A cancer diagnosis can shake the foundations of daily life. Sadness, grief, and uncertainty are natural responses when plans feel disrupted and the future looks unfamiliar. But when low mood lingers, intensifies, or begins to interfere with everyday activities, it may be more than a passing emotional response. It may be depression, and it deserves attention and care.
What Is Depression?
Depression can refer to a temporary emotional state, but it is also a medical diagnosis. Among people who have or have had cancer, two forms are most common:
Major depressive disorder (MDD), also called clinical depression, involves intense symptoms lasting at least two weeks.
Persistent depressive disorder (PDD), or dysthymia, includes milder symptoms that continue for at least two years.
Depression is rarely caused by a single factor. Research shows it typically develops from a combination of influences, including trauma, grief, stress, genetics, hormonal changes, brain chemistry, other medical conditions, sleep and nutrition patterns, certain medications, and substance use disorders.
When Symptoms Overlap
Several medical conditions can mimic depression, including thyroid disorders, diabetes, anemia, uncontrolled pain, high calcium levels, and anxiety. Treating these issues may relieve depressive symptoms. Because depression often shares physical symptoms with cancer and its treatments, such as fatigue, appetite changes, or sleep disruption, it is essential to evaluate the full picture. Ruling out other causes ensures patients receive the most effective care.
Depression and the Cancer Journey
Depression affects approximately one in four people who have or have had cancer. It can occur at any stage, from diagnosis through survivorship. Some individuals experience symptoms soon after diagnosis, while others develop depression weeks or months after treatment ends.
Certain factors increase risk, including advanced disease, specific cancer types such as pancreatic or head and neck cancers, younger age at diagnosis, social isolation, difficulty with self-care, poorly controlled pain, a history of trauma or substance use disorder, and prior depression.
Recognizing the Symptoms
Depression can look different from person to person. Common symptoms, especially when present nearly every day for two weeks or more, include:
Loss of interest or pleasure
Persistent sadness or hopelessness
Sleep disturbances
Changes in appetite
Feelings of worthlessness or failure
Difficulty concentrating
Noticeable slowing down or restlessness
Thoughts of self-harm or feeling better off dead
Behavioral changes may also signal depression, such as frequent crying, irritability, withdrawal from loved ones, quitting enjoyable activities, substance use, sexual problems, or memory difficulties.
If you or someone you care about notices these patterns, seeking support is important. Health care teams can screen for depression and identify contributing medical issues.
If you are in immediate distress or thinking about harming yourself, call 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7 by phone or text, or go to the nearest emergency department.
Screening and Open Conversations
Many experts recommend routine screening for anxiety and depression in people with cancer. Honest conversations with your care team help guide appropriate support. Providers may ask about your thoughts, physical symptoms, daily functioning, and safety concerns. These discussions are confidential and designed to help.
Treatment Options
Depression treatment is individualized. The goal is to reduce symptoms, ease suffering, and improve quality of life. Treatment may include psychotherapy, medication, or both. In some cases, light therapy, mindfulness practices, or complementary therapies are added to enhance results.
Psychotherapy
Several types of talk therapy are effective:
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and reframing negative thought patterns.
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) incorporates mindfulness to acknowledge thoughts without judgment.
Interpersonal therapy (IPT) explores relationships and social dynamics.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) uses guided eye movements to process past experiences.
Medications
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly prescribed. These medications, including fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline, and escitalopram, help regulate neurotransmitters linked to mood. They may take four to six weeks to show benefit. Other options include serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), norepinephrine dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs), and less commonly, tricyclic antidepressants or monoamine oxidase inhibitors.
Your care team will monitor for side effects and adjust treatment as needed.
Additional Therapies and Coping Strategies
Brain stimulation therapies may help treatment-resistant depression. Light therapy, particularly in the morning, can improve symptoms within days. Natural sunlight is beneficial when accessible.
Complementary approaches such as yoga, acupuncture, reflexology, and massage have been shown to improve mood and quality of life. Mindfulness practices encourage staying present rather than becoming overwhelmed by past or future worries.
Practical coping strategies also matter. Reflect on past resilience. Take one day at a time. Maintain reliable support systems. Journal your thoughts. Practice slow, deep breathing. Seek assistance for stressors like finances or transportation. Even a brief walk outdoors can make a difference.
Depression treatment is rarely a single solution. Some days will feel better than others. The objective is not to eliminate every difficult emotion but to bring symptoms to a manageable level, allowing space for connection, meaning, and moments of joy.
At Arizona Oncology, we believe caring for the whole person includes addressing emotional health. If you are struggling, speak with your care team. Support is available, and you do not have to navigate this alone.
Fatigue is not just “being tired.” For many people facing cancer, it can feel like an invisible weight — ever present, deeply exhausting, and disproportionate to activity or rest. At Arizona Oncology, we see this symptom on the frontline of care, and we know that fatigue profoundly affects physical well-being, emotional resilience, and daily life.
What Is Cancer-Related Fatigue?
Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a persistent, distressing sense of tiredness or exhaustion that:
Is not proportional to recent activity
Interferes with usual functioning
Cannot be fully relieved by rest or sleep
Often affects physical, cognitive, and emotional areas of life
This type of fatigue is one of the most common side effects experienced by people with cancer, at every stage of the journey — diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. Evidence shows that up to 80% of people receiving chemotherapy or radiation report significant fatigue, andit can persist long after treatment ends in many survivors.
Why We Focus on Fatigue
Fatigue matters because it affects quality of life — often more than pain, nausea, or other well-known treatment side effects. It can reduce the ability to work, enjoy social activities, maintain relationships, and even participate in meaningful daily routines.
Yet despite its prevalence, CRF is frequently under-reported and under-recognized. Patients may assume fatigue is simply “normal,” and clinicians may not always ask about it unless specifically prompted.
What Causes Cancer-Related Fatigue?
Fatigue in oncology rarely has a single cause; it typically arises from a complex interplay of medical, treatment-related, and psychosocial factors, including:
Because these elements often overlap, identifying what is primarily driving fatigue in each patient isn’t always straightforward.
How We Assess Fatigue at Arizona Oncology
Routine screening is critical.National guidelines recommend assessing fatigue at every major point in a cancer patient’s care timeline — at diagnosis, during treatment, and throughout survivorship.
Here’s how we approach it:
Patient History & Symptom Review
We ask structured questions about:
Energy levels
Sleep patterns
Mood and psychological stress
Daily activity tolerance
Physical Exam & Labs
We may check:
Hemoglobin (for anemia)
Electrolytes
Thyroid function
Other labs relevant to your treatment or symptoms
Use of Assessment Tools
Many clinical tools help measure fatigue severity and give clinicians quantifiable measures that track fatigue over time and guide intervention planning.
Evidence-Backed Approaches to Managing Fatigue
There’s no single cure for cancer-related fatigue, and no universally accepted pharmacologic treatment outside of specific medical conditions being addressed (like anemia or sleep apnea). Instead, the focus is on multimodal, individualized care.
1. Education and Counseling
Helping patients and families understand:
What CRF is
How it differs from everyday tiredness
That it is a real and treatable symptom
This education can reduce distress and empower active participation in managing symptoms.
2. Physical Activity
Exercise — tailored and safe — is one of the most effective interventions for reducing fatigue severity. This includes:
Aerobic activity (walking, cycling)
Resistance training
Gentle movement practices (yoga, tai chi)
Exercise recommendations are personalized based on patient ability and clinical status, but benefits have been shown across several high-quality studies.
3. Behavioral & Psychological Support
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness programs, and similar therapies can help patients cope with the emotional and psychological aspects of fatigue. These approaches have evidence supporting their use both during active treatment and after completion.
4. Complementary Therapies
Some patients find relief from cancer-related fatigue through integrative options like acupuncture. When performed by trained practitioners, these approaches are generally safe and well tolerated, and they can be a helpful addition to a broader fatigue management plan. For patients who prefer non-medication strategies, complementary therapies may offer another way to support energy levels and overall well-being.
5. Symptom-Specific Pharmacologic Options
Medications are not usually the first step in treating cancer-related fatigue, but they may be helpful for some patients when other approaches haven’t brought enough relief. Because research on medications for fatigue is limited, any treatment is chosen thoughtfully and tailored to the individual. Depending on a patient’s symptoms and overall health, options may include certain stimulants, short-term steroids, appetite-supporting medications, select antidepressants, or supplements such as ginseng. Your care team will always carefully review potential side effects and interactions to be sure any option is safe and appropriate for you.
Challenges in Treating Fatigue
Several barriers can make effective management difficult:
Time and resource limitations
Patient tolerance, especially when fatigue itself makes activity difficult
Misconceptions that fatigue is an inevitable part of cancer
Overlapping symptoms from other conditions (depression, pain, sleep disorders)
In collaboration with the oncology team, physical therapists, psychologists, nutritionists, and palliative care specialists can assist in building comprehensive plans that reflect each patient’s unique situation.
Living Better with Fatigue
While CRF may not disappear overnight, it can be managed — and patients can experience improved energy, function, and engagement in meaningful activities.
If you or a loved one is experiencing persistent fatigue during or after cancer treatment, we encourage you to speak openly with your care team. Effective strategies start with early detection and a personalized care plan.
AtArizona Oncology, we are committed to treating the whole person — not just the cancer — including quality-of-life symptoms like fatigue that matter every day.
The holidays bring joy, togetherness, and—let’s be honest—a whole lot of germs. For cancer patients, especially those in active treatment or with therapy-related immunosuppression, navigating seasonal celebrations requires a little more strategy. The good news? With a few mindful adjustments, you can protect your immune system and still enjoy the spirit of the season.
Here’s how to stay safe, healthy, and connected this holiday season—without feeling like you’re sitting on the sidelines.
Know Your Immune Status (and Let It Guide Your Plans)
Different treatments affect the immune system in different ways:
Chemotherapy can lower white blood cell counts, putting patients at elevated risk of infection.
Radiation therapy can irritate the skin, causing small breaks that allow germs to enter. Radiation therapy aimed at bones, especially the bones in the pelvis, can have immunosuppressive effects similar to chemotherapy.
Targeted therapy for leukemia, lymphoma, or multiple myeloma puts patients at an increased risk of infection.
Immunotherapy usually doesn’t suppress immunity, but checkpoint inhibitors may increase infection risk.
Stem cell transplant or CAR T-cell therapy recipients typically have the highest risk and may need stricter precautions for months.
Ask your oncology team where you fall on the spectrum right now. A quick conversation can help you know whether you should modify travel plans, skip crowded indoor events, or simply take a few extra precautions.
Upgrade Your Holiday Hygiene
A few small actions can dramatically reduce exposure during peak cold and flu season:
Wash hands often—and ask close family to do the same (everyone’s used to it by now).
Carry sanitizer for quick cleans in stores, airports, and restaurants.
Avoid touching your face when you’re out and about.
Mask when you need to, especially in crowded indoor areas, clinics, or during your nadir week. (Most chemotherapy patients experience a nadir—typically 1–2 weeks after an infusion—when their white blood cell counts dip. During this period, your risk of infection is highest, so simple precautions can go a long way.)
Set Boundaries Without Guilt (Your Health Comes First)
Loved ones want you safe, even if they don’t always know how to help. Clear communication makes expectations easier for everyone.
Here is some language you can try:
“I’d love to see you—can we do something smaller indoors or meet outside?”
“I’m in a lower-immunity phase right now, so I’m keeping gatherings limited.”
“If anyone is feeling sick, let’s plan a virtual visit instead.”
Nourish Your Immune System with Seasonal Foods
You don’t need a special diet—just aim for balanced, comforting meals that support energy and immunity:
Hydration: herbal teas, flavored water, broth—especially if treatment causes dry mouth or taste changes
And yes, you can enjoy your holiday treats. Just add in a few nutrient-dense foods when you can.
Prioritize Rest (Your Body Will Thank You)
Cancer treatment is already a full-time job. Add holiday errands, travel, and visitors, and it’s easy to hit overload.
Try to:
Keep a consistent sleep schedule
Plan downtime before and after events
Listen to early signs of fatigue—don’t push through
Your immune system works best when your body has room to recover.
Celebrate, Just a Little Differently
You don’t need to skip festivities—you may just need to reshape them:
Choose smaller gatherings with people you trust to stay home if sick.
Opt for outdoor activities when possible—walks, patio dinners, backyard fire pits.
Consider hosting so you can control crowd size, ventilation, and timing.
Use virtual options to catch up with bigger groups without risk.
Remember: meaningful connection doesn’t depend on the size of the crowd.
Traveling? Plan with an Immune-Savvy Lens
If you’re cleared to travel, a few strategies help reduce risk:
Travel on off-peak days or times.
Bring sanitizing wipes for plane seats, rental cars, and hotel rooms.
Stay hydrated during flights (cabin air is notoriously dry).
Wear a mask on planes or in crowded terminals.
Keep medications in carry-on bags, including anti-nausea and fever reducers approved by your doctor.
Your Health Is the Priority—But Joy Matters, Too
You deserve warmth, connection, comfort, and celebration this season. With thoughtful precautions—and support from your Arizona Oncology team—you can embrace the holidays in a way that honors both your health and your happiness.
If you have questions about your specific treatment, immune status, or travel plans, we’re here to guide you. Reach out to your care team anytime.
From all of us at Arizona Oncology, we wish you a safe, healthy, and joy-filled holiday season.
If you’ve smoked for years, you may wonder if quitting now will really help. The answer is absolutely yes.
Your body begins healing almost immediately after your last cigarette, improving circulation, oxygen levels, and lung health within hours. Over time, quitting smoking dramatically reduces your risk of lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke.
Here’s what happens to your body when you quit smoking—and how you can stay smoke-free for life.
20 Minutes After Quitting: Your Heart and Circulation Respond
Just 20 minutes after your final cigarette, your heart rate and blood pressure start to return to normal. Blood flow improves, and your hands and feet may feel warmer as circulation increases.
8–12 Hours: Oxygen Levels Improve
Within half a day, the level of carbon monoxide in your blood drops significantly, allowing oxygen to reach your heart, muscles, and brain more effectively.
You may notice your first nicotine cravings around this time. They usually last only a few minutes. Try deep breathing, drinking water, or taking a short walk until they pass.
1–2 Days: Nicotine Clears Out
After one full day without smoking, your risk of heart attack already starts to drop. Within 48 hours, nicotine leaves your system completely. Your sense of taste and smell begin to sharpen as damaged nerve endings start to recover.
This can be the hardest phase for withdrawal symptoms like irritability or restlessness. Reach out for support through the National Cancer Institute Quitline (1-877-44U-QUIT) or the Arizona Smokers’ Helpline (1-800-55-66-222).
3 Days: Breathing Becomes Easier
By day three, your lungs start to work more efficiently, and you may find it easier to breathe or exercise.
2 Weeks to 3 Months: Strength Returns
Your lung function continues to improve, circulation gets stronger, and physical activity feels easier. This period brings major progress—the hardest withdrawal symptoms are behind you, and your heart attack risk continues to fall.
3 to 9 Months: Lung Health Rebuilds
As your lungs heal, you may cough less, or more productively, as your body clears mucus and toxins. You’ll likely have more energy, fewer colds, and better breathing.
1 Year: Your Heart Thanks You
After one year smoke-free, your risk of coronary heart disease is about half that of someone who still smokes.
5 to 10 Years: Lower Cancer and Stroke Risks
By year five, your risk of stroke drops significantly. After ten years, your risk of dying from lung cancer is about half that of a continuing smoker. Your chances of developing cancers of the mouth, throat, and bladder also decrease.
15 Years: Heart Disease Risk Nearly Normal
Fifteen years after quitting, your risk of coronary heart disease is close to that of a lifelong non-smoker. Your body has done incredible healing work—step by step.
Quitting After a Cancer Diagnosis Still Helps
If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, quitting can still improve your outcomes. Patients who quit after diagnosis often respond better to treatment and experience fewer complications.
At Arizona Oncology, we can connect you with personalized smoking cessation programs, behavioral counseling, and medications to help you quit for good.
FAQs About Quitting Smoking
Q: What if I only smoke socially? A: Even occasional smoking can harm your heart and lungs. There’s no safe level of tobacco use. The good news? Your body starts healing as soon as you quit completely.
Q: Is there screening for lung cancer? A: Yes. A low-dose CT (LDCT) scan can detect lung cancer early, when treatment is most effective. If you are between 50 and 80 years old, have a 20-pack-year smoking history, and currently smoke or quit within the last 15 years, ask your provider about LDCT screening.
Q: What is the best way to quit? A: The most successful quit plans combine support, strategy, and medication. Nicotine replacement therapies, prescription medications, and counseling can double your chances of quitting for good. Call:
Arizona Smokers’ Helpline: 1-800-55-66-222
National Cancer Institute Quitline: 1-877-44U-QUIT
Take the First Step Today
Whether you’ve been smoking for months or decades, quitting is one of the most powerful decisions you can make for your long-term health. Your body begins to heal within minutes, and your future self will thank you.
This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we’re highlighting several groundbreaking developments that were introduced at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting. Over 40,000 oncologists, scientists, and breast cancer patient advocates came together to discuss advancements in breast cancer research, early detection, and cutting-edge treatments, offering hope to individuals diagnosed at every stage, from early disease to metastatic breast cancer. Let’s take a look at some of the 2025 wins.
Exercise and Lifestyle Factors
The CHALLENGE clinical trial, conducted with colon cancer survivors, may help shed some light on breast cancer recurrence. This robust study looked at exercise and how it might affect quality of life and outcomes. Participants were randomized, with some assigned a physical activity level and trainer for three years. Several biomarkers were tracked, including insulin levels, weight, and glucose levels, and participants could choose their type of activity—for example, walking or strength training. After many years of follow-up, the results showed that the patients who had engaged in physical activity had reduced recurrence rates and improved survival rates.
This is particularly interesting as similar ongoing trials involving breast cancer patients are underway, including the Breast Cancer Weight Loss (BWEL) trial, a randomized, controlled trial designed to determine whether weight loss after breast cancer diagnosis can reduce the risk of cancer recurrence in women who are overweight or obese.
Right-sizing Treatment
Bigger isn’t always better, and more treatment doesn’t always lead to improved outcomes. Much discussion circulated at the ASCO meeting surrounding right-sizing treatment, especially for patients with early cancer. Because chemotherapy and other cancer treatments can cause harm, it’s important to balance toxicity with expected benefits. The CompassHER2-pCR trial is exploring whether some people with early HER2-positive breast cancer may be able to safely avoid chemotherapy after surgery if their tumors respond well to initial treatment with THP (trastuzumab, pertuzumab, and chemotherapy). Researchers are also evaluating a new genomic test, HER2DX, to see if it can predict which cancers are most likely to disappear after the first round of therapy. Early findings are encouraging, pointing toward more personalized—and potentially less aggressive—treatment options.
Sometimes the answer lies not in which medications to prescribe, but in proper dosing. For women with high-risk endocrine-sensitive breast cancer, for example, CDK4/6 inhibitors may be incorporated into a therapy regimen, but they can be difficult to tolerate. Studies looked at ramping up the dose more slowly, over time, to reduce toxic effects. This helps patients to successfully stay on their medications rather than discontinuing them due to side effects or toxicity.
A Focus on Quality of Life
It is always important to remember that we are treating people, not just a disease. Focusing on maximizing quality of life during and after treatment was a priority at this year’s meeting. The phase 3OASIS-4 trial found that a new drug, elinzanetant, can significantly reduce moderate to severe hot flashes in women with early estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer who are taking hormone therapy. Participants also reported the treatment was generally well tolerated. Elinzanetant is one of several emerging options aimed at making hormone therapy more manageable and improving quality of life.
Here are some other notable takeaways:
The VERITAC-2 trial showed that the new drug vepdegestrant extended progression-free survival by about three months compared to fulvestrant in people with ER+/HER2- advanced breast cancer with ESR1 mutations, with few discontinuations. An added benefit: the drug is taken orally rather than in monthly injections.
The SERENA-6 trial suggests that analyzing circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) may help detect treatment resistance in metastatic breast cancer before it appears on scans, offering a promising approach for earlier, more personalized treatment decisions.
The DESTINY-Breast09 trial showed that first-line treatment with trastuzumab deruxtecan plus pertuzumab extended progression-free survival to 40.7 months in HER2+ metastatic breast cancer, compared with 26.9 months for the previous standard therapy.
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At Arizona Oncology, we know a prostate cancer diagnosis may feel overwhelming. Our physicians are relentlessly dedicated to delivering the best care possible for each patient’s individual needs. That’s why our multidisciplinary tumor board committee includes experts in urology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, radiology, and pathology, who all work together to develop your optimal treatment plan.
We are proud to offer a leading-edge treatment for prostate cancer. It combines the use of PET scans and a new therapy targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-positive cancer cells that have spread and become resistant to other forms of treatment.
Pluvicto™ is the first and only treatment that targets PSMA+ cancer cells wherever they are in the body.
PSMA is a protein on the surface of most positive prostate cancer cells. This new therapy, which was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in March 2022, uses a tracing agent (ligand) that attaches to PSMA. If this tracer binds to the cancer cells, they light up on a PET/CT scan, and patients are then eligible for a drug called Pluvicto™. This medication is injected into the bloodstream to deliver targeted radiation to cancer cells throughout the body that express PSMA. The treatment targets bone, nodal, and visceral metastases.
Who Qualifies ForPluvicto™?
Adults with prostate-specific membrane antigen-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (PSMA-positive mCRPC) that:
Has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic)
Has already been treated with other anticancer treatments
How DoesPluvicto™ Work?
Pluvicto™ is a targeted therapy that delivers radiation treatment directly to PSMA+ cells, including tumors.
It is given via IV injection or infusion approximately every six weeks for up to six treatments, depending on how the patient responds.
What Kind of Results Has Pluvicto™ Produced?
Pluvicto™ has helped men live longer:
Men with PSMA+ mCRPC who received Pluvicto™ and the best standard of care, lived a median of 4 months longer: 15.3 months vs. 11.3 months with BSoC (best standard of care) alone.*
Men treated with Pluvicto™ plus BSoC lived longer without their cancer growing or spreading—a median of 8.7 months compared with 3.4 months when on BSoC only.**
With this treatment, the doctors at Arizona Oncology hope your prostate cancer diagnosis can feel a little less overwhelming.
Other state-of-the-art treatments for prostate cancer that we offer include:
Multiparametric MRI – This scan combines several MRI techniques into one session, providing a more comprehensive way to detect and evaluate tumors.
Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET-CT – A tracing agent is used during imaging to detect prostate cancer cells in the body with high specificity and sensitivity, allowing for a more accurate picture of where the cancer is located.
Hydrogel (Barrigel) rectal spacer placement – A biodegradable hydrogel is placed between the prostate and the rectum to create space and reduce radiation exposure to the rectum.
Fiducial placement – Small markers are placed in the prostate gland to help guide radiation treatment.
Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) – A highly complex, convenient and short course (five sessions) of radiation therapy to maximize effectiveness in the prostate gland while minimizingside effects to surrounding healthy tissue.
Xofigo® – This drug is injected into the bloodstream and is used to treat prostate cancer that has spread to the bone.
Medically integrated dispensing pharmacy – We fill prescriptions for Orgovyx® (relugolix), Xtandi®(enzalutamide), Zytiga® (abiraterone acetate), Erleada® (apalutamide), Nubeqa® (darolutamide).
*The Pluvicto™ clinical study measured overall survival (OS). This is the total time men with metastatic prostate cancer were alive from the start of treatment. Median OS is the length of time half of the men were still alive. In a study of 831 men with PSMA+ metastatic prostate cancer, 551 were treated with Pluvicto™ once every 6 weeks (up to 6 treatments) plus BSoC as determined by their doctor. Another 280 were treated with BSoC alone.
**The Pluvicto™ clinical study measured radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS). This is the length of time men in the study lived with PSMA+ mCRPC without it spreading or getting worse. Median rPFS is the length of time when half of the men were still alive without their cancer spreading or getting worse.