Lions Prostate Cancer Research & Treatment Project
Stages of Prostate Cancer from Cancer Australia
Staging
If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, you might have more tests to determine the stage of the disease and whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Knowing the stage of the disease helps your medical team plan the best treatment for you.
Prostate cancer is staged using the following information:
- size and extent of the tumour
- whether the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes
- whether the cancer has spread to other organs or tissues in the body
- PSA level at diagnosis
- score from the prostate biopsy.
Stages of prostate cancer are:
Stage IIIB (locally advanced prostate cancer): the tumour has spread beyond the prostate to the seminal vesicles or to nearby tissues or organs, such as the bladder, rectum or pelvic wall. It has not spread to nearby lymph nodes. The Gleason score is less than 8, the Grade Group score is 1, 2, 3 or 4, and the PSA level can be any number.
Stage I (early or localised prostate cancer): the tumour has not spread outside the prostate. The tumour is small and may or may not be able to be felt during a digital rectal exam or seen with medical imaging tests. If it can be seen in tests, the tumour is in half or less of the prostate and on one side only. The cancer is low risk as it is slow growing and not aggressive. The Gleason score is 6 or less, the Grade Group score is 1, and the PSA level is less than 10.
Stage II (early or localised prostate cancer): The tumour has not spread outside the prostate. This can be further subdivided into the following substages:
Stage IIA : The tumour may be in more than half of the prostate. The cancer is low risk as it is slow growing and not aggressive. The Gleason score is 6 or less, the Grade Group score is 1, and the PSA level is less than 20.
Stage IIB : The tumour is in one or both sides of the prostate. The cancer is intermediate risk as it is likely to grow faster and be mildly to moderately aggressive. The Gleason score is 7, the Grade Group score is 2, and the PSA level is less than 20.
Stage IIC :The tumour is in one or both sides of the prostate. The cancer is intermediate to high risk as it is likely to grow faster and be more aggressive. The Gleason score is 7 or 8, the Grade Group score is 3 or 4, and the PSA level is less than 20.
Stage III prostate cancer: the tumour has either spread to both sides of the prostate or to nearby structures or organs.
Stage IIIA (localised prostate cancer): the tumour has not spread outside the prostate. The tumour is in one or both sides of the prostate. The Gleason score is less than 8, the Grade Group score is 1, 2, 3 or 4, and the PSA level is at least 20.
Stage IIIB (locally advanced prostate cancer): the tumour has spread beyond the prostate to the seminal vesicles or to nearby tissues or organs, such as the bladder, rectum or pelvic wall. It has not spread to nearby lymph nodes. The Gleason score is less than 8, the Grade Group score is 1, 2, 3 or 4, and the PSA level can be any number.
Lions Prostate Cancer Research & Treatment Project 