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info@geelongpsg.net

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Belmont Park Pavilion,
162 Barrabool Rd,
Belmont 3216 VIC Australia

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The Journey

Fortunately, prostate cancer is usually slow growing, meaning that in most cases there is plenty of time to research treatment options and to make decisions.

Early Diagnosis

If caught early, while localised (within the gland or locally advanced (outside the gland or pelvic lymph nodes), prostate cancer is often curable.

The cancer may be discovered at an advanced stage (metastatic, i.e. migrated to distant lymph nodes, bone, or liver / lungs) - or it may recur after primary treatment. In these cases, the treatment goal changes to extending survival (often for decades) with sequential and / or combination treatments, while preserving quality of life.

There can be many points of entry and exit in the journey after initial diagnosis.

  • Monitoring – urinary problems, regular PSA testing
  • Further testing – MRI scan, biopsy
  • Diagnosis – Stage (1 to 4) and Grade (Grade Group or Gleason score)
  • Active Surveillance (if indicated) – PSA testing, MRI scans, biopsies
  • Primary treatment – surgery or radiation (without or with medication)
  • Recurrence / progression – PSA rising, PET imaging
  • Advanced disease confirmed - local or distant (metastatic)
  • Grade reviewed – according to low, intermediate, high or very high risk
  • Advanced treatments – medical (drugs sequenced or combined), with or without radiation

Later Diagonsis

If not caught early, the journey through multiple stages can be an extended one.

There are now many resources available to guide and support men at all stages of their prostate cancer journey.

This all means that there are good reasons to be positive, and to become ‘an empowered patient’ -

  • By establishing a mutually respectful and relaxed relationship with your medical team
  • By ensuring that you receive copies of all your pathology and scan reports
  • By familiarising yourself with some of the shorthand terms and jargon you will come across (see the glossary on this web site)
  • By becoming more educated about prostate cancer
  • By taking control of your lifestyle
  • By joining a good prostate support group