Secondary cancers

An association between PCa and increased risk of melanoma, but not other cancers, has been observed in a couple of studies (easy to find if you Google the terms). That doesn’t make melanoma a “secondary cancer,” though. A secondary cancer is a secondary tumor of the primary cancer — a metastasis of the primary tumor in a second location, e.g. a PCa tumor in the bones.

I don't know the stats in the overall population, but my brother had the same thing happen. First PC, and this year he's had to have a few skin cancers removed.

No idea if they are related, but wouldn't be surprised to find they are.

Andrew

Statistically, a person that has one cancer is at greater risk to have another cancer than people that don’t have any cancer. Since PCa, bladder and colon cancer are common in men, often a man will have multiple cancers. My brother in law was treated 6 years ago for PCa. Then two years later he had bladder cancer. He was a long term smoker which is often the cause of bladder cancer in men. His doctor said the two cancers were totally unrelated.

And a second cancer is not a secondary cancer, so be careful with their terms.

Often men are worried about treatment induced cancer when considering radiation therapy. That risk is actually lower than dying from complications of PCa surgery. A recent study of more than 400 men in Skandanavia shouted the occurrence to be .3% at 10 years post treatment. This is a very small risk that should not prevent a man from considering radiation therapy.

I have enough to worry about and don't need to think about secondary cancers. Not going down that rabbit hole. I'm also not worried about getting hit by a truck but am always worried about the plane I'm on. By the way my 1st cancer was melanoma. So I see a dermatologist every 6 months. DERM, MO, URO, GP-my own scrabble game.