Managing Your Prostate Cancer Diagnosis
Being diagnosed with prostate cancer can be a life-changing event. That’s why it’s so important to understand your treatment options. The process of discovering and diagnosing prostate cancer is different for every patient. Scroll down to learn about some of the steps and options available to someone who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Fact
About six in 10 cases are diagnosed in men aged 65 or older, and it is rare before age 40.1
Not all men have the same indicators that would prompt their doctor to suspect a prostate cancer diagnosis.
Being well informed is a valuable weapon in the fight against cancer. With a diagnosis as serious as cancer, you owe it to yourself to be informed and consult with as many cancer experts as may be necessary to get multiple perspectives on your case.
Fact |
About six in 10 cases are diagnosed in men aged 65 or older, and it is rare before age 40.1
Fact
5-year survival rates
are nearly 100%!1
Fact |
5-year survival rates
are nearly 100%!1
You’ve Received Your Diagnosis - Now What?
You're not alone. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men, based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As of 2019, about 1 in 9 men get diagnosed with prostate cancer and it is estimated that about 183,000 new cases will be diagnosed annually in the U.S. alone.1
At first, most people need time to absorb their diagnosis. Many men also find support from their family, friends, community, and also consider joining a support or advocacy group. When you are ready, you will need to choose your treatment team - one of the most important decisions you will make. Partnering with a team of experts in your specific type of cancer can aid you in your decision-making process and give you peace of mind.
Fact |
As of 2019, about 1 in 9 men get diagnosed with prostate
cancer.1
Fact
As of 2019, about 1 in 9 men get diagnosed with prostate
cancer.1
Fact |
As of 2019, about 1 in 9 men get diagnosed with prostate
cancer.1
There's a lot to Consider
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to prostate cancer treatment, and you should consult as many medical professionals as may be needed in order to assess what is best for you. Be sure to address any and all questions and/or concerns and discuss the potential side effects associated with each treatment option. Factors such as age, stage of cancer, and other health conditions are important factors to keep in mind.
Getting a Second Opinion
It is perfectly fine, and even encouraged to get a second or third opinion. Getting more than one opinion can help confirm your diagnosis, provide a different perspective and potentially present other treatment options so that you are fully informed before making a decision.
Prostate cancer can be very complex, and different healthcare and medical professionals may have different assessments and recommendations for the optimal treatment path for your situation.
Decide on a Plan of Action
You now feel confident that you and your doctor have considered all factors and are fully informed of the risks that accompany each treatment option.
Active Surveillance
Active surveillance or watchful waiting is often suggested when prostate cancer is found in the early stages and is slow growing, low risk and shows minimal cancerous tissue.
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Active surveillance closely monitors prostate cancer with routine ultrasounds, digital rectal exams and prostate-specific antigen blood tests every few months that identify cancer growth or signs of progression.3
However, if a medical intervention is deemed necessary by your medical team, the two most common treatment options are surgery and radiation.
Surgery
A total or radical prostatectomy, the removal of the entire prostate gland as well as some of the surrounding tissue, is most common in men whose cancer is restricted to the prostate and those in the early stages of the disease.
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Possible side effects of prostate surgery1:
- Urinary incontinence (being unable to control urine)
- Erectile dysfunction (impotence; problems getting or keeping erections)
SpaceOAR™ Hydrogel is not used with surgery
Radiation
Prostate radiation therapy uses directed radioactive exposure, such as high-energy x-rays, to kill cancer cells and surrounding tissues. Separated only by a very small space, radiation often unintentionally causes damage to the rectum.
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Possible side effects of radiation therapy3:
- Bowel Dysfunction (associated with diarrhea, blood in stool and rectal leakage)
- Urinary Dysfunction (the need to urinate more often, have a burning sensation while you urinate, blood in your urine, or urinary incontinence)
SpaceOAR™ Hydrogel can help minimize your risk of side effects when used with prostate cancer radiation therapy.
Fact
60,000 Americans treat their prostate cancer with radiation every year.6
Fact |
60,000 Americans treat their prostate cancer with radiation every year.6
Post-Treatment Follow-Up
Follow-ups with your medical team are important for long-term success. Additionally, advocacy groups can be a helpful way to connect with men and families also impacted by prostate cancer.
More Information
While dealing with cancer may be hard, most men diagnosed with prostate cancer do not die from it.7 Today, there are 3.1 million prostate cancer survivors in the US.8
To aid you in your cancer journey, there are resources available to help you learn more about the disease, treatment options, and support groups.
1. Key Statistics for Prostate Cancer. American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/about/key-statistics.html. Accessed February 17, 2020.
2. Observation or Active Surveillance for Prostate Cancer. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/content/cancer/en/cancer/prostate-cancer/treating/watchful-waiting. Accessed February 17, 2020.
3. Surgery for Prostate Cancer. American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/treating/surgery.html. Accessed February 17, 2020.
4. Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer. American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/treating/radiation-therapy.html. Accessed February 17, 2020.
5. Treatment for Prostate Cancer: External-Beam Radiation Therapy. Prostate Cancer Foundation. https://www.pcf.org/c/treatment-for-prostate-cancer-external-beam-radiation-therapy/. Accessed February 17, 2020.
6. Prostate Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version. National Cancer Institute. https://www.cancer.gov/types/prostate/patient/prostate-treatment-pdq. Accessed February 17, 2020.
7. American Men and Prostate Cancer by the Numbers. Zero – The End of Prostate Cancer. https://zerocancer.org/learn/about-prostate-cancer/facts-statistics/. Accessed February 17, 2020.
Caution: U.S. Federal law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician. CAUTION: The law restricts these devices to sale by or on the order of a physician. Indications, contraindications, warnings, and instructions for use can be found in the product labelling supplied with each device or at www.IFU-BSCI.com. Products shown for INFORMATION purposes only and may not be approved or for sale in certain countries. This material not intended for use in France.
SpaceOAR Hydrogel is intended to temporarily move the rectal wall away from the prostate during the course of radiotherapy treatment for prostate cancer, and in creating this space it is the intent of SpaceOAR Hydrogel to reduce the radiation dose affecting the rectum.
SpaceOAR Hydrogel contains polyethylene glycol (PEG). As with any medical treatment, there are some risks involved with the use of SpaceOAR Hydrogel. Potential complications associated with SpaceOAR Hydrogel include, but are not limited to: pain associated with injection, pain or discomfort from the hydrogel, site inflammation, infection (including abscess), inability to urinate, urgent need to urinate, constipation, rectal muscle spasm, damage to lining of rectum, ulcers, fistula (a hole between rectum and bladder, urethra, or skin below the scrotum), perforation (hole in prostate, bladder, urethra, rectum), necrosis (dead tissue), allergic reaction (local reaction or more severe reaction, such as anaphylaxis), embolism (blood vessel blockage is possible and may happen outside of the pelvis, potentially impacting vital organs or legs), fainting, and bleeding. Please talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits related to using SpaceOAR Hydrogel. If one or more of these complications occur, you may need medical treatment or surgery. URO-1288805-AA
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URO-747109-AA MAY 2020