Is it serious if an 85-year-old man has prostate cancer?

Whether or not an 85-year-old has prostate cancer is a matter of fact, depending on the stage and spread of the cancer and the patient's overall health. Early prostate cancer develops more slowly and carries relatively little risk, while advanced cancer may require more aggressive treatment. However, because older patients are more likely to have chronic diseases, treatment options need to be individually evaluated.

Prostate cancer is more common in older men. In the early stages, there may be no symptoms, or only symptoms such as difficulty urinating and frequent urination. In the late stages, there may be bone pain, fatigue, or weight loss, indicating possible bone metastasis. For diagnosis, the stage is confirmed by PSA (prostate-specific antigen) testing in the blood, prostate puncture biopsy, and imaging examinations (such as MRI, CT). Early prostate cancer usually progresses slowly. If the stage is I or II and there are no obvious symptoms, some patients can choose "monitoring and waiting" as a management strategy. For locally advanced or metastatic cases, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy may be required. For example, flutamide combined with drug therapy can control androgen levels; commonly used chemotherapy drugs include docetaxel. CyberKnife (radiotherapy technology) is another local treatment option.

Prostate cancer is more common in older men. In the early stages, there may be no symptoms, or only symptoms such as difficulty urinating and frequent urination. In the late stages, there may be bone pain, fatigue, or weight loss, indicating possible bone metastasis. For diagnosis, the stage is confirmed by PSA (prostate-specific antigen) testing in the blood, prostate puncture biopsy, and imaging examinations (such as MRI, CT). Early prostate cancer usually progresses slowly. If the stage is I or II and there are no obvious symptoms, some patients can choose "monitoring and waiting" as a management strategy. For locally advanced or metastatic cases, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy may be required. For example, flutamide combined with drug therapy can control androgen levels; commonly used chemotherapy drugs include docetaxel. CyberKnife (radiotherapy technology) is another local treatment option.

For an 85-year-old patient with prostate cancer, the core of evaluating whether to treat or not is to comprehensively judge the patient's physical tolerance and the progression of cancer. If the patient is in poor health or has multiple comorbidities, the most important thing is to improve the quality of life and avoid unnecessary treatment burden on the patient. Pay attention to maintaining a healthy diet and choose more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains rich in dietary fiber; proper exercise and reducing sedentary behavior can also help slow the progression of the disease. At the same time, regular follow-up visits and monitoring of PSA indicators are required. If there are significant changes, the treatment plan needs to be adjusted in time. For those with complex symptoms or poor physical condition, fully communicate with oncologists and urologists as soon as possible and develop a detailed treatment plan.