Prostate Cancer

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Prostate cancer is a cancer of the prostate gland (male sex gland) that helps make semen. The prostate gland is about the size of a walnut and wraps around the urethra and the neck of the bladder. The bladder is the hollow organ that holds urine. The urethra is a tube that carries urine from the bladder and out through the penis. Cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow and divide without control or order, often making too much tissue (tumor). Cancer cells may grow into nearby healthy tissue. They may also break away from the tumor and travel through the blood stream or lymphatic system to other parts of the body. When cancer spreads, it is called metastasis.
  
  
• No one knows for sure what causes prostate cancer. There are many different ways to treat prostate cancer. The prostate needs testosterone, a male hormone, to make semen but testosterone may make the cancer grow. You may need hormone medicine to block the testosterone. Surgery or radiation may be done to treat prostate cancer. Two or more kinds of treatment may sometimes be used together, such as medicine and radiation. You may also choose medicine and surgery to treat your cancer.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

• Some cancer treatments cause unpleasant side effects. The chances of stopping the cancer from spreading are better if you are treated. You could get an infection or bleed too much if the cancer is removed with surgery. You could also develop bowel, sex, or urinary problems.
  
  
• After surgery, you may get a blood clot in your leg. This can cause pain and swelling, and it can stop blood from flowing where it needs to go in your body. The blood clot can break loose and travel to your lungs or brain. A blood clot in your lungs can cause chest pain and trouble breathing. A blood clot in your brain can cause a stroke. These problems can be life-threatening.
  
  
• If the cancer is not treated, it can spread to other parts of your body. Once cancer spreads, it can cause serious medical problems. Call your caregiver if you are worried or have questions about your care or medicines.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Informed consent:

A consent form is a legal document that explains the tests, treatments, or procedures that you may need. Informed consent means you understand what will be done and can make decisions about what you want. You give your permission when you sign the consent form. You can have someone sign this form for you if you are not able to sign it. You have the right to understand your medical care in words you know. Before you sign the consent form, understand the risks and benefits of what will be done. Make sure all your questions are answered.

Activity:

You may need to walk around the same day of surgery, or the day after. Movement will help prevent blood clots. You may also be given exercises to do in bed. Do not get out of bed on your own until your caregiver says you can. Talk to caregivers before you get up the first time. They may need to help you stand up safely. When you are able to get up on your own, sit or lie down right away if you feel weak or dizzy. Then press the call light button to let caregivers know you need help.

Diet:

It is important that you get good nutrition when you have cancer. Eat a variety of healthy foods. Eating healthy foods may help you feel better and have more energy. If you have trouble swallowing, you may be given foods that are soft or in liquid form. Ask your caregiver about any extra nutrition you may need, such as nutrition shakes or vitamins. Tell your caregiver if you have problems eating, or if you are getting sick to your stomach.

Drinking liquids:

Men 19 years old and older should drink about three Liters of liquid each day (about 13 eight-ounce cups). Women 19 years old and older should drink about two Liters of liquid each day (about 9 eight-ounce cups). It is especially important to drink enough liquids if you are vomiting (throwing up) from chemotherapy. Follow your caregiver's advice if you must change the amount of liquids you drink. For most people, healthy liquids to drink are water, juices, and milk. If you are used to drinking liquids that contain caffeine, such as coffee, these can also be counted in your daily liquid amount. Try to drink enough liquid each day, and not just when you feel thirsty. It may be helpful to drink liquids between your meals instead of with your meals.

Medicines:

• Antibiotics: This medicine is given to help treat or prevent an infection caused by bacteria.
  
  
• Antinausea medicine: This medicine may be given to calm your stomach and prevent vomiting.
  
  
• Pain medicine: Caregivers may give you medicine to take away or decrease your pain.
  
  
  • Do not wait until the pain is severe to ask for your medicine. Tell caregivers if your pain does not decrease. The medicine may not work as well at controlling your pain if you wait too long to take it.
    
    
  • Pain medicine can make you dizzy or sleepy. Prevent falls by calling a caregiver when you want to get out of bed or if you need help.

Tests:

You may need one or more of the following tests to help your caregivers plan your treatment:

• Biopsy: A small piece or all of the prostate is removed and sent to the lab for tests.
  
  
• Bone scan: This test uses a special x-ray machine with a computer to take pictures of your bones. Caregivers look at the pictures to see if the cancer has spread to your bones. This test may be done if you have bone pain.
  
  
• Computerized axial tomography scan: This test is also called a "CAT" scan. A special x-ray machine uses a computer to take pictures of your prostate and other organs. Caregivers look at the pictures to see if there is cancer and if it has spread. Before taking the pictures, you may be given dye through an IV in your vein. The dye helps the cancer show up better in the pictures. Tell your caregiver if you are allergic to shellfish (lobster, crab, or shrimp) because you may be allergic to this dye.
  
  
• Magnetic resonance imaging: This test is also called "MRI". During the MRI, 3-D (three dimensional) pictures are taken of your body. Pictures are taken of your pelvis and abdomen (stomach). These pictures can show your caregiver if the cancer has spread.

Treatment options:

Your treatment may change if the cancer keeps growing or if symptoms worsen. This is often decided after you have tests. You may have one or more of the following treatments:

• Biologic therapy for cancer: Biologic therapy is medicine given to help your body fight growing cancer cells. It may also make cancer cells weaker and easier to kill. You may need this medicine more than once. You may feel like you have the flu during this therapy.
  
  
• Chemotherapy:
  
  
  • This medicine, often called chemo, is used to treat cancer. It works by killing tumor cells. Chemotherapy may also be used to shrink lymph nodes that have cancer in them. Once the tumor is smaller, you may need surgery to cut out the rest of the cancer.
    
    
  • Many different chemotherapy medicines are used to treat cancer. You may need blood tests often. These blood tests show how your body is doing and how much chemotherapy is needed. Chemotherapy can have many side effects. Caregivers will watch you closely and will work with you to decrease side effects. Chemotherapy can cure some cancers. Even if the chemotherapy does not cure your cancer, it may help you feel better or live longer.
  
  
• Hormone therapy: Hormones (such as testosterone) may cause some cancer cells to grow. Medicine or surgery may be needed to block the testosterone and slow a growing tumor. Sometimes both medicine and surgery are needed. If you need surgery, your testicles may be removed to stop the testosterone.
  
  
• Radiation: This is the use of x-rays or gamma rays to treat cancer. Radiation kills cancer and keeps the cancer from spreading. It also keeps cancer cells from dividing into new cells which is one way cancer spreads. Radiation can also be used to kill cancer in other parts of the body where the cancer has spread, such as to the lymph nodes. In some cancers, radiation may be given after surgery to kill cancer cells that were not removed.
  
  
• Surgery: You may need surgery depending on the stage of the cancer. Part or all of your prostate may be removed. You may also need to have some lymph nodes taken out. This may help keep the cancer from spreading to other parts of your body.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Learn more about Prostate Cancer (Inpatient Care)