prostate cancer

Question 1

most common form of cancer

Answer 1

affecting men

Question 2

main risk factors

Answer 2

age - >70
ethnicity - black african carribbean men
obesity
familial component

Question 3

symptoms of prostate cancer

Answer 3

. Prostate cancer is usually slow-growing and asymptomatic at diagnosis, however, the presenting symptoms of advanced disease are usually urinary outflow obstruction, or, pelvic or back pain due to bone metastases

Question 4

treatment options include

Answer 4

watchful waiting, active surveillance, prostatectomy, radiotherapy (such as external beam), brachytherapy, hormone therapy, and chemotherapy.

Question 5

what does hormone therapy include

Answer 5

Hormone therapy includes anti-androgen therapy—to block the effects of androgens, androgen deprivation therapy such as a luteinising hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist, or a gonadorelin antagonist—to reduce androgen levels, and bilateral orchidectomy—to remove the endogenous supply of androgens.

Question 6

what is the Gleason score

Answer 6

tumour grade

Question 7

anti androgen therapy example

Answer 7

bicalutamide

Question 8

what can you use initially for up to 10 weeks, to manage troublesome hot flushes caused by long-term androgen suppression + alt

Answer 8

1. medroxyprogesterone acetate
2. alt is cyproterone

Question 9

SE of treatment include

Answer 9

urinary and sexual dysfunction, loss of fertility, radiation-induced enteropathy, osteoporosis, gynaecomastia, fatigue, and hot flushes.

Question 10

what can occur w ith long term (>6 months) bicalutamide treatment

Answer 10

Gynaecomastia can occur with long-term (longer than 6 months) bicalutamide treatment. Prophylactic radiotherapy (within the first month of treatment) should be offered; or if radiotherapy is unsuccessful, weekly tamoxifen [unlicensed indication] can be considered.