The prostate cancer is a disease which originates from prostate glands. As this cancer reaches stage 4, the cancerous cells spread to other parts of the body. The stage 4 prostate cancer symptoms exhibited by patients are listed in this article.
The cancer of prostate gland is termed as prostate cancer. The prostate gland is a part of the human male reproductive system. Stage 4 of this disease is most advanced and the last one. Mechanism of metastasis allows for transfer of cancer from the prostate gland to other parts of our body. In the stage 4, this cancer spreads to the distant body parts. Let us understand more about this form of cancer through explanation regarding the symptoms and other aspects.
Advanced Prostate Cancer
The prostate is a walnut-shaped gland which produces seminal fluids. This gland is located just below the urinary bladder. Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test is used for the detection of prostate cancer. The bone scans and CT scans are used to check whether this disease has metastasized (spread) from the prostate gland to other parts of the body. Let us understand more about symptoms through this article. The facts on early symptoms of prostate cancer should also prove to be of help to readers.
Stage 4 Prostate Cancer Symptoms
The different problems of prostate cancer are associated with urination, abdominal pain, erectile dysfunction, etc.
Urination Problems
Swelling of the prostate gland which results into prostatitis is the cause of frequent urination. People with stage 4 cancer exhibit these symptoms. Nocturia is a condition in which the patient has to wake up at night frequently for urination. Excessive intake of liquid just before going to bed can be one the reasons behind people suffering from nocturia. Pregnant women and people in general over 60 years of age are more prone to suffering from nocturia. Occurrence of blood in urine is an important symptom observed at this stage of cancer.
Erectile Dysfunction
The sign of erectile dysfunction is observed not after the occurrence of cancer. However, it’s due to the treatment measures being used. It is following the surgery to remove the prostate gland, that the signs of erectile dysfunction are observed. The surgery in which nerves are spared allows for recovery from erectile dysfunction well within a single year. In case an erection is observed after surgery, it does not hold the potential to produce sperms that are capable of fertilizing the ova.
Nausea
It is one of the important symptoms exhibited by patients who are in the stage 4 of prostate cancer. One of the major signs and symptoms accompanying urinal problems, nausea is the cause of vomiting. Body nutrient loss resulting from vomiting is therefore, a cause of concern for the patients of stage 4 prostate cancer.
Other Symptoms
Weakness is also one of the stage 4 cancer symptoms. This symptom is common to most of the cancer diseases. When the cancer spreads to lower back and abdominal region, patients start experiencing severe pain in. Abdominal pain is therefore, one of the major symptoms of this cancer.
Life Expectancy
The patients suffering from prostate cancer and those who are in the stage 4 have little chances of survival. Treatment measures like radiotherapy and prostatectomy used for treatment in earlier stages of this cancer do not prove to be useful in the stage 4. At this stage, the patient can expect to live for 5 more years. The surgery of prostatectomy helps increase the stage 4 prostate cancer life expectancy by another 5 years, which means the patient’s life expectancy is doubled. This number (of years) can be stretched up to 15 years with the help of this treatment of stage 4 prostate cancer. The other treatment measures used for prostate cancer include radiation therapy, proton therapy and steriotactic radiosurgery.
The advanced stage of prostate cancer causes damage to the body which is beyond control. The treatment measures mentioned above cannot save the life of patients; lives of patients can however, be extended for sure. The symptoms of stage 4 prostate cancer presented in this article should be of help in obtaining useful information on this disease.
