Prostate Cancer Stages

For effective treatment of prostate cancer it is of vital importance to be aware of the prostate cancer stages. This article has been written to inform you about the various stages and the spread of prostate cancer in each stage.Prostate cancer is cancer that takes place in the tissues located in the prostate. This kind of cancer usually occurs in men who are older.

Once the cancer has been diagnosed tests are conducted in order to find out if the cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body. prostate cancer staging is the term used to describe this process. The stage of prostate cancer is determined from the information gathered from the staging process.

Finding the prostate cancer stage is of vital importance since it helps in the treatment of the disease.

Bone ScanRadionuclide Bone ScanMagnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)Pelvic LymphadenectomyCAT scan (CT scan)Seminal Vesicle BiopsyDigital Rectal ExaminationTransrectal Ultrasoundprostate Specific Antigen (Blood test)

Once the tests are conducted the stage of the cancer can be determined. The main biopsy report is used to determine the Gleason score. This score ranges from 2 to 10 and tells you how the normal cells are different from the ones that cause prostate cancer. The less the score the less likely it is to have spread.

The TNM which means tumor, nodes and metastasis is a system that is used for prostate cancer stages.

T: This alphabet is used to describe the size of the main area of the cancer. N: This alphabet stands for nodes and tells you whether the prostate cancer has spread to the lymph nodes and if it has then to what extent.M: Metastasis is used to describe the spread of prostate cancer i.e. whether it has found its way into the bones or liver.

In some cases both these the Gleason score and the TNM tests are combined to describe the prostate cancer stages.

In this prostate cancer stage the cancer is found only in the prostate. Since the cancer is only in the prostate it is not visible by imaging and neither felt in a digital rectal exam. Cancer at this stage may be detected accidently in surgery that is conducted for other reasons. Also known as A1 prostate cancer, the Gleason score in this stage is low.

Also known as stage A2, stage B1 or stage B2 prostate cancer in this stage is more advanced than in stage 1. In this stage the cancer has not spread outside the prostate. The Gleason score at this stage of prostate cancer ranges from 2 to 10.

Cancer at this stage has spread beyond the outer layer to the nearby tissues and may also be found in the seminal vesicles. The Gleason score at this stage ranges from 2 to 10.

In this stage the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes as well as other parts of the body such as the rectum, bladder, lungs or liver. This kind of cancer often also affects the bones. This prostate cancer staging is also known as stage D1 or stage D2 prostate cancer.

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