The prostate is a chestnut shaped gland located in men under the bladder in front of the rectum. Prostate cancer occurs when cells within the prostate grow out of control, creating tumors. It is the leading cause of cancer in American men. The risk of getting prostate cancer increases with age. Over 700,000 cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed worldwide each year. For early stages of prostate cancer, signs and symptoms are usually not evident. Prostate cancer is rare in men under 50, but those with a family history should get checked regularly.
In order to confirm cancer stages in the prostate, a biopsy must be performed. If the biopsy confirms that cancer exists, the next step is to know what stage the cancer is in. The prostate cancer stage will help determine the best course of treatment to take. Various tests are done to determine if the cancer has spread, including imaging and blood tests. The clinical stage uses results fro the digital rectal exam, trans-rectal ultrasound or needle biopsy.
A common staging system used for prostate cancer is the TNM system. This means T-Tumor, N-Nodes and M-Metastasize. First, the size and extent of the primary tumor is described/measured. Then checks are done to see of the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or metastasized elsewhere.
In the T stages (T1-T4) the cancer is rated from 0 to 4 depending on evidence of the cancer being localized in the prostate gland and surrounding areas. For T-0, there is no evidence of a primary tumor in the prostate. T-1 (a, b, or c) shows a tumor in the prostate, with a less than 5%, b greater than 5% and c -there is evidence of a tumor as identified by a needle biopsy. For T-2 stages, the tumor is confined within the prostate. In the T2a stag, the tumor affects one-half or less of one lobe, In the T2b stage, the tumor affects more than half of one lobe but not both lobes. For T2c, the tumor affects both lobes. When the tumors are confined to the prostate in stages T1-T2, the disease usually has cure rates of 90% or higher.
T3a stage indicates the tumor has extended beyond the prostate capsule. Stage T3b, the tumor has invaded the seminal vesicle. For stage T4, the tumor has invaded surrounding areas.
One of the best treatments for prostate cancer (T1 and T2 stages and some T3 cases) is High Intensity Focused Ultrasound, since the cure rate is very high, but it is non-surgical and non-invasive, so side effects are minimal. Speak to your urologist about HIFU and other forms of treatment if you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer. HIFU is particularly suited to younger men (50-75) who don't want the risk of impotency and incontinence generally associated with prostate cancer surgery. For more information, you can view the Hifu.ca website, as they are the oldest and most popular HIFU clinic in North America, and provide a wealth of information on options, stages and research.
Nancy Stonecutter is a nurse who writes about family and child care. Visit her blog at http://www.nancythenurse.wordpress.com/ for more information.
