Should You See A Medical Oncologist For An Opinion About My Prostate Cancer?

Dr. John Cole answers the question: 'Medical Oncologist For Prostate Cancer?'

ByABC News
November 19, 2008, 12:19 PM

March 16, 2009 -- Question: Should you see a medical oncologist for an opinion about my prostate cancer?

Answer: As a patient with prostate cancer, there are several possible reasons to consult with a medical oncologist. If you've been diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer, a discussion with a medical oncologist may be helpful in deciding what type of local therapy would be best suited for you. Those include radiation therapy or surgery.

If you've been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer, especially if you've been treated with hormonal therapy and are no longer responding to that therapy, a consultation with a medical oncologist will be very important in terms of discussing what additional types of medical therapies may be helpful in the treatment of your disease. Those include chemotherapy and also, possibly, new or innovative therapies that could be available.