Stages of prostate cancer
The clinical stage of a cancer describes how far the cancer has spread, as determined by the rectal examination. The classification commonly used to stage prostate cancer in the UK is shown here in a simplified form. (The prefix T is used to identify the tumour stage, for example T1 or T2). It is very important to remember that although all prostate cancers have the potential to progress (spread or grow larger); it may take many years to pass from Stage T1 to T4.
Stage T1
Earliest stage, where the cancer is so small that it cannot be felt on rectal examination, but is discovered in a prostate biopsy or in prostate tissue that has been surgically removed to ‘ unblock ’ the flow of urine (as in a transurethral resection of the prostate – TURP).
Stage T2
The tumour can now be felt on rectal examination, but is still confined to the prostate gland and has not spread.
Stage T3
The tumour has spread outside the gland and may have invaded the seminal vesicles.
Stage T4
The tumour has spread to involve surrounding tissues such as the rectum, bladder or muscles of the pelvis.
In early prostate cancer the cancer cells have not spread outside the prostate and the cancer is said to be ‘localised’. At this stage the cancer is still curable with a good rate of success.
