Prostate cancer occurs when cells in the prostate, which is the organ located below your bladder and in front of your rectum, begin to multiply abnormally, leading to a tumour. When this happens, a person may not experience any symptoms or may show some signs, depending on the stage of progression.
In general, prostate cancer, like any other cancer, has four stages, says Dr Bhuvanesh N Aradhya, Consultant - Urology and Kidney Transplant Surgeon, HCG Suchirayu Hospital, Hubli. While the first stage is the earliest, stage four indicates that the cancer has spread to different organs in the body, the doctor explains. In this article, we delve deeper into the different stages of prostate cancer and discuss the importance of regular screening and early detection.
What Are The Different Stages Of Prostate Cancer?
Breaking down prostate cancer stages into four categories, Dr Aradhya shares:
Stage 1: In this stage, the cancer is confined to the prostate gland. In this stage, the tumour cannot be felt by clinical examination and can most likely be seen in imaging studies (CT scan or MRI). According to the doctor, in this stage, the cancer involves less than 5% of the gland, and symptoms are usually similar to those of prostate enlargement, like frequency, urgency, poor stream, and incomplete emptying of the bladder. Most cardinal symptoms would be blood in the urine, he adds.
Stage 2: In this stage, the tumour is confined to the prostate gland but can be felt during physical examination. The symptoms in this stage are also similar to those in the first stage, where blood in the urine is a telltale sign. The Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) levels may be slightly higher than the normal range of 4 mg/dl.
Stage 3: In this stage, the tumour tends to grow outside the prostate and may have spread to tissues next to the prostate gland, which include the rectum, bladder, and urethral sphincter. Most of the patients in these stages require treatment. In fact, in stages 1 and 2, the tumours can be removed completely, setting one free of the disease. In stage 3, patients may require multimodality treatments like hormonal treatment followed by surgery tailored according to the patient.
Stage 4: In this stage, the cancer has spread to different organs of the body, like the liver, bones, lungs, and lymph nodes. This stage can only be controlled, where patients may receive only treatments aimed at controlling the disease rather than a cure. General weakness, loss of weight, and easy fatigability are common symptoms at this stage.
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Role Of Early Detection
Dr Ardhya says, “Early detection of prostate cancer is extremely important, as the cancer can be removed completely in the early stages.”
“Complete removal of the tumour will lead to normal life and cancer-free survival,” he emphasises.
According to Cancer Research UK, almost everyone will survive their cancer for five years or more after they are diagnosed in the early stages, or stage 1 or 2.
Around 95 out of every 100 men will survive their cancer for five years or more after diagnosis in stage 3, whereas only around 50% will survive their cancer after they are diagnosed in stage 4, the charity suggests.
Understanding The Risk Factors And Reducing The Chance
Some of the common risk factors for prostate cancer include:
- Age, especially for people aged 50 and above
- A family history of prostate cancer
- African-American men
- Certain inherited gene mutations
- Obesity
- High intake of red meat
- Low intake of fruits and vegetables
- High levels of testosterone or other hormones
- Chronic inflammation of the prostate
According to Dr Aradhya, regular screening for prostate cancer includes yearly PSA levels in the blood and a clinical examination by a urologist.
“If there is a strong history of prostate cancer in the family (more than one male in the family suffered from this cancer), the screening should be started at 40 years of age,” he stresses, adding that for other men, the screening can be started after 50 years of age.
The doctor further warns against smoking and the consumption of tobacco and encourages following a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of prostate cancer.
He concludes, “Regular screening can make a huge difference in the outcomes of this deadly disease.