Stage 4 Prostate Cancer
DEFINITION
Stage 4 prostate cancer is cancer that begins in the prostate and grows to involve nearby organs or spreads to other areas of the body.
Stage 4 prostate cancer is an uncommon diagnosis. Most cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed at an earlier stage, when the cancer is confined to the prostate.
Treatments may slow or shrink an advanced prostate cancer, but for most men, stage 4 prostate cancer isn’t curable. Still, treatments can extend your life and reduce the signs and symptoms of cancer.
CAUSES
Doctors aren’t certain what causes stage 4 prostate cancer.
Stage 4 prostate cancer occurs when a prostate cancer grows large enough to involve nearby organs, such as the bladder, or when cancer cells break away from the prostate and spread to other areas of the body.
Prostate cancer cells that spread beyond the prostate most often travel to the:
- Lymph nodes
- Bones
- Liver
SYMPTOMS
Signs and symptoms of stage 4 prostate cancer may include:
- Painful urination
- Decreased force in the stream of urine
- Blood in the semen
- Erectile dysfunction
- Bone pain
- Swelling in the legs
- Fatigue
- Frequent infections
When to see a doctor
Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any persistent signs or symptoms that worry you.
