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To plan the best treatment for prostate cancer, the doctor needs to know the stage (extent) of the disease. The stage is based on the size of the tumor, whether the cancer has spread outside the prostate and, if so, to what parts of the body.
The man may have blood tests to check for signs that the cancer has spread and is affecting other organs. Also, in some cases, the following imaging tests may be used to stage prostate cancer:
- Bone scan: The doctor injects a small amount of radioactive material into a blood vessel. It flows through the bloodstream and collects in the bones. A machine called a scanner detects and measures the radioactivity. The scanner creates pictures or images of the bones on a computer screen or on film. The image can show cancer that has spread to the bones or other problems.
- CT scan: A CT scan creates a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body, such as the pelvis or abdomen. An x-ray machine takes the pictures from different angles, and a computer creates the images.
- MRI: A magnet linked to a computer creates detailed pictures of areas inside the body.
The doctor may describe the stage using a Roman number (I-IV):
- Stage I is cancer that cannot be felt during a rectal exam. It is found by chance when surgery is done for another reason, usually for BPH. Cancer is found only in the prostate.
- Stage II is more advanced cancer, but it has not spread outside the prostate.
- Stage III is cancer that has spread beyond the outer layer of the prostate. It may be found in the seminal vesicles, but it has not spread to the lymph nodes.
- Stage IV is one or more of the following:
- Cancer that has invaded the bladder, rectum, or other nearby structures (other than the seminal vesicles);
- Cancer that has spread to lymph nodes;
- Cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, such as the bones.
- Recurrent cancer is cancer that has come back after treatment.
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