Prostate cancer


How to treat bone metastasis in advanced prostate cancer?
For cases of advanced prostate cancer with bone metastasis, the following clinical treatment measures can be taken: Firstly, for the pain caused by bone metastatic lesions, symptomatic pain relief treatment should be administered with medication. The pain from bone metastatic lesions generally presents as moderate to severe, and medications usually involve weak or strong opioids for pain relief. For some patients with advanced bone metastases, pathological fractures may occur, necessitating treatments such as bone stabilization and bone cement. For some patients with advanced bone metastasis from prostate cancer, monthly injections of zoledronic acid can also be administered to treat the bone metastases. When prostate cancer has metastasized to the bone, it indicates that the disease is at an advanced stage, and the opportunity for curative surgery is lost. In most cases, treatments such as targeted therapy and endocrine therapy are adopted as conservative medical approaches.


How long can one survive with prostate cancer?
The life expectancy of prostate cancer patients depends on the clinical stage at diagnosis, as well as the patient's sensitivity to various treatments such as endocrine therapy, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Patients diagnosed at earlier stages who are more responsive to treatment generally have better treatment outcomes and, consequently, a longer survival period compared to those who are diagnosed at later stages and have poor responses to treatment. Overall, prostate cancer patients tend to have a relatively long disease course, and the prognosis is generally good. Even patients with advanced prostate cancer exhibiting extensive bone metastasis can survive several years due to the effectiveness of endocrine treatments. The disease itself progresses slowly, so the prognosis for this type of cancer is comparatively favorable.


Can people with prostate cancer eat mutton?
Patients with prostate cancer can eat mutton. There is a folk belief about certain foods being "heaty", which refers to foods like mutton, beef, roosters, and bamboo shoots, often labeled as such and believed to be unsuitable for consumption. However, this belief is unscientific. From a medical perspective, patients with prostate cancer should primarily avoid junk food, such as barbecued items, pickled and smoked products, and especially oily and high-fat foods. Reducing the intake of these foods is recommended. Other than that, all other foods can be eaten, as long as there is a balanced nutrition and a good mix of meat, eggs, vegetables, and fruits. The idea of the so-called "heaty" foods is not scientifically based.


How is prostate cancer treated?
The treatment principles of prostate cancer vary with different stages. For clinical stage T1-T2N0M0 prostate cancer, which is early-stage, patients can choose radical prostatectomy or radical radiotherapy. For patients with locally advanced prostate cancer, specifically staged T3 or T4 but without lymph node or distant metastasis, options include radiotherapy combined with hormonal therapy or solely hormonal therapy. For patients with distant metastasis, which indicates advanced-stage prostate cancer, treatment primarily involves hormonal therapy. If hormonal therapy fails, chemotherapy may be utilized. Additionally, for pain caused by bone metastasis, local radiotherapy or radionuclide therapy can be integrated into the comprehensive treatment approach.


What indicators are checked for prostate cancer?
Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) is a glycoprotein produced by the vesicles in the cytoplasm of normal or pre-cancerous epithelial cells of the prostate. It is the most specific and sensitive tumor marker for prostate cancer. Therefore, in patients with prostate cancer, we generally conduct blood tests for PSA, especially in screening for prostate cancer, assessing the effectiveness of treatments, and for the prognosis of prostate patients, among other aspects. Additionally, other examinations are combined, such as digital rectal exams, which can also serve as a screening method for prostate cancer. Moreover, CT or MRI scans of the prostate and pelvis, as well as ultrasound examinations of the prostate, can be used in conjunction with the tumor marker PSA for a comprehensive evaluation.


Is prostate cancer sexually transmitted?
Prostate cancer is non-contagious; therefore, it cannot be transmitted through sharing utensils, eating together, or through respiratory pathways. Secondly, prostate cancer is not transmitted through sexual activity; it is non-contagious. In clinical settings, many family members of patients inquire whether malignant tumors are contagious and if they could be infected while caring for the patient. It is important to clarify that malignant tumors are not contagious, and prostate cancer cannot be transmitted through sexual activity.


Will prostate cancer embryonic antigen rise?
Prostate cancer is a common malignant tumor in the male urinary system. In some patients with prostate issues, there may be an increase in the carcinoembryonic antigen index in blood tests, but not all patients will exhibit this marker increase. Most prostate cancer patients will show an increase in the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in blood tests, or there may be abnormal ratios of free PSA to bound PSA. Carcinoembryonic antigen and prostate-specific antigen are tumor markers for prostate cancer, but they only provide auxiliary value for diagnosis and do have some evaluative value regarding the effectiveness of anti-tumor treatment. Additionally, they can serve as a monitor for the condition of prostate cancer. Clinically, to confirm a diagnosis of prostate cancer, it is necessary to rely on the results of pathological tissue obtained through biopsy.


Is prostate cancer stage T2 considered early or mid-stage?
Prostate cancer stage T2 is considered early or intermediate, but it is also necessary to understand the patient's N and M status. If the patient is at stage T2, and both N and M are at stage 0, then it is considered early-stage prostate cancer. If the primary lesion is at stage T2, but N1 is present and there is no metastasis (M), then the patient is considered to have intermediate-stage prostate cancer. If the primary lesion is at stage T2, but there is metastasis in N and M, then the patient's clinical stage is considered advanced. The clinical staging of prostate cancer not only requires understanding of the primary lesion T, but also involves the regional lymph nodes N and distant metastasis M.


Can people with prostate cancer eat beef?
Patients with prostate cancer can eat beef. Beef is a high-protein food, and as cancer is a consumptive disease, it is generally advised to enhance nutrition in the diet, such as meats, proteins, vegetables, and fruits to maintain a balanced diet with both meat and vegetables. Avoid junk food, such as pickled vegetables from pickled jars, barbecue items, or excessively oily foods with high fat content. Those should be avoided as much as possible, but other foods, including beef, can be consumed.


Can prostate cancer patients eat milk and eggs?
Prostate cancer is the most common malignant tumor in the male urinary reproductive system, with 80% of cases occurring in elderly individuals over the age of 65. From an etiological perspective, a high-fat diet may be a contributing factor to prostate cancer. However, we know that malignant tumors are consumptive diseases, and nutritional status is crucial during the treatment and recovery process, especially in elderly individuals with weaker constitutions. Therefore, patients with malignant tumors should ensure adequate nutrition intake, particularly protein intake. Milk and eggs are common foods for the general population and offer a cost-effective source of nutrition. They can be included in the diet of prostate cancer patients. Of course, dietary intake should focus on healthy proportions. It is not about consuming only milk and eggs at every meal but maintaining a normal and healthy dietary balance, which is better for the patient.