Stage T1 (Stage A)

T refers to the size of the primary tumour. These tumours are usually found by chance during surgery for a benign growth of the prostate or by follow-up on screening tests that measure PSA. These can be aggressive tumours and may require aggressive therapy depending on other diagnostic tests. There are often no symptoms.

Common Treatment Choices

Sometimes surgery or radiation therapy. In other cases, no treatment at all may be needed. Instead, the cancer is simply watched (watching waiting) by your doctor using regular DREs and blood tests. Treatment may be started later of necessary.

Stage T2 (Stage B)

The tumour is still located only within the prostate and a nodule is felt during a DRE. There are often no symptoms.

Common Treatment Choices

Surgery or radiation therapy. Hormone therapy may also be used in combination with radiation therapy. In some cases, a course of hormone therapy may be used prior to surgery in order to reduce the size of the prostate and make its removal easier.

Stage T3 (Stage C)

The tumour had spread from the prostate into the immediately surrounding tissue, possible including the seminal vesicles.

Stage 4 (no equivalent in A,B, C, D system)

The tumour is still within the pelvic region but may have spread farther to areas of the bladder or rectum.

Common Treatment Choices

Surgery, radiation therapy, or both. In addition, hormone therapy both before and after surgery or radiation therapy may be used.

Stage N+ (Stage D1)

N refers to the extent of lymph node involvement. Prostate cancer is described as N+ if prostate cancer cells are detected in lymph nodes in the pelvic area.

Stage M+ (Stage D2)

M refers to the presence or absence of metastases. A tumour that is M+ has spread beyond the pelvic area to other parts of the body. Patients may feel symptoms such as bone pain, weight loss, and tiredness. Some patients have no symptoms at all.

Common Treatment Choices

Hormone therapy. Chemotherapy may be used if hormone therapy is no longer working.

Generally, the treatment of prostate cancer can have a negative effect on your sex life if you are now sexually active. Some treatment methods involve surgical removal of the prostate. These methods affect your ability to ejaculate. Other methods involve lowering the level of the male hormone testosterone. These methods may affect sexual desire and the ability to have erections. In many cases, the result is impotence (the inability to have an erection). The risk of this side effect and others must be considered when choosing methods of treatment.

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