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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 everyone. Keep reading to learn about some of the steps and options available to someone who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. 

This article is not intended to replace professional medical care or advice. If you have any questions or need additional information, please talk with your doctor.

Receiving your diagnosis

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 may have a lot of questions and concerns. It’s important to fully understand your diagnosis, treatment options, and the benefits and risks of each before you and your doctor decide on your treatment plan.

6 in 10

About six in 10 cases are diagnosed in men aged 65 or older, and it is rare before age 40.1

97%

Five-year relative survival rates are 97%.1,2

You’ve received your diagnosis. Now what?

You’re not alone. According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men. About one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, and it is estimated that 288,000 new cases will be diagnosed in 2023 in the U.S. alone.1

1 in 8

As of 2023, about one in eight men get diagnosed with prostate cancer.1

 

You may need time to absorb your diagnosis. Men may also find support from their family, friends, and community, and also consider joining a support or advocacy group. When you decide to seek treatment, you will have options in choosing your treatment team — an important decision in the process. Partnering with a team of experts in your specific type of cancer can aid you in your decision-making process.

Assessing treatment options

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to prostate cancer treatment, and consultation with medical professionals may be needed to assess the best treatment for your particular situation. You may want to address your questions and/or concerns and ask about the potential side effects associated with each treatment option. Factors such as age, stage of cancer, and other health conditions are important to keep in mind when assessing treatment options.3

Get a second opinion

Getting more than one opinion can help confirm your diagnosis, provide a different perspective, and potentially present other treatment options so you can weigh your options before making a decision. 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 may feel confident that you and your doctor have considered various factors and feel well-informed of the risks that accompany each treatment option.

Icon of microscope.

Active surveillance4

Active surveillance or watchful waiting is often suggested when prostate cancer is found in the early stages and is slow growing, low risk, associated with low prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, and just in the prostate. Active surveillance closely monitors prostate cancer with routine ultrasounds, digital rectal exams, and PSA blood tests. These tests can identify cancer growth or signs of progression.

If medical intervention is deemed necessary by your medical team, two common treatment options are surgery and radiation.

Icon of scalpel.

Surgery5

A partial or radical prostatectomy is the removal of part or all of the prostate gland, as well as possibly some of the surrounding tissue. This option is most commonly used for men whose cancer is restricted to the prostate and those in the early stages of the disease.

Possible side effects of prostate surgery:

  • Urinary incontinence (being unable to control urine)
  • Erectile dysfunction (the inability to achieve or maintain an erection)

SpaceOAR™ Hydrogel is not used with surgery.

Icon of person with plus sign signifying radiation.

Radiation6

Prostate radiation therapy uses directed radioactive exposure, such as high-energy X-rays, to kill cancer cells and surrounding tissues. Due to the rectum being in close proximity, it may be exposed to radiation that is targeted for the prostate.

Possible side effects of radiation therapy:

  • Bowel dysfunction (associated with diarrhea, blood in stool, and stool leakage)
  • Urinary dysfunction (the need to urinate more often, have a burning sensation while you urinate, blood in your urine, or urinary incontinence)
  • Erectile dysfunction (the inability to achieve or maintain an erection)

SpaceOAR™ Hydrogel is PEG-based absorbable hydrogel that temporarily creates space between the prostate and rectum. It is designed to reduce the radiation dose delivered to the rectum during prostate cancer radiation therapy.7

Post-treatment follow-up

Your doctor may recommend regular follow-up appointments to monitor your progress after treatment. Additionally, advocacy groups can be a helpful way to connect with other men and families also impacted by prostate cancer.

Physician talking to a patient.

More information

While dealing with cancer may be hard, most men diagnosed with prostate cancer do not die from it.1 Today, there are more than 3.1 million prostate cancer survivors in the U.S.1

You’re not alone in your cancer journey. There are resources available to help you learn more about the disease, treatment options, and support groups.

Get support from advocacy groups

Learn more about treatment options

Find a prostate cancer specialist 

References

  1. Key Statistics for Prostate Cancer. American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/about/key-statistics.html. Accessed March 23, 2023.
  2. Survival Rates for Prostate Cancer. American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/survival-rates.html. Accessed March 23, 2023.
  3. Prostate Cancer: Types of Treatment. Cancer.net. https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/prostate-cancer/types-treatment. Accessed October 12, 2022 
  4. 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.
  5. Surgery for Prostate Cancer. American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/treating/surgery.html. Accessed February 17, 2020.
  6. Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer. American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/treating/radiation-therapy.html. Accessed February 17, 2020.
  7. Data on file with Boston Scientific.

Caution: U.S. Federal law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician.

All images are the property of Boston Scientific.