Prostate Cancer And Other Primary Malignancies

As the detection and treatment of prostate cancer improve, the prevalence of patients with multiple malignancies will increase. Prostate cancer has been shown to be associated with colon, lung, bladder, skin, and kidney cancers. Of particular interest to the urologist are patients presenting with multiple urologic malignancies. However, it is important for the urologist to be aware of the association of prostate cancer with other malignancies. Common environmental, lifestyle, and genetic factors have been implicated in the development of multiple primary malignancies. In some cases, the treatment of prostate cancer has been shown to increase the incidence and stage of certain local cancers such as bladder and rectal cancer. Treatment of patients presenting with or discovered to have multiple primary malignancies presents a dilemma. Synchronous lesions are often treated simultaneously. Metachronous lesions require a multidisciplinary approach to the patient. The urologist plays an important role in the treatment of patients with prostate cancer and a second primary malignancy.