Stage prostate cancer

As is the case with other types of cancer, the prognosis for prostate cancer depends on whether the cancer has spread at the time of diagnosis. To describe the extent of cancer, doctors use a classification system, which is called staging.
Stage prostate cancer: growth and spread of tumors
Prostate cancer grows locally within the prostate gland, often for many years.Ultimately, prostate cancer spreads beyond the prostate gland. Prostate cancer can spread beyond the prostate gland in three ways:
Grow into the surrounding tissues (invasion) Spreading through the lymphatic system lymph nodes and vessels Moving to distant tissues through the blood (metastasis) Stage prostate cancer describe the precise extent of prostate cancer.
Survey, with the help of which determine the stage of prostate cancer
After the diagnosis of cancer is carried out a survey to find out how the cancer has spread, if it has spread beyond the prostate gland. Not all men need each survey. It depends on the characteristics of prostate cancer are men who shows a biopsy.Tests that help determine the stage of prostate cancer include:
Digital rectal examination (finger in glove) Prostate-specific antigen (blood) Transrectal ultrasound MRI of the prostate using a rectal probe CT abdomen and pelvis, the presence of metastatic prostate cancer in other organs MRI of the skeleton or radiological bone scan for the presence of bone metastases Surgery to examine lymph nodes in the pelvis on the subject of whether the spread of prostate cancer Stage prostate cancer. TNM staging system
As with most types of cancer, doctors use a system of TNM stages of prostate cancer. Stage prostate cancer are described using three different aspects of the growth and spread of tumors. This is a system of TNM (tumor, nodes, and metastasis - tumor, nodes and metastases):
T (tumor - a tumor) describes the size of the main portion of prostate cancer. N (nodes - nodes) describes whether the cancer has spread to the prostate to the lymph nodes and to what extent. M (metastasis - metastatic) means the distant spread of prostate cancer, such as bone or liver. There are other ways of classifying prostate cancer, such as the Gleason score.Sometimes, the TNM system and the Gleason combined to describe the stage of prostate cancer.
Stage I prostate cancer
In the first stage prostate cancer is found only in the prostate gland. Prostate cancer is the first stage of a microscopic, it is impossible to feel with digital rectal examination (AT), and it is not visible in the images of the prostate gland.
- Stage II prostate cancer
At the second stage of the tumor grew in the prostate gland but has not spread beyond its borders.
- Stage III prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is the third stage has spread beyond the prostate gland, but only barely. Prostate cancer is the third stage affects the surrounding tissues, such as the seminal vesicles.
- Stage IV Prostate Cancer
In the fourth stage the cancer has spread (metastasized) beyond the prostate gland to other tissues. Prostate cancer is the fourth stage is generally limited to the lymph nodes, bone, liver or lungs.
The exact definition of stage prostate cancer is extremely important. Stage prostate cancer helps identify the optimal treatment and prognosis. For this reason, should undergo an extensive survey to find out the exact stage of cancer.
Determining the degree of malignancy of prostate cancer and Gleason score
Grade indicates the type of cancer cells, and how fast they grow. Determining the degree of malignancy made after a biopsy (tissue sampling and research), using the Gleason score.