The Process Of Prostate Cancer Staging
Staging of cancer is very important in communicating the features of the disease. There is need for scanning and laboratory tests for the proper diagnosis to be made. Knowing the characteristics of the disease will help the doctors make appropriate treatment decisions. That is why prostate cancer staging is insisted.
The internationally accepted staging criteria takes into account the lymph node, metastasis and tumor factors . T1 stage tumors are very small such that they cannot be detected through scans or the techniques used in physical examination. You can only confirm the diagnosis by asking the patient to do a needle biopsy.
Stage two in the tumor classification system is divided into three. T2a means half of the prostate gland is affected while in T2b the area affected exceed half. In T3c, the whole of the gland has been invaded by the cancerous cells. In tumor stage 3, the capsule has been broken into by the cancerous cells. This stage also has been subdivided into T3a where the capsule is the only other place which has been affected besides the prostate gland and in T3b, seminal vesicles have been invaded by the cancerous cells.
In tumor stage 4, the malignancy cells have gone on to affect the other regions of the body. The areas which are likely to be affected include the bladder, rectum, pelvic cavity sides and the muscles. The third and fourth stages are the most critical ones.
In lymph node staging, the guiding factor is the severity of the condition in the lymph nodes. They are said to be positive if they contain cancer cells. This makes them to swell. In NX stage, it is not possible to check them and in N0 stage the lymph nodes adjacent to the prostate have no cancer cells. However, in N1 stage, the malignancy has reached the lymph nodes.
When classifying according to the degree of spread, the first stage is M0 which signifies that the tumor is confined just within the pelvis. In M1, the cancer has finally got out of the pelvis. It has sub stages. The first one is the M1a where the lymph nodes next to the pelvis have been affected and M1b means the skeletal system has been affected by the tumor. In M1c, the malignancy has eventually spread to the rest of a body. A couple of factors are considered in doing the staging.
Locally advanced type of prostate cancer extends just to the capsule of this gland but the metastasizing type spreads to many of body organs. Mainly, the victims of this spread are the bones and lymph nodes. This is why early detection is stressed to prevent such complications.
Even with the small tumors of prostrate, metastasis is possible. This cancer tends to be very aggressive. In such the staging of such a cancer, if the scans of the skeletal system come back positive, the staging should follow the metastasis aspect. It needs immediate action so as to minimize the spread and suffering. Also, complications will be minimized. The person can go on with his or her life normally for many years if the management follows the standard protocol.
The internationally accepted staging criteria takes into account the lymph node, metastasis and tumor factors . T1 stage tumors are very small such that they cannot be detected through scans or the techniques used in physical examination. You can only confirm the diagnosis by asking the patient to do a needle biopsy.
Stage two in the tumor classification system is divided into three. T2a means half of the prostate gland is affected while in T2b the area affected exceed half. In T3c, the whole of the gland has been invaded by the cancerous cells. In tumor stage 3, the capsule has been broken into by the cancerous cells. This stage also has been subdivided into T3a where the capsule is the only other place which has been affected besides the prostate gland and in T3b, seminal vesicles have been invaded by the cancerous cells.
In tumor stage 4, the malignancy cells have gone on to affect the other regions of the body. The areas which are likely to be affected include the bladder, rectum, pelvic cavity sides and the muscles. The third and fourth stages are the most critical ones.
In lymph node staging, the guiding factor is the severity of the condition in the lymph nodes. They are said to be positive if they contain cancer cells. This makes them to swell. In NX stage, it is not possible to check them and in N0 stage the lymph nodes adjacent to the prostate have no cancer cells. However, in N1 stage, the malignancy has reached the lymph nodes.
When classifying according to the degree of spread, the first stage is M0 which signifies that the tumor is confined just within the pelvis. In M1, the cancer has finally got out of the pelvis. It has sub stages. The first one is the M1a where the lymph nodes next to the pelvis have been affected and M1b means the skeletal system has been affected by the tumor. In M1c, the malignancy has eventually spread to the rest of a body. A couple of factors are considered in doing the staging.
Locally advanced type of prostate cancer extends just to the capsule of this gland but the metastasizing type spreads to many of body organs. Mainly, the victims of this spread are the bones and lymph nodes. This is why early detection is stressed to prevent such complications.
Even with the small tumors of prostrate, metastasis is possible. This cancer tends to be very aggressive. In such the staging of such a cancer, if the scans of the skeletal system come back positive, the staging should follow the metastasis aspect. It needs immediate action so as to minimize the spread and suffering. Also, complications will be minimized. The person can go on with his or her life normally for many years if the management follows the standard protocol.
posted by sahab @ 5:58 PM
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