As you can see, this is indeed complex and has many variables. Lastly, if the legs begin to lose function, see your doctor, as decisions need to made rapidly as delay may not be recoverable. The fact that prostate cancer has spread to the lumbar spine does not necessarily mean that the spine complications, such as pain, fractures, or muscle weakness, will follow. This means that pathological fractures are relatively uncommon in prostate cancer, and it is likely that a patient with prostate cancer in the spine will not suffer a pathological fracture. The metastatic deposits of prostate cancer in the spine can cause pain but there are many effective treatments available which the oncologist can use to eliminate the pain.
Prostate cancer is a relatively slow-growing type of cancer.
Many men have it in their later years, but few of them actually die of it. When prostate cancer affects younger men, it may take a more aggressive form and be rapidly spreading, and even fatal. Untreated prostate cancer is definitely fatal, but there are many ways to slow and check the growth of prostate cancer. Even patients whose prostate cancer has spread to their bones enjoy a long survival, often several years, and occasionally many years.