Prostate Cancer Staging And Diagnosis

By Olive Pate


Cancer has become a serious health issue today. Prostate cancer staging is a process that physicians use to describe the location of the cancer, the extent to which it has spread and the probability of it affecting other parts of the body beyond the prostate gland. They could also determine if it could be cured with local therapies.

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.

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.

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.

During the recovery process there are two types of medical stages of the cancer recovery procedure. The clinical stage which is based on the previous test results. Some of the tests include X-rays, bone scans and also MRI scans. Even though, they may not always be necessary. They come recommended depending on the size of the cancerous growth and the stage of the tumor.

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 prostate cancer which is a reoccurred tumor after treatment is common in many cancer situations. It may be reverted to the gland or other organs of the body. If this happens the tumor may need to be reviewed again. This helps in earlier detection which in turns leads to an early treatment for the patient which increases the chances of recovery and elimination of the tumor.




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