Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: Treatment, Management, and What Comes Next
When prostate cancer keeps growing even after castration-resistant prostate cancer, a stage of prostate cancer that no longer responds to treatments that lower testosterone. Also known as CRPC, it means the cancer has found a way to survive without relying on high levels of male hormones. This isn’t the end of treatment options—it’s a shift in strategy. Many men live for years with this condition, especially when caught early and managed with the right combination of drugs, monitoring, and lifestyle adjustments.
It starts with androgen deprivation therapy, a standard treatment that blocks testosterone production or stops it from reaching cancer cells. But over time, cancer cells adapt. They might start making their own testosterone, use tiny amounts more efficiently, or switch to other hormones to fuel growth. That’s when it becomes castration-resistant. It doesn’t mean the cancer is untreatable—it means the old rules no longer apply. Doctors now turn to newer drugs like enzalutamide, abiraterone, or apalutamide, which target different parts of the hormone pathway. Some men also benefit from chemotherapy, radiation to bone metastases, or even immunotherapy if the cancer has specific genetic markers.
Monitoring is just as important as treatment. Regular PSA tests, bone scans, and CT scans help track how the cancer is behaving. If PSA rises, it’s a signal to adjust the plan—not to panic. Bone pain? That could mean the cancer has spread, and targeted radiation or drugs like radium-223 can help. Fatigue, weight loss, or trouble urinating? These aren’t just side effects—they’re clues. The goal isn’t just to kill cancer cells, but to keep you feeling like yourself for as long as possible.
You’ll see posts here that explain how to read drug labels for these treatments, compare medications like Flomax for symptom relief, or understand how genetics can influence your response to therapy. There’s no one-size-fits-all path, but knowing what questions to ask—about side effects, costs, and next steps—makes a huge difference. This collection pulls together real, practical advice from men who’ve walked this road, and the doctors who help them navigate it.
Bicalutamide in Advanced Prostate Cancer: Mechanism, Benefits, and Side Effects
Oct, 24 2025