What Is the Prognosis for Advanced Prostate Cancer?

The prognosis for prostate cancer heavily depends on how advanced it is. The earlier it is found, the higher your survival rate and chances to recover. What if you notice it in the advanced stage? What is the prognosis for advanced prostate cancer?

It is important to note that the percentage of survival is generally based on the average of all cases. Every individual may show a different outcome depending on various factors. If you want to get to know more about prostate cancer prognosis, keep scrolling through the page.

What Is the Prognosis for Advanced Prostate Cancer?

Compared to other types of cancer, the prognosis of prostate cancer is the best. Nearly 85 percent of total cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed in their regional or local stages (stage 1, stage 2, stage 3), which have higher survival rates.

Men diagnosed with these stages are more likely to survive and they are able to live without this disease after 5 years. But what about the prognosis of advanced prostate cancer?

In this stage, the average survival rate 5 years after diagnosis is approximately 28 percent. This percentage is much far from regional and local cancers which can reach 85 percent. This rate represents advanced prostate cancer which has spread beyond the prostate and nearby areas.

Based on statistics, only 7 percent of men with prostate cancer are in the advanced stage at their first diagnosis. When cancer has spread (metastasized) beyond nearby areas, only one-third will survive for 5 years after diagnosis.

Long-Term Prognosis of Prostate Cancer

In most cases, prostate cancers are found in their early stages. Early screening makes them curable and encourages the average prognosis for the long term. Following are patients’ average survival rates after given years.

1. 5 Years

The average percentage of survival is close to 100 percent. This means 5 years after being diagnosed with this type of cancer, average patients are able to live like a normal men.

2. 10 Years

Ten years after diagnosis, the survival rate is still 98 percent. From total patients, the disease affects the lives of 2 percent of them and lets the rest live normally.

3. 15 Years

The average 15-year survival rate is 95 percent, which is quite encouraging. This means about 95 percent of total patients are still able to run a normal life just as with healthy people in 15 years after diagnosis.

What is the prognosis for advanced prostate cancer? Survival rates above represent prostate cancer of all stages so it is not accurately predicted the prognosis of an individual. You may consult your doctor for a more accurate prognosis for your prostate cancer.

Prostate Cancer Recurrence

There is a chance that prostate cancer will recur in the future. Despite the initial treatment like surgery and radiation, the malignant tumors can relapse. Between 20 percent and 30 percent of patients with prostate cancer re-develop the tumor after their therapy.

The possibility of prostate cancer recurrence depends on few factors, including cancer aggressiveness. Some factors like habit and lifestyle may also play a role in the relapse.

The recurrence of prostate cancer can be detected through screening. Just as with early detection, the test will show a rise in PSA levels after initial therapy. The healthcare provider will use the PSA test results as an indicator to determine relapse aggressiveness.

In order to locate the recurrence, radiographic scans may be needed. The location can be in your pelvis or other places in your body. Treatment will be determined according to the aggressiveness of cancer.

What is the prognosis for advanced prostate cancer? The average survival rate is much lower than less advanced cancer but for a more accurate prognosis, consult with your doctor. After initial treatment, prostate cancer patients must also be concerned with recurrence.