The 10 deadliest cancers, and why there's no cure
Stages And Outlook For Prostate Cancer
Early prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms, but can include blood in the urine or semen. The outlook is often excellent, especially if doctors diagnose it in the early stages.
In 2022, the American Cancer Society (ACS) expects that around 268,490 people will have a new diagnosis of prostate cancer and around 34,500 people will die from the disease.
The outlook for prostate cancer is usually good. In the early stages, prostate cancer is highly treatable and curable, and many people receive effective treatment.
However, if a person receives a diagnosis at a late stage, the cancer may is unlikely to be curable but commonly treatable.
A note about sex and genderSex and gender exist on spectrums. This article will use the terms "male," "female," or both to refer to sex assigned at birth. Click here to learn more.
There are different ways of classifying cancer stages, including prostate cancer. Staging is when a doctor decides how far cancer cells have progressed and how much they may have spread.
Doctors determine the stage using the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and the Gleason score.
PSA is a protein that appears at higher levels in the bloodstream when there is a problem with the prostate. The Gleason system can also help determine the stage by classifying cancer cells, which can act differently.
Some stages are more aggressive and can spread more easily. The Gleason score includes a calculation of how aggressive the cancer is and can reflect how likely a tumor will spread and how quickly it will do so. This is called the grade.
Here is a brief overview of each stage of prostate cancer.
A simpler way to stage cancer is to look at how far it has spread from its original site. These stages are:
Symptoms
It is difficult to identify specific prostate cancer symptoms by stage. Many people may be asymptomatic until a late stage. Sometimes, other conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) can cause similar symptoms.
The symptoms also depend on whether cancer has spread beyond the prostate and what part of the body it has affected.
However, the symptoms are likely to be very particular when they do occur. If a person experiences any of the following, they should seek an evaluation with a doctor:
Below the article goes into more detail about each prostate cancer state.
Technically, there can be a precursor stage before prostate cancer develops.
Nearly 50% of males have a condition known as prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) or carcinoma in situ by the time they are 50 years old. PIN occurs when there are changes in the cells that line the prostate gland.
PIN is not cancer, but the cells can become cancerous in the future. For this reason, a doctor may recommend treatment to remove the cells.
In this stage of prostate cancer, there are cancerous cells, but the tumor is small and only affects one area.
A digital rectal exam (DRE) or ultrasound will not reveal a tumor. However, routine screening can detect cancer at this stage, making early treatment possible.
Symptoms
There are often no noticeable symptoms at this stage. When symptoms do occur, they may be similar to BPH, a condition characterized by the enlargement of the prostate gland.
In stage 2 prostate cancer, cancer has not spread beyond the prostate gland, and medical tests may not reveal a tumor. However, as this stage progresses, a doctor may detect changes during a digital rectal examination (DRE) or a rectal ultrasound.
The PSA score is between 10–20 ng/ml. An early stage 2 tumor is grade 1, rising to 3 in the later phases of stage 2. The Gleason score is 6 and rising to 7 or 8.
Symptoms
Symptoms are more likely to occur once cancer has grown large enough to put extra pressure on the urethra, which is the tube that transports urine from the bladder out of the penis.
At this stage, cancer has spread beyond the prostate gland. It may have reached the seminal vesicles, the glands that secrete a fluid that helps make up the semen. However, it has not reached the bladder or the rectum.
The PSA can be any value over 20 ng/ml. The grade group is 1–4 at first and as high as 9–10 at the end of stage 3.
Symptoms
If a person has not received treatment for the prostate itself at this stage, they may experience many of the typical symptoms, including changes in the flow and frequency of urination.
Additionally, a person might also experience other symptoms, depending on how much cancer has spread and the specific areas it has affected.
This may include unintentional weight loss and feelings of fatigue or weakness.
At stage 4, cancer has spread to other areas, including nearby organs, such as the bladder, rectum, or lymph nodes. It may have also spread to distant organs, such as the bones or the liver.
The grade group, Gleason score, and PSA levels can be any number at this point.
Symptoms
The metastatic prostate cancer symptoms depend on the tumor size and the other affected areas. A person may begin to experience pain in different parts of the body, especially if cancer has spread to the bones.
Many other conditions can cause symptoms that may mimic certain symptoms of prostate cancer.
For example, BPH is a condition in which the prostate becomes enlarged. This can put extra pressure on the urethra, causing issues with urination similar to those associated with prostate cancer.
BPH usually affects older adults. In fact, it affects around 50% of males ages 60 and older.
Treatment often involves a combination of lifestyle changes and medications. Certain surgical procedures may also be necessary if other treatment options are ineffective.
Prostatitis, also known as prostate inflammation, is another condition that affects the prostate gland.
Symptoms can vary depending on the specific type of prostatitis, but the condition usually causes issues like painful urination, difficulty emptying the bladder, increased frequency of urination, and painful ejaculation.
A bacterial infection can cause prostatitis. Other causes can be stress, injury, or prior urinary tract infections.
To diagnose prostate cancer, a doctor will ask about a person's medical history and any symptoms that they are experiencing.
They may also conduct a physical exam, along with a digital rectal exam. This procedure involves inserting a gloved and lubricated finger into a person's rectum to determine whether there are any areas on the prostate that could be cancerous.
A doctor may order a blood test to measure levels of PSA, a type of protein used to screen for prostate cancer.
A doctor will usually also recommend a prostate biopsy in order to get a definitive diagnosis. This involves collecting a small sample of the prostate using a hollow tube and sending the sample to a lab to check for cancer cells.
If a person experiences any of the symptoms of prostate cancer, such as changes in the flow or frequency of urination, it is important to talk with a doctor.
While these symptoms could also occur due to other conditions, such as BPH or prostatitis, a doctor can help determine the cause and best course of treatment.
Even without obvious symptoms, a person may also want to discuss getting screened for prostate cancer with a doctor. This can be especially beneficial for people at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer, including those with a first-degree relative who had prostate cancer at an early age.
Effective treatment is often possible for prostate cancer, especially if a person receives a diagnosis in the early stages.
If tests show that prostate cancer is present, the doctor will discuss treatment options with the individual. Factors affecting the decision will include:
Some newer treatments include:
Other treatments can help manage symptoms, such as pain relief medication or drugs to help strengthen the bones.
A around 1 in 8 males will receive a diagnosis of prostate cancer in their lifetimes. However, only about 1 in 41 males will die from prostate cancer.
According to the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), a person living with prostate cancer has the following chance of surviving at least 5 years after diagnosis:
While the outlook is very good, especially in the early stages, the outcome for any individual will depend on various factors. These include the person's age, overall health, and type of cancer, among others.
After treatment, the individual may need to continue to see a doctor for some time. A doctor will monitor PSA levels and other indicators, which could indicate that the cancer is recurring or coming back. Following the treatment plan can help a person stay healthy.
Males and anyone who was assigned male at birth should ask a doctor about their risk levels and screening options. Routine screening can help detect prostate cancer at an early stage when it is highly treatable.
Doctors do not yet know how transitioning from male to female may affect the chances of prostate cancer, but there may be a risk. For this reason, anyone who was born with a prostate gland should continue to receive monitoring for prostate cancer.
Here are a few answers to additional, common questions about prostate cancer.
How do you know at what stage your prostate cancer is?
A doctor can determine the stage of prostate cancer by considering several factors, including a person's PSA levels, Grade Group, the extent of the primary tumor, the structure of the tumor based on microscopic analysis, and whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or other parts of the body.
How fast does prostate cancer progress?
In most cases, prostate cancer tends to grow slowly over the course of many years. However, this may vary depending on many factors, including the stage and grade group of cancer.
How does prostate cancer cause death?
When diagnosed early, prostate cancer has an excellent outlook, and doctors can often treat it successfully. However, advanced prostate cancer can spread to other parts of the body such as the bones, lymph nodes, liver, or lungs. This can interfere with a person's ability to function, which can ultimately be fatal.
At what age should I start screening for prostate cancer?
The U.S. Preventative Services Taskforce recommends that males aged 55 to 69 years talk to their clinician about the potential benefits and harms of prostate cancer screening and make their own decisions. Males over 70 should avoid screening because the potential benefits are outweighed by possible harm.
Prostate cancer is a common type of cancer that affects the prostate gland and can cause symptoms like changes in urine flow, pain, or difficulty passing urine.
Several different stages vary depending on how far cancer has spread from the original site.
However, the overall outlook for prostate cancer is excellent, especially if the person receives a diagnosis and treatment early.
'Worrying' Symptoms Could Indicate Cancer That Kills 12,000 Brits A Year
A doctor warned of three worrying symptoms that could indicate an advanced cancer (Image: Getty)
An emergency doctor has highlighted three "worrying" symptoms that could indicate a deadly cancer that kills around 12,000 people in the UK every year. These signs, which could easily be dismissed, might mean the disease has spread.
Doctor Suraj Kukadia, who is best known online as Dr Sooj, explained more in a post shared to social media platform TikTok. The expert urged people to see their doctor immediately if they spot any of the warning signs of prostate cancer.
As the name suggests, this disease affects the prostate - a gland found under the bladder in men. It is the most common form of cancer found among men in the UK, with 55,100 new cases diagnosed every year.
If the prostate becomes enlarged and presses on the urethra it can make you feel like you need to go to the toilet more often (Image:
Getty)Part of what makes prostate cancer so dangerous is the fact that it often doesn't cause symptoms in the early stages. It can grow slowly, with symptoms appearing once the prostate is large enough to affect the urethra.
This typically manifests as a number of changes to the way you urinate. However, these signs could also mean that your prostate is just enlarged rather than cancerous.
"The symptoms of prostate cancer and an enlarged prostate are really similar," Dr Sooj explained. "So it's really important to be aware of them because when your prostate grows and it gets enlarged it grows outwards as well as inwards, so it's like a little satsuma.
"And then your pee pipe, that goes from your bladder, comes through the prostate. So when the prostate grows inwards it can put pressure on the urinary system and it can lead to symptoms of urgency and frequency.
"So this means when you need to go, you really need to go. And when you have frequency that means that you are just peeing very regularly but there won't be huge amounts of urine every time you're peeing.
"Then as the symptoms get worse and as the prostate gets even bigger it can lead to things like a weak stream, a stop start stream, can lead to dribbling, hesitancy, which means that it takes you a while to get going and dribbling at the end so it just dribbles and dribbles and dribbles for a while."
If you experience any of these symptoms you should speak to your doctor as soon as possible. Even more concerning are three other symptoms that can appear alongside changes in your toilet habits.
Dr Sooj said: "Really worrying things are when people have those symptoms and then they start getting new onset back pain or weight loss or night sweats because it could suggest that it's actually a prostate cancer rather than an enlarged prostate and now maybe it has started to spread so just go and see a doctor early."
If you spot any of these symptoms you should speak to your doctor (Image:
Getty)The medical professional urged his viewers to seek help if they notice any of these signs. "It's really important if you have any of these symptoms please go and see a doctor because there are some things that we can do," he added.
Your doctor might conduct a blood test as well as a prostate exam. If they are concerned by any of this you may be offered an MRI scan of the prostate to help doctors decide if you need further tests and treatment.
Even if you don't experience any symptoms you can ask your GP for a PSA test to help detect prostate cancer if you are aged over 50. You can find out more about this at nhs.Uk/conditions/psa-test.
The Red Flag Prostate Cancer Symptoms You Should Never Ignore As Cases Surge
Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer in England, surpassing breast cancer diagnoses in 2022 and 2023, according to new analysis by Prostate Cancer UK. The data reveals a significant 25 per cent spike in prostate cancer cases between 2019 and 2023.
The charity attributed this increase to greater awareness of the disease, encouraging more men to seek early diagnoses and potentially life-saving treatment.
The analysis of NHS data by Prostate Cancer UK has revealed that 50,751 men in England were diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2022, compared to the 48,531 breast cancer diagnoses recorded that year.
The trend continued in 2023, with prostate cancer cases rising to 55,033, compared to 47,526 breast cancer diagnoses. The data highlights the growing prevalence of prostate cancer, now firmly established as England's most diagnosed cancer, BristolLive reports.
The NHS, as well as experts in the field, have pointed out some red flags symptoms of prostate cancer that you should never ignore. These key signs are:
Although these symptoms don't always signal prostate cancer, it's crucial to take them seriously and schedule a doctor's appointment without delay. Early detection can make all the difference.
"Recognising and addressing urinary symptoms early can lead to timely diagnosis and more effective treatment options for prostate cancer," says Dr Jiri Kubes, a radiation oncologist specialising in proton beam therapy at the Proton Therapy Centre.
"Things like needing to urinate urgently or more frequently, especially at night, should not be ignored. Prostate cancer can be hard to diagnose in the early stages and so knowing what to look out for is imperative.
"Changes in urinary habits – which can also include difficulty in emptying the bladder and trouble starting your flow – are also among the main ways the body displays changes in the prostate."
He added: "Factors such as these don't necessarily mean you have prostate cancer but there are checks that can be carried out to rule out such a diagnosis.One of the most important things with cancer is to identify it as early as possible."
Detecting prostate cancer early significantly increases the chances of successful treatment and provides access to a wider range of treatment options. "Proton beam therapy is available for prostate cancer and has the potential to offer fewer side effects," says Dr Kubes.
"That's because it uses a highly-charged proton beam to target cancer cells much more precisely, which ensures surrounding tissues and organs are more protected. In an area as delicate as the prostate this can mean protecting things like urinary and sexual function."
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GPs can arrange a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test to assess levels of the protein, which may indicate prostate cancer. In some cases, physical examinations and biopsies are also conducted to confirm a diagnosis.
Men over 55, those from the Black community, and individuals with a family history of prostate cancer are considered at higher risk.
The NHS additionally lists symptoms like persistent back pain, loss of appetite, and discomfort in the testicles as potential warning signs. Anyone experiencing these symptoms is strongly advised to consult their GP promptly.
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