Prostate cancer: one on one with a terrible diagnosis

If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, you will be important to know how the disease develops, and understand medical terminology. This information will help you make important decisions, choosing between the proposal has methods of treatment.

Course of disease

In most men prostate cancer is progressing very slowly. In fact, older people do not need treatment, because they have no effect on the tumor life expectancy, and the disease is asymptomatic.

Condition associated with a slight change in shape and size of cells of the prostate, called prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) and occurs in about half of men over the age of 50 years. PIN is considered to be precancerous.

The rate of progression of prostate cancer: Gleason score

To predict the rate of disease doctors use Gleason.

* A biopsy (taken on the analysis of fragments of prostatic) and the resulting biomaterial is sent to a laboratory for examination under a microscope.
* In the laboratory each sample was evaluated on a 5-point scale: from 1 point, which means that the sample contains only healthy cells, up to 5 points - the sample contains abnormal (atypical) cells.
* Estimates of the two most characteristic of tumor samples are added. The resulting score (a number from 2 to 10) and is on the Gleason score. The higher it is, the faster can grow and spread tumors.

Stages of prostate cancer

Stage is characterized by it, where and how widely spread cancer. This information is necessary to select treatment. To determine the stage of cancer can be assigned the following survey:

* A digital rectal examination
* Blood
* Osteoskanirovanie
* Computed Tomography
* Magnetic resonance imaging
* A biopsy of the prostate tissue and / or lymph nodes.

There are two systems describing the stages of prostate cancer: AUA and TNM.

System AUA

In this case, to describe the stage of the disease using the letters A, B, C, D.

* A: microscopic tumor size, not detectable by palpation
* B: A tumor or nodule in the prostate gland (without metastases)
* From: tumor with metastases in the organs that are located directly next to the prostate
* D: A tumor with extensive metastases to the lymph nodes and other organs.

TNM system

Stages of cancer can be described by the system of TNM. In this abbreviation T means "tumor» (tumor), N - «node» (node), M - Metastasis (metastasis).

T: characterizes the development of the primary tumor.

* T1: tumor is not detected by visual inspection and X-ray. Cancer cells are present in tissue samples taken during surgery on the prostatic hyperplasia or biopsy at the higher concentrations of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in blood.
o T1a: The cancer cells are found in less than 5% of remote tissues. Score Gleason score - less than 7.
o T1b: The cancer cells are found in more than 5% removal of tissue or on the Gleason score - more than 7.
o T1s: Cancer cells found in tissues taken by puncture biopsy (performed in connection with the increased level of PSA in the blood).
* T2: tumor detectable, but not beyond the capsule surrounding the prostate gland.
o T2a: The tumor is less than 50% of one half of the prostate gland.
o T2B: The tumor is over 50% of one half of the prostate gland.
o T2S: Tumor spread in both halves of the prostate gland.
* T3: tumor extends to other organs, including, possibly, in the seminal vesicles.
o T3a: The tumor spreads to other organs, but not in the seminal vesicles.
o T3b: Tumor extends to the seminal vesicles.
* T4: Tumor extends to organs adjacent to the prostate gland, for example, in the rectum.

For the detection of metastases in other organs requires further investigation. Prostate cancer often metastasizes to the lymph nodes, bones, lungs and other organs.

Legend of N and M are used to describe metastases.

N: characterizes the spread of tumor in lymph nodes

* Nx: it is unclear whether amazed lymph nodes.
* N0: tumor was not found in any of the lymph nodes.
* N1: Tumor found in one lymph node in the pelvic cavity. Size of tumor - no more than 2 cm
* N2: Tumor found in one lymph node in the pelvic cavity. Tumor size - more than 2 cm but less than 5 cm Another option: found some cancerous lymph nodes, but the size of tumors - less than 5 cm
* N3: At least one of the tumors in the lymph nodes is larger than 5 cm

M: describes the spread of tumors in other organs.

* Mx: it is unclear whether there is metastasis to other organs.
* M0: metastases only in the prostate gland and nearby lymph nodes.
* M1: The tumor metastasizes to the lymph nodes outside the pelvis, and / or in other organs (bone, lungs, liver or brain).

The prognosis for prostate cancer

Almost all malignant tumors of the prostate (91%) detected before they spread beyond the prostate gland. If the tumor is detected at this stage, 99% of the patients can live for at least 5 years. However, the prognosis worsens survival, if the tumor metastasized to other organs.

Repeated detection of prostate cancer in a year or more after treatment is called a relapse. Cancer can recur in the prostate gland (even if it was removed) or in other organs, including the bones. For the treatment of relapse of cancer can be used methods different from those used for the treatment of primary tumor.
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