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About 1 in 8 men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime, making it the most common cancer in men. About 70% of prostate cancers are diagnosed early, before the cancer spreads, when it is easier to treat. However, two main groups of men are more often diagnosed with diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer that has spread beyond the prostate: older men and those with limited access to health care.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 6% of prostate cancers are diagnosed in men age 45 to 54, while 52% are found in men from age 55 to 69, and 42% in men over age 70 , such as former President Joe Biden who was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer in 2025 at age 82.
Men with limited access to health care often do not get regular check-ups with a doctor, so they don’t get screened to check for signs of prostate cancer. Often, they come to the emergency room when they have symptoms of late-stage prostate cancer, including:
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Difficulty getting an erection, known as erectile dysfunction or ED
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Extreme tiredness
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Pain in the back, chest, hips or other areas due to cancer that has spread to the bones
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Numbness or weakness in the legs or feet, and loss of bladder or bowel control
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Weight loss
Effective treatments are available for men with advanced prostate cancers. Patients can get the best outcomes at a high-volume center like MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Here, experts work together to develop personalized treatment plans for each patient. With the latest treatment, access to clinical trials, and holistic care, we can help many men with advanced prostate cancer survive with a good quality of life.
At the forefront of advanced treatments.
Prostate cancer affects the prostate gland, which sits below the bladder and produces fluid as part of the male reproductive system. Many of my patients express concern that treatment for prostate cancer will impact their quality of life, making it more difficult to pee, poop, or have sex like they once did. There are many effective treatments that protect these sensitive functions.
Our multidisciplinary teams of experts plan treatments that are individualized for each patient. Treatments can include:
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Chemotherapy: Oral or intravenous medication to help fight cancer, now often used in combination with hormonal therapy.
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Hormone therapy: Blocking testosterone can stop or reverse the progression of prostate cancer, helping patients like longer.
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Radiation therapy: We offer the safest, most effective types of radiation therapy, including advanced techniques such as CyberKnife and proton therapy with HYPERSCAN™.
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Surgery: Minimally invasive surgery to remove the prostate means better precision and faster recovery for patients.
Fewer than 10% of men with advanced prostate cancers will be diagnosed with what’s known as hormone-sensitive cancer. These cancers respond well to hormonal therapies that block testosterone and stop the cancer from growing.
Targeted treatment options that go beyond standard hormone therapies, such as immunotherapy treatments to support and boost the body’s own defense mechanisms, allow many men with advanced prostate cancer to life a high-quality life with their cancer in check.
For men with hormone-resistant prostate cancer, new advances in chemotherapy and immunotherapy are helping them live longer lives, too. Drugs such as docetaxel and cabazitaxel have been shown to help men live with advanced prostate cancer live longer than older chemotherapy drugs and may reduce symptoms. Immunotherapy treatments such as sipuleucel-T and checkpoint inhibitors such as pembrolizumab work to stimulate and boost the body’s immune system.
Two exciting recent treatments are helping us improve outcomes for patients with advanced, hormone-resistant cancers. These include:
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Androgen receptor targeted therapies: These treatments work by interfering with the androgen receptor pathways. The latest therapies bind to androgen receptors, stopping them from helping cancer cells grow and multiply. These new, more potent treatments are helping keep more advanced prostate cancers in check.
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Radiopharmaceutical medications: These drugs contain radioactive substances that target cancer cells. They’re delivered precisely to the sites where cancer has spread (often the bones and lymph nodes in prostate cancer). These treatments have demonstrated better outcomes with fewer bone complications such as pain, and help patients live longer.
Our patients have access to the latest treatments like these, as well as others that aren’t available to the public yet.
Related reading: Precise Prostate Cancer Treatment with SBRT Makes Life Easier for Patients.
Screening to catch cancer early – at any age.
Many men are leading longer, healthier, more active lives than ever. Current guidelines recommend stopping prostate cancer screening at age 70. Yet men who live longer can develop symptoms in their later 70s and 80s and end up diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer that has spread while they haven’t been screened.
Now that men are living longer, I believe it’s time to reconsider these guidelines that are based on older data. Patients over age 70 who have a history of long life in their family should be considered for screening.
Screening for prostate cancer is a simple process. After a sample of blood is drawn, laboratory tests check for the level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood. PSA is often combined with a digital rectal exam. If we suspect cancer, a biopsy to remove cells and examine them under the microscope, and/or an MRI can help us learn more.
We care for patients, not tumors.
At MedStar Washington Hospital Center, our experts work together to make sure our patients get the best care. One way we do this is through regular meetings called tumor boards. We gather the specialists and experts together to review all the complicated cases of cancer. Working together, we decide on the best approach that is most likely to get excellent results for our patients.
We also focus on treating the entire patient, not just their cancer. This means that our experts work closely with patients, from the earliest screening through survivorship. We provide support for patients with everything from diet and nutrition to transportation to appointments.
We also partner with Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in the Washington, DC region. Our providers have access to the latest information from Lombardi’s advanced research. What’s more, our patients can participate in Lombardi and MedStar Health Research Institute’s clinical trials, where the most advanced treatments are safely studied before they’re available to the public.
Men with advanced prostate cancer are understandable concerned about retaining their function, as it’s a critical part of their quality of life. With new therapies and care for the whole patient, we’re often able to preserve function while providing effective treatment.
