Staging of Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer staging is a way of describing how far the cancer has spread. It is based on the size of the tumor, whether it has spread to nearby lymph nodes, and whether it has spread to other parts of the body.

The staging system for prostate cancer is based on the TNM system, which stands for Tumor, Node, and Metastasis.

Tumor (T). The T stage describes the size of the tumor and whether it can be felt by a doctor during a digital rectal exam (DRE).

Node (N). The N stage describes whether the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes.

Metastasis (M). The M stage describes whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

The stages of prostate cancer are:

Stage I. The tumor is small and cannot be felt by DRE. The cancer has not spread to nearby lymph nodes or other parts of the body.

Stage II. The tumor is larger and can be felt by DRE. The cancer has not spread to nearby lymph nodes or other parts of the body.

Stage III. The tumor has spread to nearby lymph nodes, but it has not spread to other parts of the body.

Stage IV. The cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the bones, liver, or lungs.

The grade of prostate cancer is also important, as it can help predict how aggressive the cancer is. The Gleason score is a way of grading prostate cancer, and it is based on how abnormal the cancer cells look under a microscope.

Gleason score 6 or less. The cancer is low-grade and is less likely to spread.

Gleason score 7. The cancer is intermediate-grade and has a moderate risk of spreading.

Gleason score 8, 9, or 10. The cancer is high-grade and is more likely to spread.

The stage and grade of prostate cancer are used together to determine the best treatment plan. For example, a man with a low-grade, localized prostate cancer may be able to be monitored closely without treatment, while a man with a high-grade, advanced prostate cancer may need more aggressive treatment, such as surgery or radiation therapy.