Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Remains Difficult to Stop

While many of the men diagnosed with prostate cancer in the coming year will find their form of the disease is relatively easy to treat and most likely quite survivable, that is not always the case. Men who find they have metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer are likely to learn their survival chances are slim. There are a number of reasons for this that scientists are working feverishly to understand and overcome.

Castration-resistant prostate cancer is a form of the disease that doesn’t respond well to standard treatments. This type of cancer will continue to grow, for example, even when the hormones that typically feed cancer growth are blocked in the body. While surgery, chemotherapy and radiation may help slow progression, a cure for this form of the disease is not readily available as of yet.

Men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer will find one of the first steps their doctors takes involves gaining an understanding of the exact stage and type of cancer involved. While men with low-risk prostate cancers may find a variety of treatment options available to them, those with castration resistant forms of the disease will need to carefully weigh the risks and benefits of any interventions. Quality of life will be a big concern in reviewing the treatment options, as well.

Although no cure has been found for this form of prostate cancer as of yet, researchers do have a set of treatment guidelines designed to offer men the best possible chance of extending life. Patients who are diagnosed with castration resistant prostate cancer should work closely with their healthcare providers to determine their best course of action.

All men are at risk for the development of prostate cancer over the course of their lifetimes. To assess personal risks and learn more about preventing this disease, men should speak with their doctors directly.