Understanding Prostate Cancer Stages

Prostate cancer diagnosis is similar to diagnose various types of other malignancies, doctors usually tell how far the prostate cancer cells have spread to adjacent tissues.

Grouping prostate cancer stages is use to determine the expansion of prostate cancer cells to surrounding tissue, to determine treatments plan, and also to know the prognosis (recovery hopes) of the disease.

After the diagnosis of prostate cancer was taken through biopsy, doctors will perform additional imaging tests such as CAT imaging test (coaxial tomography) and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) to determine whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes and  surrounding organs such as bladder and rectum. Radionuclide bone scans to determine the spread of cancer cells into bone, and the latest scan is PET scan which help doctors to detect the spread of cancer to a hidden location in various areas of the body.

The doctor will then place the letters and numbers on the diagnosis of prostate cancer stages. These numbers and letters are involve classification of prostate cancer stages that indicate the size of the tumor, the number of affected side, the number of  affected glands, lymph nodes and metastases to other organs.

Urologist and expert clinical pathologists work together to accurately determine the stage of prostate cancer patients. An accurate assessment is important to determine the best treatment plan and prognosis. There are two main systems used to classify prostate cancer stages. One, TMN classification system (T = tumor, N = node, M = metastases) which describes four stages of prostate cancer . However, American urologic staging system use A, B, C, D classification of stages

1. Prostate cancer stage  A is described to a cancer that was not found in physical palpation as well as imaging tests, these tumors are too small and could only be detected using a microscope.
2. Prostate cancer stage  B refers to a larger prostate cancer which can be palpate. There is no spread to other places and is still locally confined in prostate gland.
3. Prostate cancer stage  C indicates local spread into tissues around the prostate.
4. Prostate cancer stage  D1 indicates a spread in lymph nodes adjacent to and D2 is refers to cell cancers which spread far (metastasis), for example, to the bones, lungs, and  liver.

TMN classification system

• Prostate cancer Stage 1:

the stage where prostate cancer is still confined to the prostate gland. At this stage, tiny microscopic cancer that can not be palpated by digital rectal examination. For that additional examination such as the PSA blood test can be performed. At this stage prostate cancer easier to treat and have a prognosis or survival rate is best.

• Prostate cancer Stage 2:

Tumor has grown in the prostate and has a size larger than the first phase but not yet tmenyebar to another location. This phase is still easily treated and the survival rate decreases 10% compared to Phase I.

• Prostate cancer stage 3:

At this stage prostate cancer has spread beyond the prostate, including to the nearby tissue and structures such as seminal vesicle.

• prostate cancer stage 4:

This stage is the final stage of prostate cancer is the most difficult to treat. At this stage, the cancer has spread to distant locations in the body (metastasis). This occurs because cancer cells through the circulation carried on through blood or lymph vessels and stop in the other organs for later growth and development. Typically, prostate cancer spread to lymph nodes, bone, lung, and liver.