Getting a Second Opinion

Decisions about prostate cancer treatment are complex. It may be helpful to have the opinion of more than one doctor. Before starting treatment, men may want to have a second doctor review their diagnosis and treatment options. A short delay will not reduce the chance that treatment will be successful. Some health insurance companies require a second opinion; many others will cover a second opinion if the patient requests it. There are a number of ways to find a doctor who can give a second opinion:

• The doctor may be able to recommend a specialist. Doctors who specialize in treating prostate cancer are urologists, radiation oncologists, and medical oncologists.
• The Cancer Information Service, at 1-800-4-CANCER, can tell callers about treatment facilities, including cancer centers and other programs supported by the National Cancer Institute.
• People can get the names of doctors from their local medical society, a nearby hospital, or a medical school.
• The Directory of Medical Specialists lists doctors by state and specialty and gives information about their background. This resource is in most public libraries.

Preparing for Treatment

The doctor develops a treatment plan to fit each patient's needs. Treatment for prostate cancer depends on the stage of the disease and the grade of the tumor (how fast the cells are likely to grow or spread to other organs). Other important factors in planning treatment are the man's age and general health and his feelings about the treatments and their possible side effects.

Many people with cancer want to learn all they can about their disease, their treatment choices, and possible side effects of treatment, so they can take an active part in decisions about their medical care. There are a number of available treatments for men with prostate cancer (surgery, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy). Not all men require treatment. The patient and his doctor may want to consider both the benefits and possible side effects of each option, especially the effects on sexual activity and urination, and other concerns about quality of life. Patients may find helpful information in Methods of Treatment, Side Effects of Treatment, and Support for Cancer Patients. Also, the patient may want to talk with his doctor about taking part in a research study to help determine the best approach or to study new kinds of treatment. To find more information about such studies, see the Clinical Trials section.

When a person is diagnosed with cancer, shock and stress are natural reactions. These feelings may make it difficult for patients to think of everything they want to ask the doctor. Often it helps to make a list of questions. Also, to help remember what the doctor says, patients may take notes or ask the doctor whether they may use a tape recorder. Some patients also may want to have a family member or friend with them when they talk to the doctor--to take part in the discussion, to take notes, or just to listen.

Questions may arise throughout the treatment process. From time to time, patients may wish to ask members of their health care team to explain things further.

These are some questions a patient may want to ask the doctor before treatment begins:

• What is the stage of the disease?
• What is the grade of the disease?
• Do I need to be treated? What are the treatment choices? What do you recommend for me?
• What are the expected benefits of each kind of treatment?
• What are the risks and possible side effects of each treatment?
• Is treatment likely to affect my sex life?
• Am I likely to have urinary problems?
• Are new treatments being studied in clinical trials? Would a trial be appropriate for me?

Methods of Treatment

Many men whose prostate cancer is slow growing and found at an early stage may not need treatment. Also, treatment may not be advised for older men or men with other serious medical problems. For these men, the possible side effects and the risks of treatment may outweigh the possible benefits of treatment; instead, the doctor may suggest "watchful waiting"--following the patient closely and treating the patient later for symptoms that may arise. Researchers are studying men with early stage prostate cancer to determine when and in whom treatment may be necessary and effective.

Treatment for prostate cancer may involve surgery, radiation therapy, or hormone therapy. Sometimes, patients receive a combination of these treatments. In addition, doctors are studying other methods of treatment to find out whether they are effective against this disease.

Surgery is a common treatment for the early stages of prostate cancer. Surgery to remove the entire prostate is called radical prostatectomy. It is done in one of two ways. In retropubic prostatectomy, the prostate and nearby lymph nodes are removed through an incision in the abdomen. In perineal prostatectomy, the prostate is removed through an incision between the scrotum and the anus. Nearby lymph nodes are sometimes removed through a separate incision in the abdomen. If the pathologist finds cancer cells in the lymph nodes, it may mean that the disease has spread to other parts of the body.

These are some questions a patient may want to ask the doctor before having surgery:

• What kind of operation will it be?
• How will I feel after the operation?
• If I have pain, how will you help?
• Will I have any lasting side effects?

Radiation therapy is another way to treat prostate cancer. In radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy), high-energy rays are used to damage cancer cells and stop them from growing and dividing. Like surgery, radiation therapy is local therapy; it can affect cancer cells only in the treated area. In early stage prostate cancer, radiation can be used instead of surgery, or it may be used after surgery to destroy any cancer cells that may remain in the area. In advanced stages, it may be given to relieve pain or other problems.

Radiation may be directed at the body by a machine (external radiation), or it may come from a small container of radioactive material placed directly into or near the tumor (internal radiation). Some patients receive both kinds of radiation therapy.

For external radiation therapy for prostate cancer, the patient is treated in an outpatient department of a hospital or clinic. Treatment generally is given 5 days a week for about 6 weeks. This schedule helps protect healthy tissues by spreading out the total dose of radiation. The rays are aimed at the pelvic area. At the end of treatment, an extra "boost" of radiation is often directed at a smaller area, where the tumor developed.

For internal (or implant) radiation therapy, a brief stay in the hospital may be needed when the radioactive material is implanted. The implant may be temporary or permanent. When a temporary implant is removed, there is no radioactivity in the body. The amount of radiation in a permanent implant is not generally dangerous to other people, but patients may be advised to avoid prolonged close contact with others for a period of time.

These are some questions a patient may want to ask the doctor before having radiation therapy:

• What is the goal of this treatment?
• How will the radiation be given?
• When will the treatment begin? When will it end?
• How will I feel during therapy?
• What can I do to take care of myself during therapy?
• How will we know if the radiation therapy is working?
• Will I be able to continue my normal activities during treatment?

Hormone therapy prevents the prostate cancer cells from getting the male hormones they need to grow. When a man undergoes hormone therapy, the level of male hormones is decreased. This drop in hormone level can affect all prostate cancer cells, even if they have spread to other parts of the body. For this reason, hormone therapy is called systemic therapy.

There are several forms of hormone therapy. One is surgery to remove the testicles. This operation, called orchiectomy, eliminates the main source of male hormones.

The use of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist is another type of hormone therapy. LHRH agonists prevent the testicles from producing testosterone.

In another form of hormone therapy, patients take the female hormone estrogen to stop the testicles from producing testosterone.

After orchiectomy or treatment with an LHRH agonist or estrogen, the body no longer gets testosterone from the testicles. However, the adrenal glands still produce small amounts of male hormones. Sometimes, the patient is also given an antiandrogen, a drug that blocks the effect of any remaining male hormones. This combination of treatment is known as a total androgen blockade.

Prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body usually can be controlled with hormone therapy for a period of time, often several years. Eventually, however, most prostate cancers are able to grow with very little or no male hormones. When this happens, hormone therapy is no longer effective, and the doctor may suggest other forms of treatment that are under study. 

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