Know About Prostate Cancer Staging

By Olive Pate


Cancer is a major health problem today. Prostate cancer staging is a procedure mostly performed by doctors who wish to depict the location of the tumor and level of proliferation. It also determines the probability of the tumor infecting other body organs and if its curable using normal procedures.

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.

Tumor develops with stages that have different symptoms. The beginning stage of the tumor is only found in the prostate glad. The first stage is usually made up of normal cells that look healthy. They are likely to grow slowly and are unlikely to be detected at that time or felt by an examining finger or any screen tests carried out.

On the second stage, the tumor is too small to be figured on any tests. It is described as slightly larger lump that is felt around the gland. In this second stage, the tumor is still limited to the gland. The cells are always abnormal and grow steadily which increases the risk of the tumor spreading to other parts of the body.

On the third stage the cancerous cells start circulating to other organs both around and past the gland. This adversely affects the seminal vesicles in some cases. This stage is critical as it affects the pro static capsule which causes the lump to be felt on the glands surface.

On the last stage which risks any chances of survival of the patient, involves the tumor spreading to all the other parts of the body regardless of the location. It attacks organs and causes a breakdown to these organs such as the liver, lungs and bladder.

Through the process of recovery, there are two medical stages of the prostate cancer that involve the recovery procedure. The stage that is based on the test results that were previously done which is the clinical stage. The clinical stage involves various tests such as MRI scans, X-rays, bone scans. These tests are not always deemed necessary unless recommended by the physicians. They mostly come advised depending on the tumor's size and its stage of advancement.

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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