Prostate Cancer Developmental Stages
Cancer that develops in the prostate organ, which is part of the male reproductive system, is known as prostate cancer. The prostate is a walnut-sized organ located just below the bladder that produces sperm. Prostate cancer is the second most prevalent form of cancer in men (after skin cancer) and typically affects men over 65. The four principal phases of prostate cancer are:
The cancer is small and has not progressed beyond the prostate gland in the initial stage.
The cancer is larger and may have spread to adjacent tissues at this stage.
The cancer has spread to distant portions of the body at this stage.
The cancer has progressed to additional organs, such as the bones or the liver.
Prognosis and Expected Life Span
Cancer of the prostate is the most prevalent cancer in males. The American Cancer Society projects the following for prostate cancer incidence in the United States in 2020:
Approximately 191,930 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed each year.
Approximately 33,330 fatalities due to prostate cancer
The average male has a 1 in 9 chance of developing prostate cancer. The risk increases as males age. Approximately six out of ten cases are found in men aged 65 or older, and African-American males are the most susceptible. Cancer of the prostate can be a slow-growing disease that may never cause problems. However, certain forms of prostate cancer can grow and spread rapidly.
If you have prostate cancer, your doctor will devise a treatment plan based on your age, overall health, the stage of the cancer (how far it has spread), and your treatment preferences. Life expectancy for men with prostate cancer is approximately 15 years on average. However, this varies based on the cancer’s early detection and treatment. If cancer is detected early, before it has spread to other regions of the body, the survival rate approaches one hundred percent. If the malignancy has spread to other organs, however, the survival rate falls to 30%.
The National Cancer Institute reports that the 5-year survival rate for men with prostate cancer is close to 100 percent. The approximate 10-year survival rate is 98%. These rates are based on men with early-stage prostate cancer who have undergone surgery or radiation therapy.
