Prostate
cancer ranks as the second most common type of cancer that affects men. The
early stage of prostate cancer is mostly asymptomatic and its diagnosis is
usually based on prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. It is then followed by
transrectal ultrasound that is guided by biopsy, a digital rectal exam, or
both.
The
stage of prostate cancer is among the aspects that determine the method that
could be used to treat it. The staging of prostate cancer is done based on the
extent of cancer, the PSA level, and the Gleason score detected during
diagnosis. The early stages of prostate cancer are two: Stage I and Stage II.
Stage I
of prostate cancer means that the cancer cells are small and haven't grown
outside the prostate gland. This also means that they have low PSA levels and
Gleason score. Additionally, their growth rate is quite slow and may not even
cause any health issue or have noticeable symptoms.
Active
surveillance is often recommended at this stage for people who have cancer
symptoms, are elderly, or have existing serious health issues that may restrict
their lifespan. If one wants to begin treatment right away, however, radiation
therapy or radical prostatectomy are the available options.
If you
are younger and healthy, you will require active surveillance after being
diagnosed with stage I cancer because you will need treatment in the future.
Radiation therapy and radical prostatectomy are the available options for you
too.
Stage II
prostate cancer is yet to extend its growth to adjacent cells even though the
cancer cells are large and have a higher Gleason score and PSA levels as
compared to stage I. Unlike stage I cancer, stage II cancer is not treated by
either surgery or radiation therapies. Additionally, it is more likely to
spread to nearby cells, have noticeable symptoms, and cause health problems.
Just
like stage I cancer, active surveillance is a great option for anyone who is
yet to feel any symptom, is elderly, or has other severe existing health
issues. Moreover, radiation therapy and radical prostatectomy may be great
options too. To know more what oncologists have to say on prostate cancer you
can click here.
Younger
men who are also healthy have the following treatment options:
● Radical
prostatectomy – entails the removal of pelvic lymph nodes. It may be
accompanied by external beam radiation in case cancer has spread to adjacent
cells by the time of surgery or when the PSA is still noticeable a few months
after the surgical operation.
● Brachytherapy
only
● External beam
radiation only
● A combination of
external beam radiation and brachytherapy
● A clinical trial
of new treatment options
Any of
the above radiation options may be integrated with a long period of hormone
therapy whenever there is a greater probability of cancer reoccurring later
based on the Gleason score or PSA level.
Pinpointing
prostate cancer has greatly improved in recent years, and technological
advancements are pushing the science even further to enable clinicians to
diagnose prostate cancer faster and in its earliest stages. This will enable
patients to start treatment as early as possible in order to manage its spreading.
Moreover,
the development of the SmartTarget system aims at equipping surgeons with
important information regarding the size, shape, and the location of cancerous
tumours during a biopsy, information that can be invisible on ultrasound
images. Basically, the SmartTarget system gives physicians a clear target and
makes prostate cancer diagnosis more accurate.
The
bottom line is that pinpointing and managing prostate cancer at its early
stages can help mitigate its spreading rate to other cells and organs. Most
importantly, it ensures that the affected person is open to a wider range of
treatment options.
