Understanding Prostate Cancer Staging and What It Means for Your Treatment

A diagnosis of prostate cancer can be scary. Fortunately, it can be treated. The stage of prostate cancer often determines the type of treatment. The urologists at Urology Associates of Southeastern North Carolina provide comprehensive urology services, including diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. They have two convenient office locations in Wilmington and Southport, NC.

What You Need To Know About Prostate Cancer

Early diagnosis of prostate cancer is critical to achieving the best outcome. Regular prostate exams are important because prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer among men, aside from skin cancer.

Prostate cancer staging is used to determine if the cancer has spread. Staging classification for prostate cancer is known as the TNM system and is based on five variables:

• T-the size and extent of the primary tumor
• N-whether the cancer has spread to lymph nodes
• M-whether the cancer has spread to other areas of the body
• PSA level-at the time of diagnosis
• Results of a biopsy to determine the likelihood of cancer spreading

Treatment of prostate cancer depends on the stage of prostate cancer, the age of an individual, and other factors.

For men who have prostate cancer with a low risk of spreading, careful monitoring is often recommended. The tumor is evaluated regularly to determine if it has grown or may spread.

For men who have prostate cancer, which is slightly more likely to spread, monitoring may be recommended, along with the following:

• Surgery to remove the prostate
• Radiation therapy
• Cryotherapy
• High-intensity focused ultrasound

For men with prostate cancer, which is at high risk of spreading, more aggressive measures are considered, including:

• Surgery to remove the prostate and nearby lymph nodes
• Radiation therapy
• Hormone therapy such as abiraterone
• Chemotherapy and immunotherapy

Want To Know More About Prostate Cancer?

To find out more about the stages of prostate cancer and what it means for your treatment, talk with the experts. Call the urologists at Urology Associates of Southeastern North Carolina. You can reach them in either of their two offices in Wilmington and Southport, NC, by calling (910) 763-6251, so call today.