| Once a patient is diagnosed with prostate | | | | in order, though it will not show the extent |
| cancer, it is then important that information | | | | of the cancer spread. The pathologic stage |
| regarding the extent of the spread is | | | | is determined after surgery and will enable |
| determined, and how much it has affected the | | | | one to know the severity of the cancer - |
| gland. Determining this is what is called | | | | also, one will be able to have a better |
| prostate cancer staging. Prostate cancer | | | | impression on how it might fair for him in |
| staging involves categorizing the disease in | | | | the future. |
| specific classification in order to derive | | | | |
| the appropriate approach for your treatment. | | | | Prostate cancer staging systems, whichever is |
| | | | used, provide a general guideline on what to |
| Prostate cancer staging conventionally was | | | | expect at each particular level. It |
| done by classifying the stages as Stages A, | | | | describes the condition of the prostate and |
| B, C and D. Stages A and B may be curable, | | | | the cancer cells in it, the treatment that |
| and in both cases, the cancer is localized | | | | may work for your particular stage, and the |
| within the gland. In this type of prostate | | | | prognosis for your case. |
| cancer staging, stage C has the cancer | | | | |
| spreading beyond the prostate but has not | | | | With the valuable information it provides, |
| reached the lymph nodes. Some in this stage | | | | prostate cancer staging systems will be a |
| have some hope of being cured. In stage D, | | | | useful tool for both patients and doctors |
| the cancer has already reached the lymph | | | | alike. Patients will be able to understand |
| nodes, bones and some other areas. Though | | | | their current situation and the specific |
| the prostate cancer in this stage may no | | | | status of their prostate. Doctors will be |
| longer be curable, it can be treated for | | | | able to rely on them to come up with the |
| purposes of slowing its effect down. | | | | suitable approach for the patients they are |
| | | | treating. |
| New prostate cancer staging systems now use | | | | |
| the TNM notation. T means tumor, N means | | | | Without prostate cancer staging systems, |
| Nodes (lymph nodes), and M means metastasized | | | | there would not be any means of putting |
| to other body organs. | | | | meaning of the level and severity of the |
| | | | cancer experienced by the patient - no |
| For this prostate cancer staging system, the | | | | reference for appropriate approach in |
| T classification has two types: a.) clinical | | | | treating prostate cancer. A prostate cancer |
| stage, and b.) pathologic stage. The | | | | staging system has continued to be an |
| clinical stage is important in determining | | | | efficient tool and basis for one's treatment |
| whether removal of the prostate gland may be | | | | & prognosis. |