The Presentation
A man in his late 70s was found to have high-risk Prostate Cancer. Some years earlier he had been treated for a cancer of the nose and sinuses (sinonasal cavity) with definitive chemoradiotherapy, which aims to cure without surgery.
Why This Case Was Complex
- A second cancer, after a full course of treatment for the first. Previous cancer treatment affects which further treatments are suitable.
- Age. In the late 70s, the question of whether to treat at all, and how intensively, needs careful discussion.
- High-risk disease. High-risk Prostate Cancer is more likely to spread or return, so a treatment aimed at cure was preferred when it could be offered.
- Limited choices. After discussion, surgery was the only option available for treatment aimed at cure in his case.
The Approach
After a detailed discussion of the benefits and risks, he chose treatment aimed at cure. Dr. Anshuman Singh performed a robotic radical prostatectomy.
The Outcome
- Short stay: he went home on the second day after surgery.
- Follow-up is by regular PSA checks, and any further treatment is planned from the pathology report.
Key Takeaways for Patients
- An earlier cancer, or an earlier course of radiotherapy, does not automatically rule out treatment for a new one. What is possible depends on the person and the cancer.
- Age alone should not decide treatment. Fitness and the aim of treatment matter more.
- High-risk Prostate Cancer often needs a planned combination of treatments. The pathology report after surgery guides the next step.
- Surgery, radiotherapy and hormone treatment should each be discussed, with the reasons for the choice made clear.
Read more about Prostate Cancer, robotic prostatectomy and recovery after robotic prostatectomy.
Every patient is different. This case describes one patient's treatment and is not a guarantee of similar results. It is shared for education, with the patient's consent and without identifying details.