Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer? 8 Questions to Ask

If you’ve been diagnosed with prostate cancer, learning all you can about your diagnosis and treatment options can help you not only better understand the condition you face, but it can also help you make informed, evidence-based decisions that align with your treatment goals. These eight questions can help you gather the information you need.

1. What type of prostate cancer do I have?

   There are several different types of prostate cancer. The most common, accounting for approximately 95% of cases, is acinar adenocarcinoma. This type of cancer begins in the gland cells in the prostate. A second type of adenocarcinoma, known as ductal adenocarcinoma, is a rare, more aggressive form of the disease that begins in the cells in the ducts of the prostate. Other rare types of prostate cancer include neuroendocrine carcinomas, transitional cell carcinomas, and squamous cell carcinomas.

2. What stage and Gleason score is my cancer?
   When staging prostate cancer, physicians use a system that takes into consideration the size and location of the primary tumor, whether the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, and whether there are distant metastases (the cancer has spread far from the site of the original tumor). Using that information, the cancer is assigned a stage I through IV, with higher stages indicating more advanced disease. For stage I through III cancers, the physician may also assign a risk group that assesses the likelihood of the cancer spreading.
    
   The Gleason score is used to gauge the aggressiveness of the cancer (which means how quickly it might grow, spread, and affect the body). This score is based on a microscopic examination of the cells gathered during a biopsy by a pathologist. The higher the score, the more aggressive the cancer.
    
   The results of your prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test are also used in determining how aggressive the cancer is. Higher PSA scores suggest more aggressive cancer.
    
3. Are there other tests I should undergo to help determine which treatment options are most appropriate?
   Depending on the stage of your cancer, your physician may recommend a prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET scan, bone scan, or CT to see if the cancer has spread. Genetic testing may also be recommended. Genomic testing of biopsied tissue and germline genetic testing for mutations like BRCA1 and 2 can not only influence which treatments your physician recommends, but these tests can also reveal whether there’s a genetic cause for the cancer, in which case family members may want to be tested for these mutations to help manage their own future cancer risk.
    
4. What are the treatment options for my prostate cancer and what is the goal of each treatment?
   Depending on the stage and aggressiveness of the cancer and your goals for treatment, there is a wide range of treatments, from active surveillance to medical treatments, surgery, radiation, focal therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, hormone therapy, and immunotherapy, which could be used to treat prostate cancer. You may also want to consider taking part in clinical trial. Ask the physician what the goal of each treatment is, for example, monitoring a low risk cancer, curing the cancer, slowing or stopping its spread, or palliative care to improve quality of life.
    
5. What specialists will be part of my treatment team?
   Your multidisciplinary team may include a urologist, radiation oncologist, and medical oncologist, depending on your specific diagnosis. Ask what fellowship training the physicians have completed, how many patients they treat each year, and whether they are board certified. You’ll also want to ask about their success and complication rates for the specific treatment you will undergo.
    
6. What are the potential side effects of each recommended treatment and how can they be managed?
   What side effects you experience depend on what treatment you undergo. For many men, the most common side effects of surgery and radiation therapy are ones that affect sexual function, fertility, and urination. Find out what all the potential side effects of your treatment are, whether any could be permanent, and how to best manage side effects. A palliative care specialist may be a good resource for helping you to manage side effects. You should also ask how treatment will impact your daily life, for example taking time off work, limiting physical activity, and whether you’ll need help at home.
    
7. How quickly do I need to make a decision about treatment?
   Talk with your physician to find out how much time you can take to decide which treatment path to follow. You may want to seek an in-person or virtual second opinion before choosing a treatment. Your health advisor can connect you with experienced specialists for a second opinion and can also gather and digitize your medical records for faster, secure sharing with consulting physicians.
    
8. What follow-up care will I need after treatment ends?
   As with any cancer diagnosis, you’ll need ongoing monitoring to check for a recurrence of the cancer and to manage any long-term side effects. Ask how often you will need to undergo PSA blood tests, imaging, and appointments with specialists on your cancer treatment team. You’ll also want to learn what symptoms could indicate a return of the cancer so you can make an immediate appointment for an assessment.

A resource you can rely on

Your health advisor can play an important supporting role from diagnosis through survivorship, helping you navigate the complexities of the health care system, addressing obstacles that can stand in the way of timely, effective care, and gathering evidence-based information to guide your decision making. This guidance becomes especially valuable when you’re facing pivotal decisions — from identifying the most qualified specialists to evaluating which treatment approach best aligns with your goals. With the right support, you can feel more informed, prepared, and confident as you move through each stage of care.

Connect with PinnacleCare

For more information about how PinnacleCare’s Health Advisors could assist you with prostate cancer support, connect with us today.

PinnacleCare is a member of the Sun Life Financial Inc. (“Sun Life”) family of companies. PinnacleCare and its employees do not diagnose medical conditions, recommend treatment options or provide medical care, and any information or services provided should not be considered medical advice. Any medical decisions should be made only after consultation with and at the direction of your medical provider. Any person or entity who provides health care services following a referral or other service provided does so independently and not as an agent or representative of PinnacleCare.

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