The Growth And Spread Associated With Prostate Cancer Staging

The different stages of prostate cancer can seem complex and difficult to understand

. Like other cancer forms the prognosis is dependent upon the spread of the cancer during the time that it is diagnosed. One of the ways doctors classify the advancement of the cancer is by classifying it by stage. Prostate cancer staging is divided into four stages; Stage I, Stage II, Stage III and Stage IV.

Prostate cancer is diagnosed by certain tests. The first of which is the rectal exam. If the prostate is enlarged further testing can include; blood tests, trans rectal ultrasound, MRI of the prostate, CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis, MRI of the skeleton or bone scan and other testing involving the lymph nodes located in the pelvis. These tests will also ensure a proper diagnosis and prostate cancer staging. Stage I is usually only found by chance when prostate surgery is done for a different reason. At this stage it cannot be felt or diagnosed by a rectal exam and it is not visible on a sonogram.

In stage I the cancer is found only in the prostate. Stage II cancer is profound enough that it can be felt during a rectal exam. The tumor does not extend beyond the prostate. Stage III prostate cancer indicates that the cancer cells have spread beyond the prostate to the seminal vesicles, but not yet to the lymph nodes. Stage IV prostate cancer cells have invaded beyond the prostate and the seminal vesicles and now are growing in the bladder, rectum or other nearby structures. It may have also spread to the bones, lymph nodes and to other parts of the body. Although the prostate cancer can stay in the prostate for years, eventually without treatment it will spread in one of three ways. It may invade neighboring tissues, spread through the lymphatic system or travel to distant tissues through the blood stream known as metastasis. In addition to these stages there is also TNM staging which further identifies the spread of the tumor. T stands for tumor and indicates that the tumor is within the prostate. N stands for nodes and describes whether the prostate cancer can be found in any lymph nodes and to what extent it has spread. M stands for metastasis and identifies the distant spread of cancer to other parts of the body for example the liver or the bones.

Having prostate cancer accurately identified by stages of prostate cancer is very important. The staging helps to determine a proper diagnosis and optimal treatment plan, allowing for the most efficient way to battle different patients prostate cancer.

by: prostate cancer

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