Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal secretory cells. There are healthy secretory cells found in the prostate, but due to factors they can become abnormal and start multiplying. As the abnormal secretory cells multiply, they can form a tumor in the prostate gland.  Prostate cancer can be slow-growing or it can be aggressive. If the tumor grows large enough, it can attach to blood vessels and the cancerous cells can access the vessels to travel in the circulatory system. This process is known as angiogenesis. Once the cancerous cells travel through the circulatory system, they can begin to spread the cancer to other parts of the body, known as metastasis. 

Classes of Prostate Cancer

The cancer cells may spread from its original location to other parts in the body. There are different stages of prostate cancer used to classify the progression of the cancer cells.

Stage I: The cancer is only in the prostate.

• The cancer cannot be felt during a digital rectal exam and is only found during a needle biopsy. PSA levels are under 10, and the grade group is 1 or,
• The cancer is felt in the digital rectal exam but only on one half or less of the prostate gland. The PSA levels are less than 10, and the grade group is less than 1

Stage II: The cancer is still only in the prostate, but is more advanced than stage I

Stage IIA:

• The cancer is only on one-half or less of the prostate. The PSA level is between 10 and 20, and the grade group is 1
• The cancer is in more than one half of one side of the prostate, or both sides of the prostate. The PSA level is less than 20 and the grade group is 1.

Stage IIB: The cancer is in one or both sides of the prostate. The PSA level is less than 20, and the grade group is 2

Stage IIC: The cancer is in one or both sides of the prostate. The PSA level is less than 20, and the grade group is 3 or 4.

Stage III: The cancer is still only in the prostate

Stage IIIA: The cancer is in one or both sides of the prostate. The PSA level is at least 20, and the grade group is 1, 2, 3, or 4

Stage IIIB: The cancer has spread to the seminal vesicles or the rectum, bladder or pelvic wall. The grade group is 1,2,3,4 and the PSA is any level

Stage IIIC: The cancer is in one or both sides of the prostate, and may have spread to the seminal vesicles, rectum, bladder or pelvic wall. The PSA can be any level, and the grade group is 5.

Stage IV:

Stage IVA: The cancer is in one or both sides of the prostate and may have spread to the seminal vesicles, rectum, bladder or pelvic wall. The cancer has also spread to the lymph nodes. The PSA is any level and the grade group is 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5.

Stage IVB: The cancer has is in one or both sides of the prostate and has spread to other parts of the body.