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Aggressive prostate spread to bones

Advice4Leo
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I have a loved one who just discovered they have prostate cancer which has spread to bones and has been titled aggressive. They are due to start radiology/radiotherapy in the next few weeks. I have so many questions. I’m sorry I’m new to this . What is aggressive cancer? What does this mean for my loved one? What stage is aggressive cancer? Is it terminal?  Is it curable/treatable? I have bad anxiety and would like a little knowledge of what is to be expected. They found out they had the big C as they were suffering with excruciating back/hip pains. And it shown in an X-ray a shadow from The  neck to the hip and came up in bloods about the prostate which was confirmed by a recent MRI. Please could you give me some answers or advice of what to expect . Thank you so much for your time.

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    Hi Advice4Leo and a warm welcome to the forum, though so sorry you have to be here. I am not a nurse but i do have "aggressive" prostate cancer PCa, also called advanced or metastatic once it has escaped the prostate as in our case, you will be stage 4. T4, and our condition though terminal is treatable, and hopefully for many years. I am 2 years on from diagnosis, been through treatment, which worked better that we hoped for, and doing ok and told 5 more years is possible. PS my PCa has spread to 8 places, so try to be positive, i know it's difficult at this time but it will really help you both in the time to come. best wishes

    Eddie

  • Hi Advice4Leo, and thank you for your post.

    I am sorry to learn that your loved one has prostate cancer, this must be a difficult time for you both.

    When the term aggressive is used in cancer, the doctors are looking at how abnormal the cancer cells are compared with normal cells (grade) and are describing a cancer that forms, grows, or spreads quickly. 

    As well as the grade, the doctors also look at how far the cancer has spread (stage) when planning treatment. As Eddie has replied to you, when prostate cancer has spread beyond the prostate gland this is known as stage four cancer, other terms used can be advanced or metastatic cancer. Although, unfortunately, the cancer is more difficult to treat and usually it cannot be got rid of completely, treatment can help control the cancer for some time and help relieve any symptoms.

    Often radiotherapy is given to men whose prostate cancer has spread to the bone. The aim might be to slow down the cancer and treat any pain.  It can take a week or so for the radiotherapy to help the pain, and it can be a few weeks for the full effects of the radiotherapy to work, and sometimes the pain can feel worse before it gets better. Hopefully, your loved one has been given some pain medications to help with this

    I hope this information does help a little. I imagine this diagnosis has been a shock and it can be an overwhelming time. You may find it helpful to talk things through with one of the nurses on our helpline and you would be welcome to contact us.  The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

    Take care, all the best

    Jemma

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