The importance of treating symptoms in patients with metastatic prostate cancer

The authors aimed to evaluate patients suffering from metastatic prostate cancer symptoms and to determine their effect on disease outcome.

Metastatic prostate cancer is cancer that has spread out from the initial tumor site, into other parts of the body. This type of cancer can cause a number of undesirable symptoms to occur in patients, such as pain and urinary complications.

Treatments such as hormone therapy and radiation therapy can be used. Hormone therapy targets the male sex hormones active in prostate cancer, such as testosterone. However, patients will eventually become resistant (will no longer respond) to hormone therapy.

Radiation therapy directs a beam of radiation at the tumor site in order to kill cancer cells with minimal damage to healthy cells.

The aim of this study  was to evaluate symptoms and disease outcomes in patients with metastatic prostate cancer.

263 patients were used in this study. 98% of patients were given hormone therapy when cancer was diagnosed.

64% of patients had symptoms at diagnosis. The most common symptoms were painful urination, inability to pass urine and kidney failure. 78% of patients experienced symptoms during the course of the disease. Radiation therapy was the most common treatment used for symptom management.

43% of patients were hospitalized due to symptoms experienced. 59% of patients who experienced symptoms at diagnosis needed localized treatment (directed specifically at the tumor site). 36% of patients underwent surgery to relieve urinary symptoms caused by a swollen prostate. 25% of patients underwent localized urinary treatment for symptom management. 80% of patients who received localized treatment experienced improvements in symptoms.

At the end of the study 63.5% of patients had died. Patients who experienced symptoms at diagnosis had an overall survival (patients who did not die following treatment) of 47 months compared to 86 months in patients who did not have symptoms at diagnosis. Patients who experienced symptoms had a 54% increased risk of experiencing a shorter overall survival. Patients who had cancer that had spread to distant organs had a 57% increased risk of experiencing a shorter overall survival than patients who did not have distant tumors.

The authors concluded that patients who experienced metastatic prostate cancer symptoms at the time of diagnosis had an increased risk of death and required active treatment. 

Further trials are needed to validate results and to determine a treatment plan. 

If you are suffering from metastatic prostate cancer please consult your doctor for treatment and management options available.