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Prostate Cancer in the Elderly Male: Diagnostic and Management Considerations

  • Surgical Care for the Geriatric Patient (F Luchette and R Gonzalez, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Geriatrics Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Along with an aging US population comes the growing need for clinical guidelines inclusive of and specific to this unique group. Prostate cancer (PCa) is increasingly recognized as a substantial cause of mortality and morbidity in the elderly. This review seeks to address the unmet need for standardized PCa screening and management protocols for geriatric men and to synthesize recommendations based on recent literature.

Recent Findings

Guidelines regarding PCa screening in elderly men are still being optimized, with many organizations moving toward inclusion of pre-screening global health assessment. Physician compliance with screening and treatment of PCa in geriatric patients is suboptimal, despite advanced age being a predictor of advanced disease. Elderly patients may experience treatment-related side effects which differ from their younger counterparts.

Summary

Providers treating older men are encouraged to utilize comprehensive health assessments which account for comorbidities, functional status, and global well-being, along with shared decision-making, in determining diagnostic and therapeutic pathways.

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Abbreviations

PCa:

Prostate cancer

USPSTF:

US Preventive Services Task Force

AGS:

American Geriatric Society

AUA:

American Urological Association

NCC:

National Comprehensive Cancer Network

PSA:

Prostate-specific antigen

RP:

Radical prostatectomy

RT:

Radiation therapy

ADT:

Androgen deprivation therapy

SIOG:

International Society of Geriatric Oncology

EBRT:

External beam radiation therapy

AS:

Active surveillance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Loyola University Medical Center, 2160 South First Avenue, Fahey Center, Room 261, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA

    Marah C. Hehemann, Kristin G. Baldea & Marcus L. Quek

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  1. Marah C. Hehemann
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Correspondence to Marcus L. Quek.

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Marcus Quek, Kristin Baldea, and Marah Hehemann declare no conflict of interest.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Surgical Care for the Geriatric Patient

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Hehemann, M.C., Baldea, K.G. & Quek, M.L. Prostate Cancer in the Elderly Male: Diagnostic and Management Considerations. Curr Geri Rep 6, 133–138 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13670-017-0213-1

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