Staging of prostate cancer

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The staging of prostate cancer is one of the most important factors when determining the best treatment option for a man with prostate cancer. The stage of prostate cancer is determined based the results of the prostate biopsy, the Gleason score, the PSA level, and any other special tests that may have been done to find out information about the cancer, such as the PHI test, the PCA3 test, or the 4K Score test.

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There are four stages of prostate cancer: Stage I, Stage II, Stage III, and Stage IV:

Stage I. In stage I, cancer is present within the prostate only. The cancer is found by one of the following ways: after the patient has had a prostate biopsy or in a small amount of tissue during surgery for other conditions (such as benign prostatic hyperplasia). In this case, the PSA level is lower than ten and the Gleason score is six or lower; the cancer is found in one-half or less of one lobe of the prostate. In this case, the PSA level is lower than ten and the Gleason score is six or lower; the cancer cannot be felt during a digital rectal exam and cannot be seen in imaging tests. In this case, the cancer is found in one-half or less of one lobe of the prostate. The PSA level and the Gleason score are not known.

Stage II. In stage II, the cancer is more advanced compared to stage I, but it has not yet spread beyond the prostate. Stage II is divided into two stages: IIA and IIB. In stage IIA, the cancer is: found by biopsy or in a small amount of tissue during surgery for other reasons, such as BPH (the PSA level is lower than 20 and the Gleason score is 7; found by biopsy or during surgery (the PSA level is at least 10 but lower than 20 and the Gleason score is 6 or lower); found in one-half or less of one lobe of the prostate (the PSA level is at least 10 but lower than 20 and the Gleason score is 6 or lower); found in one-half or less of one lobe of the prostate (he PSA level is lower than 20 and the Gleason score is 7); or is found in more than one-half of one lobe of the prostate.

In stage IIB, the cancer is found in opposite sides of the prostate. The PSA can be any level and the Gleason score can range from 2 to 10. The PSA can also be any level and the Gleason score is 8 or higher.

Stage III. In stage III, the cancer has spread beyond the prostate and may have spread to the seminal vesicles. The PSA can be any level and the Gleason score can range from 2 to 10.

Stage IV. In stage IV, the PSA can be any level and the Gleason score can range from 2 to 10. The cancer has also spread beyond the seminal vesicles to nearby tissue or organs. The cancer may have spread to nearby lymph nodes or has spread to distant parts of the body, which may include lymph nodes or bones.