reduce the side
effects?
Some doctors believe that intermittent
hormone therapy can be as good as continuous hormone therapy at
controlling prostate cancer. This involves stopping treatment when
your PSA level is low and steady and starting treatment again when
your PSA starts to rise. This process is repeated for as long as it
continues to work. Your doctor or nurse will advise you on when you
will stop and start treatment.
The advantage of intermittent hormone
therapy is that you may be able to avoid side effects during the
time that you are not having treatment. However, it can take three
to nine months, or sometimes longer, for the side effects to wear
off. Researchers think that intermittent hormone therapy may
be just as effective at treating prostate cancer as continuous
treatment, but this is still being tested in clinical
trials.1 We do not yet fully understand all of the
benefits and risks of intermittent hormone therapy and it may not
be suitable for all men.
Last updated May 2011
To be reviewed May 2013
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How can I manage hot
flushes?
Hot flushes are a common side effect
of hormone therapy.1 They give you a sudden
feeling of warmth in the upper body and can be similar to those
experienced by women going through the menopause.
There are a number of different
options to help you manage hot flushes, including lifestyle
changes, drug treatments and complementary therapies. Find out more
about managing hot flushes in our pages about the side
effects of hormone therapy.
Last updated May 2011
To be reviewed May 2013
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Why do I feel so low now
that I'm having hormone therapy?
The side effects of hormone therapy
can be difficult to cope with. Some men find that the physical
change to their bodies, such as putting on weight, or changes to
their sexual function, can make them feel very different about
their bodies and cause a sense of loss. Sometimes men describe
feeling less masculine as a result of their diagnosis and
treatment.
Changes to your daily life that may
happen when you are on hormone therapy can also cause a sense of
loss. For example, your role within your relationship may be
different to how it was before, or you may feel too tired to do
some of the things you used to do. Hormone therapy may also affect
your mood. You may find that you feel more emotional than usual or
just 'different' to how you felt before. Some men may also
experience low moods or depression. This can be as a direct result
of hormone therapy, a response to the shock of diagnosis or the
impact that treatment can have on your life.
Sharing your feelings can help you to
cope with them. Your doctor and specialist nurse can answer any
questions you may have and may be a good source of support. You may
also find it helpful to talk to your partner, close friends and
family, or to a counsellor.
Prostate Cancer UK offers a free and
confidential helpline where you
can speak to one of our Specialist Nurses about your problems. We
can also provide one to one
peer support with a volunteer. To find out about support groups in your
local area, click here.
Last updated May 2011
To be reviewed May 2013
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Can I have side effects from
radiotherapy four years after treatment?
Like all treatments, radiotherapy has
side effects. Most short term side effects will settle down after
your radiotherapy treatment has finished. But you can have later
side effects that develop several months, or even years, after you
finish your treatment. These side effects can be long term. They
include loose stools, pain around the abdomen and bleeding from the
back passage. For a full list of symptoms, read our pages
about radiotherapy.
Older age, diabetes, previous bowel or prostate surgery, and
previous bladder and bowel problems can all increase your risk of
getting long term side effects. Speak to your doctor or nurse about
your own risk.
Last updated July 2012
To be reviewed July 2014
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Lifestyle
Is there
anything I can do before and after surgery to help keep my
erections?
If you have surgery to remove the
prostate (radical prostatectomy) there is a risk that you may have
problems getting an erection after your treatment. There are things
you can do before and after surgery to help avoid this:
Ask your surgeon if they will be able
to do a nerve-sparing prostatectomy. There are two bundles of
nerves that control erections on either side of the prostate.
Saving these nerves during surgery increases the chances of keeping
erections afterwards. However, nerve-sparing surgery is only
suitable if your cancer has not spread outside of the prostate.
And, sometimes the nerves can only be saved on one side. Even if
your surgeon does save the nerves, you may still have problems
getting an erection.
The likelihood of having erection
problems depends on several things such as your age, the strength
of your erections before surgery, other medical conditions such as
high blood pressure or diabetes, and whether you
smoke.1,2
At first, most men find it difficult
to get an erection strong enough for sexual intercourse and it can
take anything from a few months to three years for erections to
return.3 Erections are often not as good as they were
before surgery and some men will never get back the ability to
maintain an erection without the help of artificial methods such as
vacuum pumps or tablets.4
There are treatments available to help
with erection problems. These include tablets called PDE5
inhibitors (brand names: Viagra®, Cialis® or Levitra®), vacuum
pumps, injections and pellets. You will not be prescribed PDE5
inhibitors if you are taking medicines called nitrates for a heart
problem. Your doctor may refer you to an erectile dysfunction
clinic for treatment and advice for erection problems.
Your doctor may suggest that you start
treatments for erection problems in the first few weeks after
surgery. Even if you are not ready to start any sexual activity
yet, some research suggests that starting treatment soon after
surgery may improve your chances of getting erections later
on.5,6 You may hear this called penile
rehabilitation.
If you are able to get erections you
will not be able to ejaculate. This is because the prostate gland
and seminal vesicles, which produce the fluid in the semen, are
removed during the operation. Instead you may have a 'dry orgasm'
where you feel the sensations of orgasm, but do not release any
semen from the penis. This may feel different to orgasms you are
used to.
You can read more about erection
problems following surgery and ways to manage these in our pages
about sex and prostate cancer.
Last updated August 2012
To be reviewed August 2014
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How
can I manage incontinence when travelling abroad?
Incontinence after prostate cancer
treatment could affect your travel plans. This should not stop you
from travelling but it might affect where you go and what sort of
things you do while you're away. Here are some tips for planning
your trip.
If you have urinary problems and use
pads, make sure you pack enough for your trip and a few extra in
case of delays.
If you use a catheter:
- take a spare catheter with you
- take plenty of extra drainage bags or catheter valves
- speak to your specialist nurse about caring for your catheter
while you are away
- ask your doctor for a letter that explains what your equipment
is for. This is called a medical validation certificate and it
might make things easier if customs officials decide to search your
bag.
Tell your travel company about any special needs you have. They may
be able to help or give you a seat close to the toilet.
Find out how you can have your clothes washed if needed at your
destination.
If you are worried about leaking during the night, ask your hotel
or accommodation if they can provide a protective sheet for the
bed.
Drink a little less while you are on holiday but take care to stay
hydrated, especially if it is hot weather.
Read more about travelling with prostate
cancer.
Last updated January 2013
To be reviewed January 2015
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Advanced cancer
Where does prostate cancer
spread to?
If prostate cancer spreads outside of
the prostate it can spread to the area just outside of the prostate
or to other parts of the body, such as the bones.
Locally advanced prostate
cancer
Locally advanced prostate cancer is
cancer that is starting to break out of the prostate, or has spread
to the area just outside the prostate, and may also affect the
seminal vesicles, pelvic lymph nodes, neck of the bladder or back
passage.
The seminal vesicles are two glands
situated behind the prostate which produce some of the fluid in
semen. The lymph nodes are part of the immune system. There are
lymph nodes in the groin and pelvic area, near the prostate called
the pelvic lymph nodes.
For more information, read our pages
about locally advanced prostate cancer.
Advanced prostate
cancer
Advanced prostate cancer is cancer
that has spread from the prostate gland to other parts of the body.
It is also called metastatic prostate cancer. This is when tiny
prostate cancer cells move from the prostate to other parts of the
body through the blood stream or lymphatic system.
Prostate cancer can spread to any part
of the body but it most commonly spreads to the bones and the lymph
nodes (sometimes called lymph glands). More than four out of five
men (80 per cent) with advanced prostate cancer will have cancer
that has spread to the bones. The lymph nodes are part of the
body's immune system and carry fluid called lymph around the body.
There are lymph nodes throughout the body, including in the groin
and pelvic area, near the prostate.
For more information, read our pages about
advanced prostate cancer.
Staging
Staging is a way of recording how far
the cancer may have spread. The most common method is the TNM
(Tumour-Nodes-Metastases) system. This looks at the tumour (T),
lymph nodes (N) and whether the cancer has spread to other parts of
the body or metastasised (M).
Read more about:
Updated July 2012
To be reviewed July 2014
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What causes
lympheodema and how can I stop the swelling?
Lymphoedema is caused by a blockage in part of the body's immune
system called the lymphatic system. This causes fluid to
build up in the body's tissues, causing swelling. This is
lymphoedema.
Some of the lymph nodes are in the groin and pelvic area - near
the prostate. The cancer might spread to the lymph nodes or to
surrounding tissues and press on the lymph vessels. Treatments for
prostate cancer can also affect the lymphatic system. You may be at
greater risk of lymphoedema if you have had surgery or radiotherapy
to the lymph nodes.
What can help?
Speak to your nurse or GP if you have any of the symptoms.
Treatments can manage it, although they cannot cure it. They are
most effective if started early. You may be referred to a
specialist lymphoedema nurse.
Click here to read about treatments which might help.
Updated January 2013
To be reviewed January 2015
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