Prostate cancer occurs when cells in the prostate grow out of control. The prostate is a gland in men that helps produce fluid that goes into semen. The prostate is located in front of the rectum and just below the bladder.
End-stage prostate cancer, which also may be referred to as terminal prostate cancer, is when cancer cannot be cured and will lead to death. Because of routine screening tests, prostate cancer is often detected early, before cancer has spread (metastasized) to other organs and it is not usually fatal. When detected early, there are various treatment options and a good chance of a cure. However, once the prostate cancer has spread (metastasized) to other organs such as the lungs, liver, or bones, the 5-year survival rate drops to 30%.
Things that happen when a person is nearing the end of life from cancer, including end-stage prostate cancer, may include:
- Increased weakness and fatigue
- Needing to sleep most of the time
- Minimal to no appetite
- Difficulty eating or swallowing fluids
- Weight loss and muscle loss
- Loss of interest in doing things that were once important
- Loss of interest in the outside world
- Decreased ability to talk and concentrate
- Only want a few people nearby and limit visits
As a person enters the last days of life, signs and symptoms may include:
- Slow breathing, sometimes with long pauses in between breaths
- Noisy breathing, with gurgling or rattling sounds
- Cool skin that may turn a bluish, dusky color, especially on hands and feet
- Dry mouth and lips
- Decreased urine
- Loss of bladder and bowel control
- Restlessness or repetitive, involuntary movements
- Confusion about time, place, and people’s identities, including people close to them
- Seeing or hearing people or things that are not there
- This is common and is not a cause for concern unless it scares or upsets the person who is ill
- Drifting in and out of consciousness and gradually becoming less responsive to touch or voice
What Is the Treatment for the Final Stages of Prostate Cancer?
End stage prostate cancer means a person cannot be cured, and they will die from cancer. Palliative care, also called supportive care or comfort care, is used to help manage or relieve symptoms of end-stage prostate cancer.
The goal of palliative care is to improve a patient’s quality of life and relieve suffering. Palliative care can help patients cope with physical symptoms such as pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, nausea, constipation, and difficulty sleeping (insomnia), and mental/emotional symptoms such as depression and anxiety.
Hospice care may also be an option for terminally ill patients with a limited life expectancy and may begin if a patient’s condition is unable to be cured or managed. The only goal of hospice care is comfort and quality of life. Palliative care may occur in a hospice, in a patient’s home, in the hospital, or a long-term care facility.
Palliative care may include treatment to alleviate symptoms and keep a patient comfortable, such as:
- Help with medications
- Emotional or spiritual support
- Relaxation techniques
- Support for caregivers and family members
Steps family and caregivers can take to help a person with end-stage prostate cancer be more comfortable include:
- Use an “eggshell” mattress or foam cushions on chairs
- Change bedsheets at least twice a week or more often, as needed
- Keep the person warm with blankets
- Help the person change positions frequently
- Speak in a clear, calm voice, and remind the person of the time, place, and people present to help ease confusion and disorientation (this may not always help if a person has delirium)
- Say things that are supportive and reassuring but that do not require a response, and remind the person you are there with them, you love them, and you support them
- Provide a straw for the person to sip liquid if they can swallow
- Use glycerin swabs and lip balm to help with dry mouth and lips
- Gently massage the person’s body if they feel it is soothing
- Use a moisturizing lotion to soothe and relieve dry skin
- Simply be present
- Sit with the person
- Hold the person’s hands
- Talk
- Offer gentle touch
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https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer.html
https://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/advanced-cancer/care-through-final-days
https://getpalliativecare.org/
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/advanced-cancer/care-choices/palliative-care-fact-sheet
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/approach-to-symptom-assessment-in-palliative-care#!