Stages of Prostate Cancer

STAGES OF PROSTATE CANCER

1400 North IH 35, Austin, TX 78701 (512) 324-‐8060 www.austincyberknife.com

A prostate cancer diagnosis can be scary. Learn more about prostate cancer and how we can help. Please note: The informa1on presented here is not all-‐inclusive. Rather, it represents a star1ng point to learn more about medical condi1ons and treatment op1ons. There is no subs,tute for consul,ng a medical professional.


Prostate Cancer Overview

Possible Signs of Prostate Cancer:

Weak or interrupted flow of urine

Frequent urination

Trouble urinating

Pain or burning during urination

Blood in the urine or semen

Persistent pain in the back, hips, or pelvis

Painful ejaculation

¨  The prostate is a walnut-sized gland located in a man’s lower abdomen that controls the flow of urine and semen.

¨  Prostate cancer is a

leading cause of cancer death among American men, second only to lung cancer.


Diagnosing Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer can be diagnosed by: ¨  Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) – examination of

the rectum.

¨  Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test – measures the level of PSA in the blood. PSA may be found in an increased amount in the blood of men with prostate cancer.

¨  Transrectal Ultrasound – provides a picture of the prostate for the doctor to analyze.

¨  Gleason Score – determines how likely prostate cancer is to spread.


The TNM Staging System

A staging system describes how far a cancer has spread. The most widely used staging system for prostate cancer is the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM system. The TNM system for prostate cancer is based on 5 key pieces of information:

¤  The extent of the primary tumor (T category) ¤ Whether the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes (N

category) ¤  The absence or presence of distant metastasis (M category) ¤  The PSA level at the time of diagnosis ¤  The Gleason Score, based on the prostate biopsy (or surgery)


Prostate Cancer - Stage I

¨  Cancer is found in the prostate only. ¨  Cancer is microscopic and cannot be felt during the

DRE or seen on imaging tests. ¨  Cancer is found in one-half or less of one lobe of

the prostate. ¨  PSA level is lower than 10 ng/mL. ¨  Gleason Score is 6 or lower.


Prostate Cancer - Stage IIA

¨  Cancer is more advanced than Stage I but has not spread outside the prostate.

¨  The cells are usually more abnormal and may tend to grow more quickly.

¨  Cancer is found in more than half of one lobe of the prostate.

¨  PSA level is lower than 20 ng/mL. ¨  Gleason Score is 7 or lower.


Prostate Cancer - Stage IIB

¨  Cancer is found in opposite sides of the prostate. ¨  Cancer cannot be felt during a DRE and is not

visible by imaging. ¨  The tumor has not spread outside the prostate. ¨  PSA level is 20 ng/mL or higher. ¨  Gleason Score ranges from 2 to 10.


Prostate Cancer - Stage III

¨  Cancer has spread beyond the outer layer of the prostate.

¨  Cancer may have spread to nearby tissues like the seminal vesicles.

¨  PSA can be any level. ¨  Gleason Score can range from

2 to 10.


Prostate Cancer - Stage IV

¨  Cancer has spread (metastasized) beyond the seminal vesicles to nearby tissues or organs such as the rectum, bladder or pelvic wall.

¨  Cancer has spread to

distant parts of the body, which may include other lymph nodes or bones. Prostate cancer often spreads to the bones.

¨  Cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes

¨  PSA can be any level. ¨  Gleason score can range

from 2 to 10.


Prostate Cancer Treatment

Treatment Options

Active Surveillance

Surgery

External-Beam Radiation Therapy

Brachytherapy

Proton Therapy

Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy

¨  Treatment options depend on: ¤ The stage of the cancer ¤ The patient’s age and health ¤ The patient’s Gleason Score ¤ Whether the cancer is recently

diagnosed or recurring ¤ The patient’s prostate-specific

antigen (PSA) levels


CyberKnife® Treatment Process

¨  Prior to stereotactic body radiation therapy with CyberKnife, small tissue markers known as fiducials are implanted in the prostate to help pinpoint the tumor location throughout each treatment.

¨  About a week later, patients undergo pretreatment imaging,

including CT scans which are used by physicians in the treatments planning process.

¨  This treatment process includes ¤  Consultation appointment ¤  Pretreatment procedures ¤  CyberKnife treatment ¤  Follow-up


Additional Resources


Austin CyberKnife was the first in the greater Austin area, as well as the central Texas region, to offer CyberKnife treatment, giving our physicians the most experience treating patients with this technology in our area. Austin CyberKnife is a department of University Medical Center Brackenridge, a member of the Seton Healthcare Family. If you or a loved one is diagnosed with prostate cancer, contact Austin CyberKnife to schedule a consultation with our physicians to determine the best next step for your treatment needs. Medical Director: Dr. Doug Rivera CyberKnife Nurse: Lori Eitelbach, RN Medical Physicist: Jim Hevezi, PhD

Our Center


Connect With Us

Health & Medicine

Stages of Prostate Cancer