Prostate Cancer FAQs

Hormone therapy alone can’t kill prostate cancer cells entirely. The goal of hormone therapy is to reduce the level of male hormones, also known as androgens, and prevent them from fueling prostate cancer cells. Usually, if your Mercy doctor recommends hormone treatment for prostate cancer, it’s to slow cancer that’s spreading or has come back. It can also be paired with radiation therapy.  

According to the American Cancer Society, it’s not possible to accurately predict how likely prostate cancer is to return. However, if your prostate cancer is more advanced, fast-growing or has already spread to distant parts of the body, it may be more likely to come back. Talk to your Mercy doctor so you’re prepared for a potential recurrence. 

Men should only decide when to get screened once they have discussed all relevant facts and information with their Mercy doctor. The frequency of your prostate cancer screening will depend on several factors, including your current age, overall health and family history. 

In the majority of cases, prostate cancer is slow-growing and often takes years to even detect. In these cases, it’s common that your Mercy doctor will take a wait-and-watch approach to determine your treatment plan. However, a small percentage of cases of prostate cancer can become more aggressive and require more urgent treatment. 

Prostate cancer won’t cause infertility. However, some types of cancer treatment can make men infertile. If the prostate and seminal vesicles must be removed to prevent the further spread of cancer, a man will no longer be able to produce the semen needed to fertilize an egg. Radiation can also damage the prostate’s ability to make semen. If you’re concerned about fertility options, talk to your Mercy doctor before scheduling your surgery.  

There are several radiation therapy options for prostate cancer: external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and internal radiation therapy, also known as brachytherapy.

In most cases, EBRT is given to patients in several sessions over the course of a few weeks.

SBRT is an outpatient procedure that typically lasts 20 minutes to an hour. Treatment doesn’t need to occur on consecutive days and is usually completed within 10 days.

Brachytherapy can be done in a much shorter time frame, sometimes delivered over the span of just a couple of days.

No. In its early stages, prostate cancer is asymptomatic, meaning “without symptoms.”
 

Common symptoms of more advanced prostate cancer may include: 

• Difficulty urinating
• Frequent urination
• Bloody urine or semen
• Erectile dysfunction
• General pain in your pelvic area

Talk to your Mercy doctor immediately if you experience one or more of these symptoms. 

Risk factors include:

• Age (the chance of developing prostate cancer increases significantly after 50)
• Diet or obesity
• Race or ethnic background (African-Americans have a 64% higher incidence than Caucasian men)
• Family history of prostate cancer

If any of these risk factors apply to you, you may wish to begin screenings at age 40. Talk to your primary care doctor about regular screenings.