Is chemo Worth it for prostate cancer?

While chemotherapy is unlikely to cure prostate cancer, it may provide some benefits to patients. For example, it may be used: To relieve symptoms associated with very advanced or metastatic disease, improving the patient's quality of life.

hopkinsmedicine.org - Chemotherapy for Prostate Cancer | Johns Hopkins Medicine

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Chemotherapy refers to any type of therapy that uses chemicals to kill or halt the growth of cancer cells. While chemotherapy is unlikely to cure prostate cancer, it may provide some benefits to patients. For example, it may be used: To relieve symptoms associated with very advanced or metastatic disease, improving the patient’s quality of life To improve the outcome of prostate cancer surgery if administered for a short time after the procedure

To work in conjunction with hormone therapy and improve the patient outcome

To prolong the life of a prostate cancer patient who no longer responds to hormone therapy To treat men with advanced prostate cancer who carry the AR-V7 gene variant

Chemotherapy Treatment Schedule

Most people have chemotherapy as outpatients at hospitals or clinics. Chemotherapy is given in cycles that last a few weeks. You will be given the medicines with rest periods in between to allow your body to recover. There are many different kinds of chemotherapy medicines. For prostate cancer, you will likely be given one medicine at a time. Some medicines are given by mouth as pills while others are given through an IV.

Types of Chemotherapy Drugs

The most common chemotherapy drug for prostate cancer is docetaxel (Taxotere), which is usually given with prednisone, a steroid medicine. After starting docetaxel, many men experience the improvements in disease-related symptoms, including pain, fatigue and loss of energy. If docetaxel does not work or stops working, cabazitaxel (Jevtana) may be used.

Side Effects of Chemotherapy

All chemotherapy drugs work in slightly different ways, making it challenging to predict side effects for individual patients. Dosages, drug combinations and drug responses will vary from patient to patient. The American Cancer Society lists the following as the most common side effects of chemotherapy:

Hair loss

Mouth sores

Loss of appetite

Nausea and vomiting

Diarrhea

Increased risk of infections (due to reduced white blood cells)

Easy bruising or bleeding (due to reduced blood platelets)

Fatigue (due to reduced red blood cells)

Guide to Managing Side Effects of Chemotherapy

Follow these simple rules to manage your side effects:

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What are the chances of prostate cancer killing you?

About 1 man in 41 will die of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer can be a serious disease, but most men diagnosed with prostate cancer do not die from it. In fact, more than 3.1 million men in the United States who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point are still alive today.

cancer.org - Key Statistics for Prostate Cancer

Key Statistics for Prostate Cancer

How common is prostate cancer?

Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men. The American Cancer Society’s estimates for prostate cancer in the United States for 2023 are:

About 288,300 new cases of prostate cancer

About 34,700 deaths from prostate cancer

Risk of prostate cancer

About 1 man in 8 will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. Prostate cancer is more likely to develop in older men and in non-Hispanic Black men. About 6 cases in 10 are diagnosed in men who are 65 or older, and it is rare in men under 40. The average age of men when they are first diagnosed is about 66.

Deaths from prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind only lung cancer. About 1 man in 41 will die of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer can be a serious disease, but most men diagnosed with prostate cancer do not die from it. In fact, more than 3.1 million men in the United States who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point are still alive today.

For statistics related to survival, see Survival Rates for Prostate Cancer.

Visit our Cancer Statistics Center for more key statistics.

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