Frequently Asked Questions: What Is Prostate Cancer? 1. What is the prostate? The prostate is a small gland found in men. It’s usually about the size of a walnut. The prostate sits just below the bladder and surrounds the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body). Its main job is to make…

Frequently Asked Questions about Chemotherapy for Prostate Cancer When is chemotherapy used for prostate cancer? Chemotherapy is typically used for advanced or metastatic prostate cancer. It’s not usually part of early-stage treatment, but doctors may recommend chemo when the cancer has spread outside the prostate or when hormone therapy is no longer working. Chemotherapy drugs…

Second Opinions: A Key to Prostate Cancer Treatment Clarity By Ephram Smith (Prostate Cancer Survivor and support group leader) When you’re told you have prostate cancer, it’s normal to feel scared and confused. In my 10 years as a prostate cancer patient advocate, I’ve seen how getting a second opinion can make a big difference. A second…

By Ephram Smith Chemotherapy is a powerful treatment used to kill cancer cells, and it is sometimes used for prostate cancer. In early-stage prostate cancer, chemo is not very common, but doctors may use it in certain cases. It is more often used when prostate cancer has spread or come back after other treatments (urmcnewsroom.iprsoftware.com)….

By Darryl Mitteldorf, LCSWHow does Malecare provide prostate cancer support to more people worldwide than organizations with more funding, employees, and brand recognition? This essay explains how we earned and maintain that honor. SadikiThe Swahili word sadiki encapsulates “believe” and “trust.”In Malecare’s prostate cancer support groups, sadiki is the bedrock upon which hope is built…

By Ephram SmithIf you have been treated for prostate cancer, you might notice swelling in your legs or groin area. This swelling is called lymphedema (lim-foh-DEE-ma). Lymphedema can happen after certain prostate cancer treatments, especially pelvic lymph node dissection (lymph node removal surgery) or radiation therapy to the pelvis. In this post, we will explain how and why lymphedema happens, the…

By Darryl Mitteldorf, LCSW Education is an integral part of oncology care—it gives patients the capacity to handle chemotherapy side effects, boosts their self-confidence, reduces anxiety, and improves how well they stick to their treatment plans (1). Yet too often, our well-intentioned efforts to educate, like lengthy webinars, dense PDF handouts, in-person workshops, or support…

By Ephram Smith Imagine waiting and worrying because you know something isn’t right, but you still don’t have answers. In my 10 years as a prostate cancer patient advocate, I’ve seen how frustrating and scary this can be. You might have symptoms or abnormal test results, yet the diagnosis is delayed or even mistaken. This…

When you’re diagnosed with prostate cancer, you receive a pathology report full of medical terms. As a patient advocate with over ten years of experience, I’ve helped many men make sense of these reports. In this post, I’ll explain prostate cancer pathology reports and biomarkers in plain English. The goal is to help you understand…