Back toUpdated on October 16, 2024
Dr. Cedrek McFadden breaks down the differences between these two types of prostate cancer.
Transcript
Hi, Dr. McFadden. Can you explain what mSCPSC and nmCRPC mean? And what is the difference?
Hi, there. This is a great question. These are two types of prostate cancers. The mCSPC stands for metastatic castration-sensitive prostate
cancer, and the nmCRPC strains for non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate
cancer. Before we dive deeper, let's take a step back. What is prostate cancer? Prostate cancer is the second-most common cancer
in the United States behind skin cancer. It occurs when cells outgrow the rate of control
in the prostate. The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that sits below the bladder in front of the rectum. It's an important part of the male reproductive system.
When we say a cancer is castration-sensitive, this means it needs androgens, or male hormones, to grow. If we're able to reduce the amount of androgens,
say, by lowering testosterone levels, we may be able to effectively treat a castration-sensitive cancer. Now, metastatic is a term we use in medicine
to describe cancer that has spread beyond the place where it started. So when we say metastatic castration-sensitive prostate
cancer, we're talking about a cancer that has started in the prostate and has spread beyond it that still responds to treatments that lower
testosterone. Let's turn our attention to the nmCRPC, which means, again, non-metastatic
castration-resistant prostate cancer. When we say castration-resistant, this means that cancer no longer responds to treatment
that lower testosterone levels. Non-metastatic, as you probably can guess, is the opposite of metastatic.
The cancer has not spread beyond the place where it originated. In both cases, treatments are available that
can help slow the progression of the disease, so talk with your health care provider to learn more about your treatment options.
Remember, you are a team. Together, you can find the treatment plan that works best for you.
