How to stage prostate cancer

Prostate cancer staging is used to assess the spread of prostate cancer and the likelihood of cure with local therapies such as surgery or radiation. Prostate cancer is usually divided into four stages. The stages are mainly based on the size of the prostate cancer, lymph node metastasis, and organ metastasis.

Currently, the TNM staging system is commonly used. This staging system is mainly based on the size of the cancerous tissue mass, lymph node metastasis, and whether there is distant organ metastasis. The four stages of prostate staging are briefly described as follows:

Stage I: Cancer cells are found accidentally in a small portion of a sample of prostate tissue that is removed for other reasons (such as benign prostatic hypertrophy). The cells are very similar to normal cells. This is a milder condition with a better prognosis.

Stage II: A mass appears inside more of the prostate. Stage III: The tumor has spread through the prostate capsule, and a mass can be felt on the surface of the gland.

Stage IV: The tumor has invaded structures near the prostate capsule or has spread to lymph nodes or other organs. This staging method is helpful in guiding disease treatment. In stages I and II, since the cancer tissue is confined to the prostate, surgical treatment can be chosen.

Stages III and IV are mainly treated with a combination of hormone therapy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and other treatments. Generally speaking, the earlier the staging, the better the treatment effect and the higher the survival rate. Clinical staging can usually be determined before the first treatment. First, imaging and rectal examinations are performed to confirm the presence of the tumor, and once a biopsy or pathological examination is performed to understand the type of prostate cancer cells, accurate pathological staging is performed after treatment.

The combination of clinical staging and pathological staging can guide the treatment of prostate cancer in the later stages and maximize the life expectancy of patients.