How Does Prostate Cancer Kill You in the End?

Prostate cancer is cancer of the prostate gland in men. Death from prostate cancer most often happens when cancer has spread (metastasized) to other organs in the body.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer after skin cancer in men in the U.S. and the second leading cause of cancer death in men. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing has made the detection of prostate cancer easier in its early stages. Ninety-two out of 100 men get diagnosed when the cancer is limited to the prostate.

Most men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in their senior years, and only 1 out of 36 men die from it. Death from prostate cancer most often happens when cancer has spread (metastasized) to other organs in the body. This is known as the advanced stage of prostate cancer.

The chances of survival decrease as cancer spreads beyond the prostate. If cancer has metastasized to other parts of the body, only 3 out of 10 men will survive for five years after the diagnosis.

Advanced stage prostate cancer or metastasized prostate cancer

Cancerous cells may spread to organs other than the site of origin. In the case of prostate cancer, this tendency is decreased, but it can happen. Advanced-stage prostate cancer is defined based on the Gleason score, which is based on the TNM staging of cancer. T stands for tumor size, N stands for lymph node involvement, and M stands for metastasis.

Prostate cancer can kill in the end through metastases that can develop in:

• Lymph nodes
• Bones (particularly lower spine, pelvis, and femur)
• Brain
• Liver
• Lungs

Metastasis to the bone can cause too much bone calcium to be released into the blood. The condition is known as hypercalcemia. Hypercalcemia can disrupt the functioning of organs, such as the kidneys and heart. In severe cases, high calcium levels can lead to death.

Metastasis to the lungs can cause the affected lung to collapse or cause a lung infection that becomes difficult to treat. This can severely decrease the affected person’s ability to draw oxygen into the body.

Metastasis to the liver can affect the liver’s ability to filter out toxins from the body. This can eventually lead to jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes), nausea, loss of appetite, and weight loss.

Paraneoplastic syndrome associated with prostate cancer may cause symptoms such as nerve pain (neuropathy), difficulty walking, loss of muscle tone, loss of fine motor coordination, memory loss, seizures, sensory loss in the limbs, and vertigo or dizziness. Paraneoplastic syndromes are a group of rare disorders that are triggered by an abnormal immune system response to cancerous cells. These cells mostly attack the nerve and muscle cells throughout the body.

Advanced stage cancer leads to malnutrition, which can cause muscle wasting, weight loss, and fatigue. It may even repress the healthy immune system to an extent that the person develops fungal infections and sepsis.

The primary treatment of prostate cancer is prostatectomy, which is a surgery to remove a part of the prostate gland or the entire prostate gland in younger patients.

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is usually the choice of treatment for metastatic prostate cancer. Also known as hormone therapy, it is also used for treating patients who are unfit or unwilling to undergo surgery and/or radiation therapy.

Examples of hormone therapies for advanced prostate cancer include

• Abiraterone (Zytiga)
• Enzalutamide (Xtandi)

Other treatment options for prostate cancer are

Radiation therapy

• Radiation therapy involves the use of high-energy waves to destroy cancer cells. It is the most preferred cancer therapy for older men or those with other coexisting conditions.

Chemotherapy

• This is a treatment involving anticancer medications that kill rapidly multiplying cells. Examples of chemotherapy medications in advanced prostate cancer include:
  • Mitoxantrone
  • Paclitaxel (Taxol)
  • Docetaxel (Taxotere)

Immunotherapy

• Also known as biologic therapy, immunotherapy involves using the immune system to fight cancers. Examples include:
  • Colony-stimulating factors
  • Interferons
  • Interleukins
  • Monoclonal antibodies

Patients with advanced prostate cancer may decide to stop the medications because of the severe side effects that come with treatment. They may opt for hospice or palliative care, which is available in many hospitals. Palliative care is a special kind of treatment reserved for people with a terminal illness. It aims to alleviate the symptoms as well as provide them comfort and better quality of life.

Alternative practices, such as yoga and meditation, may also help people affected by cancer feel relaxed and enable them to take control of their situation.

Participating in a prostate cancer support group can also help an affected person to deal with their cancer effectively. They can ask their doctor or search online for such support groups.

Identifying the signs you are dying of prostate cancer can be distressing, but patients and caregivers need to understand what to expect. The stage 4 prostate cancer survival rate is 31%, which is much lower than the survival rate for local and regional cancers of the prostate.

Many people ask, “How does prostate cancer kill you in the end?” In its end stage, prostate cancer can spread to vital organs like the liver or lungs, causing them to fail. However, emotional support from your care team, loved ones, or a therapist can help you deal with the disease and live meaningfully. Talking openly about your feelings can make a significant difference in how you manage the illness. Some common end-stage prostate cancer symptoms include:

• Extreme fatigue and weakness
• Loss of appetite and significant weight loss
• Difficulty breathing or respiratory distress
• Difficulty eating or swallowing fluids
• Severe pain, especially in bones
• Mental confusion or withdrawal
• Incontinence and swelling in the lower limbs
• Constipation alternating with diarrhea
• Losing the ability to regulate temperature effectively

A common worry amongst patients and their families is “How long does prostate cancer take to kill you?” The answer varies greatly. Some patients live for years with advanced or metastatic prostate cancer, especially with access to treatments such as hormone therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and palliative care. Others may experience rapid disease progression if the cancer is aggressive or becomes resistant to treatment.

When prostate cancer becomes resistant to treatment, symptoms often worsen. As the disease advances and spreads to other parts of the body, it can damage vital organs, such as the liver, lungs, or kidneys, leading to organ failure. Eventually, the body may no longer be able to function properly, resulting in death. This is how prostate cancer leads to death in many cases.

While some may die due to complications directly caused by prostate cancer itself, others may pass away from unrelated conditions such as heart disease or another type of cancer, especially if they have existing health problems.

• What is the main cause of death in prostate cancer? The main cause of death in prostate cancer is the result of metastasis; when the cancer spreads to other parts of the body, such as the bones, liver, or lungs. This spread can lead to organ failure and other life-threatening complications. Some men may also die due to secondary causes like cardiovascular disease and other cancers.
• How painful is death from prostate cancer? Most individuals with advanced prostate cancer do not experience pain. However, some may feel discomfort in the groin, hip, or back if the tumor compresses a nerve or has spread to the bones or joints. The pain may feel like a constant ache or a sharp stab. Your bones can also get weaker and break more easily. Pain associated with prostate cancer can be managed with painkillers and other treatments.
• How quickly can prostate cancer kill you? Approximately 99% of men diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer survive for more than five years, while just over one-third of men with advanced prostate cancer live for at least five years post-diagnosis.
• How long can you live with prostate cancer untreated? Prostate cancer, if left untreated, can grow and spread to other areas. However, some prostate cancers may take decades to grow and advance to later stages without treatment. Some prostate cancers, however, grow rapidly and spread outside the prostate. Average survival rates vary depending on your age, the stage of your cancer, and how long you've had it.