The origin of prostate cancer is the prostate gland but if not detected right away or not treated immediately it will affect the various organs nearby like the rectum, testicles and others in first three stages. However, when the cancer cells scatter to several organs like the liver, lungs, or bones then it is already known as stage 4 prostate cancer or metastatic. Medical treatment requires various therapies that need to be administered aggressively, at least to stop the rapid growth of cancer if not to treat it and to ease the pain.

Treatment for stage 4 prostate cancer

When a patient had reached stage lV prostate cancer and passed the other three stages then he should had tried operation, radiation, chemotherapy and others but unsuccessful. In this instance, therapies like Androgen Deprivation Therapy or ADT tries to shrink to prostate gland and slows down the development of cancer. However, this medication is controversial because of different opinions of some doctors; they claim it does not cure but just a way to delay the rapid growth of cancer cells.

To boost chances successfully, secondary hormone medication can be tried through the change of hormone suppressors that had been tried before. Patients can also go for aggressive chemotherapy in desperate move to ruin cancerous cells that had spread to several organs. Chemotherapy includes medicines that can lessen the pain and anxiety, specifically in patients that have no chance of coming back.

For patients who has no response to some therapies, doctors might advice them to partake some clinical trials wherein new treatments or medicines can be tried to them. It could be the last chance of patients to fight the ailment and could aid the researchers to complete the treatment that can be used in future patients who suffer from stage lV prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer diagnosed as stage IV is hard to treat, although several patients can stay for more years with positive medication.

There are two categories of Stage 4 disease which depends on the extent of the tumor:

Stage IV or D1 - The tumor had scattered to pelvic lymph nodes otherwise had obstructed the ureters.

Stage IV or D2 - Tumor scattered (metastasis) to lymph nodes outer the pelvic area, involvement of bone, or scattered to far portions inside the body.

Medications for Localize Stage IV (D1 Prostatic Cancer)

When the tumor has entered near organs, like to the rectum otherwise bladder, or scattered to lymph node in the pelvic region, surgical procedure is not helpful. The combination of the external beam radiations therapy or the EBRT with the hormone therapy is highly recommended for treatment. Male hormones that are needed for prostate tumor to grow are removed by hormone therapy. Hormone therapy with radiation therapy is sometimes given together if the tumor is localized.

Medications for Metastatis Stage 4 (D2 Prostatic Cancer)

Prostate cancer which scattered to far organ and bones can be treated but cannot be cured with the present standard therapies. Metastatic prostate cancer has been treated by hormonal therapy for many years. Metatatic cancers can be stopped by hormonal therapy for some time.