An 86-Year-Old Male with Metastasized Cancer Treated with External Beam Radiation Therapy: A Case Report from Zimbabwe

Abstract

Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy diagnosed in men and the second most common cause of cancer deaths in men. Incidence increases drastically after the age of 50, however, it is more common in males above the age of 65. Prostatic cancer is asymptomatic in its early stages, i.e., when it is still localized, hence most patients present with late-stage cancers. Patients with late-stage prostate cancer usually present with urethral obstruction, nocturia, narrow stream, and they rarely present with pain or stiffness caused by bony metastases. The common treatment for late-stage prostate cancer is hormonal therapy. We herein present a case of an 86-year-old male who presented with metastasized prostate cancer. The cancer had metastasized to the head of the femur and there was bone fracture in the neck of the femur as well. The patient received external beam radiotherapy as palliative treatment due to the limited resources in Zimbabwe. The patient did not come for follow up review and hence it was not possible to conclude whether the external beam treatment was an effective palliative treatment. The learning points in this case are as follows: stage at presentation of man with cancer of the prostate in comparison with what literature say, management done in comparison to the recommended management guidelines, follow up strategies to minimize patients absconding follow up reviews and how loss of follow up to patients treated affect future evidence-based management of patients.