What are Prostate Cancer Stages

Prostate Cancer mostly affects men older than 50 years of age and may develop with no early warning signs. Furthermore, the symptoms may vary from one individual to another and is usually related to deviation from normal urinary voiding patterns. Symptoms may be usually caused by a severe infection or prostatic enlargement. The normal prostate is a small gland with an average size of 20 gm. But it starts growing after 50 years of age, which in turn affects the normal flow of urine and impacts the quality of life too. Cancer begins to grow in the prostate — a gland in the male reproductive system. Prostate cancer has no symptoms initially and takes a number of years to be detected. Usually after the age of 50 years, every man should go for basic evaluation of prostate health.

The symptoms associated with Prostate Cancer:

• Urinary symptoms such as urinary frequency or a weak stream of urine
• Blood in the urine
• Erection problems
• Urinary incontinence
• Loss of bowel control
• Pain in the hips part back, chest, or legs
• Weak legs

If you are experiencing any of the above mentioned signs and symptoms, it is high recommended that you consult a urologist at the earliest and opt for a PSA test.

Stage-4 Prostate Cancer (IV) This is the last stage of prostate cancer and describes a tumor that has spread to other parts of the body, including the lymph nodes, lungs, liver, bones, or bladder. For these cancers, the 5-year survival rate is 29%.

Treatment for Prostate Cancer:

The treatment options include surgery (radical prostatectomy) or radiation therapy.

Radical Prostatectomy for prostate cancer involves removing the prostate gland, some surrounding tissue and a few lymph nodes.

What is a PSA Test?

The PSA test is a blood test used primarily to screen for prostate cancer. The test measures the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in your blood. n the past, most doctors considered PSA levels of 4.0 ng/mL and lower as normal. Therefore, if a man had a PSA levelabove 4.0 ng/mL, doctors would often recommend a prostate biopsy to determine whether prostate cancer was present.