Newly Diagnosed
A new diagnosis of cancer is always concerning. Prostate cancer aggressiveness can vary wildly, so it is most important to quickly understand what markers give insight to the likely aggressiveness of your disease. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) provides "gold standard" guidance for doing this via their patient guide. The Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN) PHENpath.com provides a simple presentation for understanding your cancer risk level.
The North Carolina Men's Health Drive: Prostate Cancer Warriors Information Arsenal provides a quick field guide for gathering the information you need, translating that toward which treatment options you might want to consider, and shortcuts to the PHENpath page(s) that are most likely to benefit you.
This will help narrow down which treatment options professionals and researchers suggest you might consider.
Once you have a good understanding of what your personal situation is (your prognosis), find or assemble your multidisciplinary team to consult with about your options. Your team should include your primary care doctor, urologist, oncologists, and other medical professionals. Many hospitals/universities have multidisciplinary clinics for newly diagnosed patients that can provide balanced multidisciplinary care and information for patients making initial treatment decisions. Most accredited hospitals offer this service - be sure to ask for it!
You're more likely to have the results you hope for with a balance of considering best available research evidence, the clinical expertise of your medical team, and your own personal preferences.
Contact the Prostate Cancer Coalition of North Carolina if you need help.
For more information such as details about specific treatment options, visit the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF).
The North Carolina Men's Health Drive: Prostate Cancer Warriors Information Arsenal provides a quick field guide for gathering the information you need, translating that toward which treatment options you might want to consider, and shortcuts to the PHENpath page(s) that are most likely to benefit you.
This will help narrow down which treatment options professionals and researchers suggest you might consider.
Once you have a good understanding of what your personal situation is (your prognosis), find or assemble your multidisciplinary team to consult with about your options. Your team should include your primary care doctor, urologist, oncologists, and other medical professionals. Many hospitals/universities have multidisciplinary clinics for newly diagnosed patients that can provide balanced multidisciplinary care and information for patients making initial treatment decisions. Most accredited hospitals offer this service - be sure to ask for it!
You're more likely to have the results you hope for with a balance of considering best available research evidence, the clinical expertise of your medical team, and your own personal preferences.
Contact the Prostate Cancer Coalition of North Carolina if you need help.
For more information such as details about specific treatment options, visit the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF).