Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and it is the second leading cause of death due to cancer after age of 50.
When patients come to me with diagnosis of prostate cancer, they first say this: sir, we are very scared! Can you tell me, in how many years, I’m going to die of cancer?
I, Dr Ashish Sabharwal, prostate cancer specialist and robotic surgeon from Apollo Hospital, New Delhi India and in this write up, I will give you full details about the life expectancy after prostate cancer diagnosis.
Prostate Cancer Life Expectancy
Time from Diagnosis |
% Survival |
| first 5 years | 99% |
| after 10 years | 98% |
| after 15 years | 94% |
According to the American Cancer Society, when prostate cancer is diagnosed in time, at an early stage, the life expectancy in the first 5 years is 99%, after 10 years is 98% and after 15 years is 94%.
So it is a very high life expectancy after prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment, if it is diagnosed at an early stage (Stage 1 and Stage 2 Cancer)
At the same time, we also hear many stories of people who died of prostate cancer.
The two main reasons of death due to prostate cancer are:
- First of all, people are not doing PSA testing routinely and they are not diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early stage. They are diagnosed with prostate cancer at a stage where it can no longer be cured by medicines or surgery or radiation and cancer kills the patient.
- The other situation is when the cancer is so aggressive that whatever treatment we do, even if it is diagnosed at an early stage, it is not controlled. In spite of giving medicines, or doing surgery or undergoing radiation, the cancer still keeps on progressing. These patients have a very aggressive Gene because of which the Cancer Cannot Be controlled and ultimately it kills the patient.
So whenever you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, you have to do full evaluation and testing to make sure what stage of cancer it is and what type of cancer it is?
Is it an aggressive cancer? Is it a low grade cancer? Is it a high- grade Cancer? All this information will tell us as to how aggressive the cancer is and what are the chances of dying due to prostate cancer, based on the grade of the cancer.
Is Prostate Cancer 100% Curable?
In short , Yes ! if diagnosed at an early stage and undergo the correct treatment.
So whenever you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, you should consult a specialist who will do all the appropriate testing and tell you the exact stage of the cancer.
If it is diagnosed at an early stage and you do a proper treatment then the cancer is fully cured and you are able to lead a normal life.
The best treatment for prostate cancer in early stages (stage 1 and 2) is Nerve spearing, robotic radical prostatectomy with Amniotic membrane nerve wrap.
The advantages of Robotic Radical Prostatectomy surgery are:
- Excellent Cancer Cure (PSA becomes Zero ! )
- Minimally Invasive
- Precise and Accurate
- Shorter Hospital Say
- Reduced blood Loss
- Lesser Pain
- Lower risk of infections