Prostate Cancer, Advanced or Metastatic

When To Call a Doctor

Call your doctor immediately if you:

• Are completely unable to urinate.
• Have painful urination and a fever higher than 100°F (37.78°C), chills, or body aches.
• Have blood or pus in your urine or semen.

Call your doctor to schedule an appointment if you have unexplained:

• Weight loss.
• Dull, aching pain in your lower back, pelvis, or hips.
• Swollen lymph nodes in the groin area. These nodes are usually not tender.

Watchful Waiting

Watchful waiting means that you are not receiving treatment but you and your doctor will watch your cancer to see if your symptoms go away on their own or get worse. Watchful waiting may not be a choice when prostate cancer has spread. But some men who have metastatic prostate cancer may choose watchful waiting if their PSAlevels are rising slowly.

If you choose watchful waiting, you will still need to see your doctor regularly for digital rectal exams and PSA tests.

Who To See

Doctors who can treat locally advanced and metastatic prostate cancer include:

• Urologists.
• Radiation oncologists.
• Medical oncologists.

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.

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Author:	Bets Davis, MFA	Last Updated: July 1, 2008
Medical Review:	E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Christopher G. Wood, MD, FACS - Urology/Oncology
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