Contents:
- Medical Video: Prostate Cancer Animation
- How do doctors diagnose prostate cancer?
- Steps to determine the stage of prostate cancer
- Grouping of prostate cancer stages based on aspects of the tumor (T)
- Stage T1
- Stadium T2
- Stage T3
- Stage T4
Medical Video: Prostate Cancer Animation
Prostate cancer is a condition in which there is overgrowth in abnormal cells of the prostate gland. This cancer generally grows slowly (progressively) and the symptoms are quite difficult to detect. Prostate cancer is a major cause of death for men due to cancer in old age.
When you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, the doctor will state your cancer stage. Stadium is a way to find out the status of your condition. Prostate cancer stage can tell if cancer cells have spread to other organs. This will also help your doctor to find the best treatment for you.
How do doctors diagnose prostate cancer?
Generally doctors will diagnose cancer through clinical and laboratory tests. There are also several other ways that will be used in the examination, including:
- Anal plug or DRE. This is done to diagnose cancer. The doctor or nurse who examines the prostate will insert a finger that has lubricated the lubricating fluid into the rectum and feels the prostate through the anal wall to look for lumps in the prostate.
- Using prostate specific antigen (PSA) tests that increase in the blood. PSA is a substance produced by the prostate, and it is possible to find an increase in the blood of a male prostate cancer. This PSA level may also be high in men who have infection, inflammation or enlargement of non-cancerous glands.
- Ultrasound Biopsy. This examination is a procedure where the test is carried out with an ultrasound device the size of a finger. This tool will be inserted into the rectum to examine the prostate. This tool is also used to reflect high-energy sound waves (ultrasound).
- CT scan. Usually the doctor will use X-rays and computers to make detailed pictures of the inside of your body) or MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging to help identify the level of cancer involvement after obtaining confirmation of a cancer biopsy.
Steps to determine the stage of prostate cancer
The first step in diagnosing prostate cancer is to find out through various methods above how much the tumor has developed, its size, whether the cell has blood vessels, and whether it involves further local extension. This is T score (tumor).
Then, the lymph nodes are examined if the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes and to what extent the spread of cancer occurs. This isN score (node). Finally, each metastasis (or spread to points and other body parts) is examined and given M (metastatic) score. For the record, prostate cancer can generally spread to the bones, liver, lungs, or brain.
Grouping of prostate cancer stages based on aspects of the tumor (T)
The doctor will then combine your T, N, and M scores to stage prostate cancer that ranges from TI (1) and TIV (4). Roman numerals are used to label cancer rates. A lower number means the cancer has not spread and is still localized in the prostate. The higher the number, the cancer becomes more serious and more difficult to treat.
Stage T1
Stage T1 is the first stage of prostate cancer. At this stage, ada single tumor (any size) that has not yet grown in a blood vessel. Cancer has not spread to the closest lymph nodes or distant places, becausenot found during digital rectal examination and not seen on imaging examinations. But tumors can be accidentally discovered during surgery to treat benign prostate enlargement (BPH).
Stadium T2
The second stage of prostate cancer is called T2. At this stage, the cancer can be palpable during a digital rectal examination and during imaging examination. But the growth of the cancer is still relatively small (5 cm or less) and limited to the prostate alone, has not spread to the nearest lymph nodes or distant places
Stage T3
In the third stage of prostate cancer or T3, the cancer may have grown bigger and there is more than one tumor, at least one is greater than 5 cm (2 inches). The cancer has spread to structure around the prostate, the seminal vesicles.
Stage T4
Stage of prostate cancer or T4 is the latest stage of cancer. In this final stage, cancer generally grows larger and grows into tissues around the prostate and seminal vesicles such as the rectum, bladder and pelvic wall.
