Staging of tumors helps the doctor to tell how extensive the disease is. However, several scans have to be done and tests carried out for a proper diagnosis. From the results, management plans can then be drawn. This is why professionals in the medical field emphasize on prostate cancer staging.
The internationally accepted staging criteria takes into account the lymph node, metastasis and tumor factors . T1 stage tumors are very small such that they cannot be detected through scans or the techniques used in physical examination. You can only confirm the diagnosis by asking the patient to do a needle biopsy.
Stage two in the tumor classification system is divided into three. T2a means half of the prostate gland is affected while in T2b the area affected exceed half. In T3c, the whole of the gland has been invaded by the cancerous cells. In tumor stage 3, the capsule has been broken into by the cancerous cells. This stage also has been subdivided into T3a where the capsule is the only other place which has been affected besides the prostate gland and in T3b, seminal vesicles have been invaded by the cancerous cells.
Stage T4 tumors usually have metastasized. The common areas affected include the pelvic cavity, bladder and rectum. The T4 and T3 tumor stages are said to be locally advanced stages. These are the most difficult stages to treat.
In lymph node staging, the guiding factor is the severity of the condition in the lymph nodes. They are said to be positive if they contain cancer cells. This makes them to swell. In NX stage, it is not possible to check them and in N0 stage the lymph nodes adjacent to the prostate have no cancer cells. However, in N1 stage, the malignancy has reached the lymph nodes.
When classifying according to the degree of spread, the first stage is M0 which signifies that the tumor is confined just within the pelvis. In M1, the cancer has finally got out of the pelvis. It has sub stages. The first one is the M1a where the lymph nodes next to the pelvis have been affected and M1b means the skeletal system has been affected by the tumor. In M1c, the malignancy has eventually spread to the rest of a body. A couple of factors are considered in doing the staging.
Locally advanced cancer of the prostate is confined to the gland but the metastatic type has spread. The places which are hardly hit are the bones and lymph nodes. However, many a times it reaches other body organs too.
Even with the small tumors of prostrate, metastasis is possible. This cancer tends to be very aggressive. In such the staging of such a cancer, if the scans of the skeletal system come back positive, the staging should follow the metastasis aspect. It needs immediate action so as to minimize the spread and suffering. Also, complications will be minimized. The person can go on with his or her life normally for many years if the management follows the standard protocol.
The internationally accepted staging criteria takes into account the lymph node, metastasis and tumor factors . T1 stage tumors are very small such that they cannot be detected through scans or the techniques used in physical examination. You can only confirm the diagnosis by asking the patient to do a needle biopsy.
Stage two in the tumor classification system is divided into three. T2a means half of the prostate gland is affected while in T2b the area affected exceed half. In T3c, the whole of the gland has been invaded by the cancerous cells. In tumor stage 3, the capsule has been broken into by the cancerous cells. This stage also has been subdivided into T3a where the capsule is the only other place which has been affected besides the prostate gland and in T3b, seminal vesicles have been invaded by the cancerous cells.
Stage T4 tumors usually have metastasized. The common areas affected include the pelvic cavity, bladder and rectum. The T4 and T3 tumor stages are said to be locally advanced stages. These are the most difficult stages to treat.
In lymph node staging, the guiding factor is the severity of the condition in the lymph nodes. They are said to be positive if they contain cancer cells. This makes them to swell. In NX stage, it is not possible to check them and in N0 stage the lymph nodes adjacent to the prostate have no cancer cells. However, in N1 stage, the malignancy has reached the lymph nodes.
When classifying according to the degree of spread, the first stage is M0 which signifies that the tumor is confined just within the pelvis. In M1, the cancer has finally got out of the pelvis. It has sub stages. The first one is the M1a where the lymph nodes next to the pelvis have been affected and M1b means the skeletal system has been affected by the tumor. In M1c, the malignancy has eventually spread to the rest of a body. A couple of factors are considered in doing the staging.
Locally advanced cancer of the prostate is confined to the gland but the metastatic type has spread. The places which are hardly hit are the bones and lymph nodes. However, many a times it reaches other body organs too.
Even with the small tumors of prostrate, metastasis is possible. This cancer tends to be very aggressive. In such the staging of such a cancer, if the scans of the skeletal system come back positive, the staging should follow the metastasis aspect. It needs immediate action so as to minimize the spread and suffering. Also, complications will be minimized. The person can go on with his or her life normally for many years if the management follows the standard protocol.
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