Metastatic Prostate Cancer: An Update on Treatments and a Review of Patient Symptom Management

Background: Available treatment options have improved overall survival and contributed to delayed progression, but metastatic prostate cancer remains incurable. Treatment strategies are based on disease progression assessed by a combination of biochemical, radiographic, and symptomatic changes.

Objectives: The aim of this article is to review metastatic prostate cancer, symptoms representing disease progression, disease treatments, and symptom management.

Methods: A PubMed^® search restricted to English-language articles published since 1990 was conducted in August 2018 with combinations of the keywords “metastatic prostate cancer,” “symptom assessment,” and “treatment.” Review articles were excluded, but their reference lists were reviewed to identify additional articles. Information from relevant articles published after August 2018 was added as appropriate based on author consensus.

Findings: Nursing professionals play vital roles in symptom recognition and reporting, identification of disease progression, patient education, and implementation of individualized treatment strategies.