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 cancer of the prostate is staged using TNM stages. This is in the international standard of staging. It assesses the tumor, lymph nodes and the degree of spread. If the tumor is said to be in T1, it means that the area affected is too small and thus a diagnosis cannot be made through palpation or scans. A needle biopsy has to be done in order to pick this up.
Tumors in stage T2 are classified into three categories. The first one is T2a which indicates that only one lobe of the prostate gland is affected. In T2b, more than half of gland is affected and in T2c stage the entire lobe is affected. On the other hand, if the tumor has left the prostate gland to affect the capsule but has not spread further is said to be in stage T3. This stage has two categories. T3a and T3b where the malignancy has reached the capsule and seminal vesicles respectively.
In tumor stage 4, the malignancy cells have gone on to affect the other regions of the body. The areas which are likely to be affected include the bladder, rectum, pelvic cavity sides and the muscles. The third and fourth stages are the most critical ones.
The lymph nodes will be described to be positive if they have cancerous cells. This makes them enlarge. The degree of enlargement is directly proportional to the number of cancer cells in the lymph node. In NX stage, the nodes can not be checked while in N0 stage, the nodes close to the gland have not been affected. In N1 stage, the lymph nodes have cancerous cells.
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.
The cancer is said to be locally advanced if it has proceeded beyond the capsule. If it said to have metastasized, it means that it has reached the rest of body organs. The areas which are affected the most by cancer proceeding from the prostate gland are the bones and the lymphatic organs.
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 cancer of the prostate is staged using TNM stages. This is in the international standard of staging. It assesses the tumor, lymph nodes and the degree of spread. If the tumor is said to be in T1, it means that the area affected is too small and thus a diagnosis cannot be made through palpation or scans. A needle biopsy has to be done in order to pick this up.
Tumors in stage T2 are classified into three categories. The first one is T2a which indicates that only one lobe of the prostate gland is affected. In T2b, more than half of gland is affected and in T2c stage the entire lobe is affected. On the other hand, if the tumor has left the prostate gland to affect the capsule but has not spread further is said to be in stage T3. This stage has two categories. T3a and T3b where the malignancy has reached the capsule and seminal vesicles respectively.
In tumor stage 4, the malignancy cells have gone on to affect the other regions of the body. The areas which are likely to be affected include the bladder, rectum, pelvic cavity sides and the muscles. The third and fourth stages are the most critical ones.
The lymph nodes will be described to be positive if they have cancerous cells. This makes them enlarge. The degree of enlargement is directly proportional to the number of cancer cells in the lymph node. In NX stage, the nodes can not be checked while in N0 stage, the nodes close to the gland have not been affected. In N1 stage, the lymph nodes have cancerous cells.
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.
The cancer is said to be locally advanced if it has proceeded beyond the capsule. If it said to have metastasized, it means that it has reached the rest of body organs. The areas which are affected the most by cancer proceeding from the prostate gland are the bones and the lymphatic organs.
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.