Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Know About Prostate Cancer Staging

By Olive Pate


Cancer is a major health problem today. Prostate cancer staging is a procedure mostly performed by doctors who wish to depict the location of the tumor and level of proliferation. It also determines the probability of the tumor infecting other body organs and if its curable using normal procedures.

The cancer staging process implicates the physician to partake in various tests that should determine the cancer stage.The staging process takes a while for the patient to undergo the tests. The doctors have the responsibility to examine and evaluate the test results to discover the extent at which the tumor has spread and the affected organs. By studying it, it makes it easier for the doctors to treat it and determine the best form of treatment in this way predict if there are any chances of recovering from it.

There are various stages in the the spreading of this form of cancer. In the first stage the tumor is found in the prostate gland only. It cannot be sensed in the process of any screening tests. A first stage cancer is usually made up of cells that look more like healthy cells and is likely to grow slowly and is unlikely to be detected or felt by means of an examining finger.

On the second stage, the tumor is too small to be figured on any tests. It is described as slightly larger lump that is felt around the gland. In this second stage, the tumor is still limited to the gland. The cells are always abnormal and grow steadily which increases the risk of the tumor spreading to other parts of the body.

On the third stage the cancerous cells start circulating to other organs both around and past the gland. This adversely affects the seminal vesicles in some cases. This stage is critical as it affects the pro static capsule which causes the lump to be felt on the glands surface.

The immediate fourth stage is described by any tumor that has already spread to other parts of the body and invaded all the nearby organs, such as the rectum, bladder, bone, lungs, lymph nodes or liver.

Through the process of recovery, there are two medical stages of the prostate cancer that involve the recovery procedure. The stage that is based on the test results that were previously done which is the clinical stage. The clinical stage involves various tests such as MRI scans, X-rays, bone scans. These tests are not always deemed necessary unless recommended by the physicians. They mostly come advised depending on the tumor's size and its stage of advancement.

The pathologic stage on the basis of provided information during the surgery which mostly involves the removal of the prostate and some lymph nodes or test results of the already removed prostate.

Recurrent cancerous growth may take place in some cases. This is tumor that has reoccurred after the treatment is over. It may happen to come back again in the prostate area or in other parts of the body. The cancerous growth may need to be staged again in case this happens. Being aware of the stage of disease can help determine how aggressively the disease needs to be treated and the chances of its eradication by the available treatment options.




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