Understanding your advanced prostate cancer (APC)

Helping you understand the journey from diagnosis to treatment

Every patient’s journey is different, and understanding your symptoms and test results may seem overwhelming.

Always remember to talk to your treatment team if you have any questions about your APC.

Common prostate cancer symptoms⁴

Blood in the urine or semen
Difficulty getting an erection (erectile dysfunction or ED)
Pain in the hips, back, chest, or other areas from cancer that has spread to bones
Weakness or numbness in the legs or feet

Loss of bladder or bowel control
Problems urinating such as the urge
to urinate more often or a slow or weak urinary stream, especially at night

An overview of advanced prostate cancer

Prostate cancer in the US⁵:

Total number of
estimated new cases

Percentage diagnosed
at the local stage

Median age
at diagnosis

Percentage alive 5 years
after initial diagnosis

APC testing

As part of a patient’s diagnosis, there are a variety of tests that may be given to better understand a patient’s treatment needs. Some tests may be repeated throughout your treatment to monitor how well they are working. Ask your doctor for regular updates to check your progress.

Gleason scoring system

The Gleason system, which has been in use for many years, assigns grades based on how much the cancer looks like normal prostate tissue.⁴

Pathologists will determine a patient’s Gleason score by examining tissue samples from a prostate biopsy and comparing the cancer tissue pattern with normal tissue. The higher the score, the more likely the cancer is to spread.⁶

What does my Gleason score mean?

2-6

Low Grade⁴

Cancer is likely to grow and spread slowly

Medium Grade⁴

Cancer is likely to grow but may not spread quickly

High Grade⁴

Cancer is likely to grow and spread more quickly

Most cancers are grade 3 and above; grades 1 and 2 are not often used⁴

Home Why T & PSA MATTER

Have A Voice

Every month is an opportunity for you to connect with your treatment team

Make monthly visits matter by getting involved in your treatment plan.

I like the regularity of the monthly shot and the chance it gives me to build a relationship with my treatment team.

Actual patient quote

Get the doctor discussion guide

Indication

FIRMAGON^® (degarelix for injection) is a prescription medicine used in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer.

Important Safety Information

Do not receive FIRMAGON if you are allergic to degarelix or any of the ingredients in FIRMAGON
FIRMAGON can cause serious side effects.

Serious allergic reactions. Get medical help right away if you get any of these symptoms:

Trouble breathing or wheezing
Severe itching
Swelling of your face, lips, mouth, or tongue

Disorders of the heart’s electrical activity. Your healthcare provider may do tests during treatment with FIRMAGON to check your heart for a condition called long QT syndrome.

Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should not take FIRMAGON. FIRMAGON can harm an unborn baby when given to a pregnant woman.
Before receiving FIRMAGON, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you have any heart problems including a condition called long QT syndrome, have problems with blood levels such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, have kidney or liver problems.
The common side effects of FIRMAGON include: hot flashes, injection site pain, redness and swelling, weight loss or gain, increase in some liver enzymes, decreased sex drive, and erectile function problems.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bother you or that does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also contact Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc. at 1-888-FERRING.