Staging and Grading of Prostate Cancer

by: Fritz Frei

Staging and Grading

Once the diagnosis of prostate cancer has been made the disease has to be staged and graded. The stage refers to the extent and spread of the disease while the grade refers to the nature (aggressiveness) of the particular tumor. Staging will determine the extent of disease and provide important prognostic information that will influence the management decisions.

Staging investigations - PSA - X-rays of lumbar spine and pelvis - Chest X-ray - Radionuclitide bone scan - MTI scan of pelvis

TNM Staging system

T stage (extent of primary lesion)

- T1 - tumor confined to prostate, not palpable or visible on TRUS - T2 - tumor palpable or visible on TRUS but confined to prostate - T3 - spread beyond the prostatic capsule - T3a - extracapsular spread only - T3b - involvement of the seminal vesicles - T4 - invasion into rectal wall, bladder neck or pelvic wall N (Nodal) status - N0 - regional nodes not involved - N1 - regional nodes involved by tumor M (Distant Metastases) - M0 - no distant metastases - M1 - distant metastases present

Grading

Grading refers to what the cancer looks like under a microscope. The most commonly used system is the Gleason grade and score. The glandular pattern is compared to that of a normal prostate and scored out of 5, where 1 resembles a pattern very close to normal and 5 resembles severely distorted glandular architecture. The two predominant glandular patterns within the cancer are graded out of 5 and the combined score calculated out of 10. The higher the Gleason score, the more aggressive is the tumor and the worse is the prognosis. Patients with cancers confined to the prostate (T1 and T2) and no involvement of the lymph nodes or other organs (N0 and M0) are potentially curable by surgery or radiotherapy. Patients with disease beyond the prostate are not curable.

With our next information – we will inform you about the “Risk factors for enlarged prostate” – so you should have a look on this site in the next 2 weeks! If you have any question sends us your e-mail.

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About The Author
Fritz Frei make it easy to check out the important details about the diagnoses and test's of the prostate cancer. To receive more information's about all cancer -questions - Links and last research NEW's - visit the http://www.cancer-info.info/.

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Prostate Cancer : The Man Killer

Author: Paul Rodgers

Prostate health is one of the most important aspects of a man's health. Prostate health is something that should be treated with a balanced diet your whole life. Prostate cancer is VERY serious and will kill you if not diagnosed early and treated. Prostate cancer is a condition where prostate cells grow exponentially and out of control. It is the most common cancer associated with men, and can lead to many complications, one rather large one being that you die.

Since prostate cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in men, every man should consider trying to improve the health of this vital gland naturally through diet and supplements. The idea of eating for a healthy heart is now medically accepted ­ but the concept of eating for a healthy prostate is revolutionary.

Afflictions of the prostate are most commonly found in developed countries whose dietary habits focus on red meat and dairy products. Eastern males eat many more yellow, orange, red and green vegetables (such as red, yellow and green peppers, broccoli, spinach, etc. A recent Harvard study, among others, found that diets high in lycopene-rich tomatoes, tomato products and other lycopene-rich sources have been shown to be associated with a lowered risk of developing prostate cancer.

Dietary fiber derived from beans, lentils and peas in high quantities have been associated with decreasing prostate cancer risks while promoting prostate health. The main component associated with prostate cancer is fat. A diet low in animal meat may decrease your risk for developing prostate and other cancers. Maintaining a healthy prostate is easy enough these days with all of the dietary supplements and herbal pills now available.

Each year thousands of men are treated for inflamed prostates, in most cases those cases of prostatitis could have been prevented with the help of supplements for prostate health. Supplements for prostate health are not meant to cure disorders, but they can help strengthen a man's resistance against these conditions. Most supplements for prostate health are found in ordinary natural foods that people can easily get their hands on. Herbal remedies have long been found effective as supplements for prostate health.

In the past few years, supplements for prostate health have been made available to help men minimize their chances of developing any of these disorders. Even though these supplements cannot cure cancer, they can help in developing the defenses of men against prostate disorders. In fact, a range of dietary supplements and herbal medicines offers new ways to prevent or treat prostate disease, and cancer in general.

Prostate health is simply nothing to ignore and finally… you don’t have to. Prostate health is one of the most important concerns for men, and each man should have a yearly check of their prostate health after a certain age. Natural prostate health is the best choice that many men are making today to ensure their health, since natural health is about taking care of your body as a whole. Prostacet is a super prostate formula and the best supplement to give your body all that it needs to help you in reducing your risk for prostate cancer.


Recommended Readings : The Best Way To Beat ... Cancer - The Mediterranean Diet - Cancer & Health- It's All About The Cell - Natural Cancer Treatments - Crack The Cancer Code - Cancer-Free -- Second Edition


About the author:
Involved for the most part of his life in sports, cardiovascular activities, Paul Rodgers specialized in marketing online fitness, diets, health and beauty products and services. You are invited to visit the followings Websites : http://totalprostate.com - http://mens-best-health.net

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Prostate Cancer

by: Kelly Moore

Cancer can occur in any part of the body - lungs, intestine, rectum, breast or prostate. Prostate cancer develops as a malignant tumor that starts in the prostate gland. There is a possibility of the cancer spreading from the prostate to the lymph nodes, other organs or bones through metastasis.

This is the second most common type of cancer in men, which can lead to death. However, with the improvement of medicine, survival rates in patients have improved considerably. The cause of prostate cancer has never been found out, however, there are some risk factors that induce prostate cancer.

It has been found out that with the increase of age, the risk of prostate cancer tends to increase. Having family members with prostate cancer increases the risk of developing prostate cancer. Statistics show that African-American men have a higher risk of prostate cancer than Caucasian men. And of course, obese men are more prone to prostate cancer.

There are no specific symptoms for prostate cancer; however as it grows, men tend to suffer from pain in the lower back, upper thighs and pelvis. Other symptoms of advanced prostate cancer are complications in urinating like increase in frequency, interrupted flow, finding it difficult to stop or start urinating, presence of blood in the urine and the presence of pain and burning sensation.

It is suggested that men over the age of 50, have to take a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test every year, along with a Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) to find out the presence of prostate cancer. In a DRE, the physician tests for an enlarged prostate, lumps or any abnormal texture by inserting a lubricated and gloved finger into the rectum.

The prostate cells produce PSA, and with the PSA test, its level in the blood stream is determined. Men having PSA levels higher than 4ng/mL have a higher chance of prostate cancer. However, sometimes men with low PSA levels may contract prostate cancer; it all depends on the normal PSA level of a man. If it was always on the higher side, then there is not much to worry; this is why it is better to keep track of PSA levels. It is also possible to diagnose prostate cancer through transrectal ultrasound and biopsies. It is through a biopsy that prostate cancer is correctly diagnosed.

The doctor suggests treatment for prostate cancer depending on its severity. It can be surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy or watchful waiting. Through hormonal therapy, the effect of male hormones like testosterone is blocked to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. However, this is not a cure; it just controls the disease.

With the surgical treatment, prostate glands and surrounding lymph glands are removed, depending on the severity of the condition. However this may cause hot flashes, loss of interest in sex, impotence and other problems in the patient. Sometimes, radiation is suggested where x-rays are passed through an external machine or through radioactive isotopes inside the body. The doctor may also suggest chemotherapy where the patient is prescribed medication that is administered either orally or through injections.

However, since prostate cancer attacks older men, they are usually advised watchful waiting. This is best if the tumor is small, is expected a low growth rate or when medical treatment proves to be rather risky and may lead to death. The patient has to be monitored frequently with this treatment, but no treatment is administered.



About The Author

Kelly Moore runs a respected natural male enhancement site, featuring free penis enlargement exercise and all the latest information on what products are making a buzz in the industry. Check her site at: http://www.natural-penis-enlargment.com/

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