Men's Health Tips

To be able to comprehend the complete scope of this chronic disease, it is important to know the 5 stages of prostate cancer. It is also known to be a very life-threatening. It is the kind of cancer that can affect men very badly. According to a research, more than cancer of some other form, prostate cancer kills more men. Yet, if detected in early stages, it is curable or at least controllable.

• The first stage of this deadly disease can only be detected through biopsy or testing of blood in the prostate gland. It can be detected through testing of blood in prostate-specific region. Professionally, the first stage is known as T-1. In this stage, usually, a minute tumor is formed that affects only that organ. However, the sad part is that the first stage goes undetected by ultrasounds and rectal examination. A prostate cancer in the first stage is a local cancer.

• Prostate cancer in its second stage is professionally known as T2. It can be detected through rectal examination digitally. It can be seen through ultrasound as well. However, in the T2 too, this deadly tumor is present only in the prostate gland. T2 cancer is also a local cancer.

• Third stage of this life-threatening disease is known as T3 in professional terms. Prostate cancer in its third stage starts spreading around the prostate glands. The cancer may move to seminal vesicles and the tissues situated in its vicinity. However, in its third stage, this cancer doesn’t affect the lymphatic nodes. T3 cancer marks the stage of regional cancer as it affects more than just the prostate cancer.

• Prostate cancer in its fourth stage is known as T4 professionally. It affects the tissues and organs located nearby to the gland. T4 cancer too is a regional cancer as it reaches beyond the affected gland.

• Prostate gland in its fifth stage becomes very deadly as it affects the entire body. It can harm any bone, lymphatic node or organ. The cancer in this stage is professionally called N+ or M+. N+ cancer affects the lymphatic nodes situated in the pelvic region. M+ cancer can affect organs, bones and lymphatic nodes in any part of the body, located even further away from the gland. For the cancer to be classified as M+, all the mentioned parts need to be harmed. M+ or N+ cancers are known as metastatic cancers i.e. they reach the lymphatic nodes and the various parts in the body.

It is very difficult to detect prostate cancer without professional medical help. It can save your or someone else’s life if it detected in its early stage. Thus, beyond a certain age, it is very important to go in for regular check up that can detect cancer. However, the good news is that the statistics provided by National Center for Cancer have stated that 99.9% of patients suffering from prostate cancer have survived at least for 5 years. There were a large number of people who survived longer than that using prostate cancer treatment options. However, the statistics provided no information on the life expectancies of the patients.