Can you live without treating prostate cancer?

verywellhealth.com - What Happens When Prostate Cancer Is Left Untreated - Verywell Health

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While most men undergo some form of treatment for their prostate cancer, some men today choose to not be treated for their prostate cancer. Instead, they may choose to have their healthcare providers monitor their cancer. Known as active surveillance, it is common when the cancer is expected to grow slowly based on biopsy results, confined to the prostate, not causing any symptoms, and/or small. In active surveillance, healthcare providers will initiate cancer treatment only if cancer starts growing. Others men may choose to not undergo cancer treatment because of a short life expectancy or other serious medical problems. They may feel that the risks or side effects of cancer treatment (like surgery and radiation) outweigh their potential benefits. This option is certainly OK and reasonable in the right circumstances—requiring a careful and thoughtful discussion with your healthcare provider and family.

What Happens Without Treatment

Healthcare providers will sometimes talk about a particular disease’s “natural history” or typical progression if it is left untreated indefinitely. With regard to prostate cancer, most cases of the disease are discovered while the cancer is still confined to the prostate itself. This is called “local disease” or “localized disease.” The disease is easiest to treat while it is confined to the prostate. At this stage, surgery and radiation are most likely to be curative and completely kill or remove whatever cancer cells are present. If left untreated, however, prostate cancer can proceed on a number of different paths.

Where Prostate Cancer Spreads

If left untreated, diagnosed prostate cancer can grow and possibly spread outside of the prostate to local tissues or distantly to other sites in the body. The first sites of spread are typically to the nearby tissues. The cancer can spread down the blood vessels, lymphatic channels, or nerves that enter and exit the prostate, or cancer could erode directly through the capsule that surrounds the prostate. The seminal vesicles are a site of particularly common early spread. More extensive “local” spread can occur with cancer invading the nearby bladder or rectum. Further advancement of cancer can occur when cancer cells enter the blood vessels and lymphatic channels. Once cancer has entered into these vessels, prostate cancer cells can “seed” into virtually any other part of the body. Prostate cancer is known to have a particular affinity for spreading or metastasizing to the bones especially the lower spine, pelvis, and femur. Other organs such as the liver, brain, or lungs can also be the sites of spread, but these are much rarer.

A Word From Verywell

Prostate cancer is a complicated disease and requires extremely careful thought when determining the best treatment option (for yourself or your loved one). There are a number of available therapies and not necessarily a single best fit—so seek the guidance of your healthcare provider, and don't be afraid to get a second opinion.

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What is sunshine baby?

The "sunshine" symbol is often used to refer to calm moments before a storm. In the same way, a sunshine baby is one born before you encounter a loss. This loss may result from: Miscarriage: the loss of a pregnancy in the first 20 to 24 weeks.

webmd.com - What You Should Know About a Sunshine Baby - WebMD

There is nothing like the anticipation of welcoming a newborn into your family. Sadly, sometimes this excitement is cut short by a sudden loss of life. "Angel Baby," "Sunshine Baby," and "Rainbow Baby" are terms that refer to babies born just before or after another baby is lost due to a variety of reasons. They help immediate family members move through the grieving process and find meaning in the loss. The "sunshine" symbol is often used to refer to calm moments before a storm. In the same way, a sunshine baby is one born before you encounter a loss. This loss may result from: Miscarriage: the loss of a pregnancy in the first 20 to 24 weeks Stillbirth: a baby who is born without any signs of life at or after 24 weeks of pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancy: a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus

Early infant death

Abortion

It can be easy to lose yourself in grief following the loss of a baby. It's easy to forget what you were able to do in the past. When you lose a baby to a miscarriage, a sunshine baby gives you a way to recollect how you were able, at one point, to bring a miracle into the world. A sunshine baby represents hope. They help you to believe that you can conceive a baby successfully. Your sunshine baby is a reminder that you are fully capable of keeping and delivering a healthy baby.

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