Know About Prostate Cancer Staging

By Olive Pate


In our modern times, cancer is key health concern. Prostate cancer staging is the criteria followed by physicians to expound on the prostate cancer on issues concerning its location, how far it has advanced and the chances of it spreading to other organs apart from the prostate gland. This also involves the treatment the rapiers to be undertaken to help contain the tumor.

The cancer staging process involves the physicians using diagnostic tests to tell the tumor's stage. The staging process takes a long time as the patient has to complete all the tests. The doctors have the mandate to look at the test results and interpret them this helps them find out how far has the tumor spread and the areas it has affected. By knowing the stage of the tumor the doctor is able to determine the most favorable form of treatment and help foretell if there's any chance of recovery.

There are various stages in the the spreading of this form of cancer. In the first stage the tumor is found in the prostate gland only. It cannot be sensed in the process of any screening tests. A first stage cancer is usually made up of cells that look more like healthy cells and is likely to grow slowly and is unlikely to be detected or felt by means of an examining finger.

The tumor is described as a slightly huge lump that can be felt around the gland on the second stage. Although it is too small to be seen on any screen tests. At this time the tumor has not spread to other parts of the body nevertheless, the cells appear to be strange and seem to be growing steadily.

The cancerous growth may start to spread past the glad to the nearby organs and tissues that surround the gland on the third stage. The seminal vesicles may also be affected by the tumor. In the this stage the tumor has spread widely through the prostatic capsule and the lump is felt on the surface of the gland.

The fourth stage of the prostate cancer is characterized by the tumor spreading to other body organs around and beyond the gland including the bladder, rectum, lymph nodes and lungs and other body parts.

Through early detection the tumor could be eliminated through various medical stages. The clinical stage, norms its basis on test results that were done before. The tests such as an MRI scan and bone scans are performed although they are not necessary unless advised in reference to the size of the tumor and its stage.

The pathologic stage is grounded on information given during surgery and laboratory results of the prostate tissue removed. The surgery mostly if not, involves the removal of the entire prostate and some lymph nodes.

Recurrent cancerous growth may take place in some cases. This is tumor that has reoccurred after the treatment is over. It may happen to come back again in the prostate area or in other parts of the body. The cancerous growth may need to be staged again in case this happens. Being aware of the stage of disease can help determine how aggressively the disease needs to be treated and the chances of its eradication by the available treatment options.




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